The practical nurse (PN) is assessing an older adult client with left-sided heart failure (HF). Which intervention is most important for the PN to implement?
Measure urinary output.
Auscultate all lung fields.
Check mental acuity.
Inspect for sacral edema.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Measure urinary output.
Measuring urinary output is important for monitoring fluid balance but is not the most critical intervention for assessing left-sided heart failure specifically.
B. Auscultate all lung fields.
Auscultating lung fields is crucial for assessing signs of pulmonary edema, a key symptom of left-sided heart failure. It provides direct information about the severity of the condition and guides further management.
C. Check mental acuity.
Checking mental acuity can be useful but is not the most critical intervention for managing left-sided heart failure. It is less directly related to evaluating the severity of heart failure compared to lung auscultation.
D. Inspect for sacral edema.
Inspecting for sacral edema is more relevant for right-sided heart failure. For left-sided heart failure, the priority is evaluating pulmonary symptoms, not peripheral edema.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Determining if the spouse has medication allergies is unnecessary because the PN should not provide medication to anyone other than the patient. Medication administration policies are strict about who can receive medications and ensuring compliance with these policies is crucial for legal and safety reasons.
B. The PN cannot request medication for individuals who are not patients under their care, so this action does not follow hospital procedures. Medications must be administered through proper channels to ensure they are given safely and legally.
C. Giving medication from the nurse’s personal supply is a violation of hospital policy and professional ethics. All medications must be obtained through approved sources and administered according to prescribed orders for safety and legal reasons.
D. Explaining that medication can only be provided to clients ensures adherence to hospital policies and legal regulations. This action maintains professional boundaries and ensures that only those who are officially under care receive medication.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While knowing the number of tablets taken is important for managing chest pain, it is secondary to ensuring that the client can safely administer the medication.
B. Assessing the client's level of orientation and compliance is crucial because the client needs to understand how and when to use the nitroglycerin properly. Misunderstanding or non-compliance could lead to ineffective treatment or potential harm.
C. Checking heart rate and blood pressure is important for assessing the effects of nitroglycerin, but before leaving the medication for self-administration, it is vital to ensure that the client understands how to use the medication.
D. Monitoring hourly urinary output and daily weight is not relevant to the immediate concern of ensuring safe and effective nitroglycerin self-administration.
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