Which client assessment should a nurse immediately report to the health care provider?

Report of joint pain by a client who recently started taking arthritis medication.

Report of decreased appetite and difficulty sleeping in a recently widowed client.

Weight loss of two pounds in a client admitted in congestive heart failure.

Diminished breath sounds in a client admitted with pneumonia.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

This is because diminished breath sounds indicate poor oxygenation and ventilation, which can lead to respiratory failure and hypoxia. The healthcare provider should be notified immediately to assess the client and provide appropriate interventions.

Choice A is wrong because joint pain is a common side effect of some arthritis medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It does not require immediate attention unless it is severe or accompanied by other symptoms, such as swelling, redness, or fever.

Choice B is wrong because decreased appetite and difficulty sleeping are normal responses to grief and loss. They do not indicate a medical emergency, but rather a need for emotional support and counseling.

Choice C is wrong because a weight loss of two pounds in a client admitted with congestive heart failure is a positive sign that indicates fluid removal and improved cardiac function. It does not require immediate reporting, but rather ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

Normal ranges for vital signs are as follows :

Blood pressure: 90/60 mm Hg to 120/80 mm Hg
Breathing: 12 to 18 breaths per minute
Pulse: 60 to 100 beats per minute
Temperature: 97.8°F to 99.1°F (36.5°C to 37.3°C); average 98.6°F (37°C)

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Notify the health care provider to report and anticipate new orders.

This is because an oral temperature of 100.8° F (38.2° C) indicates a fever, which could be a sign of infection or inflammation in an elderly client.

A fever of this magnitude could also cause dehydration, confusion, or seizures in older adults.

Therefore, the nurse should notify the health care provider as soon as possible to determine the cause and treatment of the fever.

Choice B is wrong because covering the client with an additional blanket could increase the body temperature and worsen the fever.

The UAP should not recheck the temperature in two hours, but rather monitor it more frequently and report any changes to the nurse.

Choice C is wrong because charting the temperature on the vital signs sheet and reporting to the new shift coming on is not enough to address the urgency of the situation.

The nurse has a responsibility to act on abnormal findings and communicate them to the health care provider.

Choice D is wrong because assessing the client’s temperature rectally and comparing the results is not necessary and could cause discomfort or injury to the client.

Rectal temperatures are usually higher than oral temperatures by about 0.5° F (0.3° C), so this would not change the interpretation of the fever.

The normal range for oral temperature in adults is 97.6° F to 99.6° F (36.4° C to 37.6° C).

A. “I don’t know because I am off duty now and I think you need to ask the nurse coming on this shift.”. B. “That is privileged, confidential information and I can’t discuss it with you now.”. C. “Why don’t we step off the elevator to discuss this in a more private area?”. D. “The client was stable before I left 30 minutes ago, but had to be restrained for agitation.”.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse should respect the client’s privacy and confidentiality by not discussing the client’s condition in a crowded elevator, even with the health care provider. The nurse should suggest a more private area to have the conversation.

Choice A is wrong because it shows a lack of professionalism and accountability. The nurse should be able to provide a brief update on the client’s status to the health care provider, even if the nurse is off duty.

Choice B is wrong because it implies that the healthcare provider does not have the right to access the client’s information, which is not true. The health care provider is part of the health care team and has a legitimate need to know the client’s condition.

Choice D is wrong because it violates the client’s privacy and confidentiality by disclosing sensitive information in front of other people. The nurse should not share any details about the client’s condition or treatment without the client’s consent or unless it is necessary for the client’s care.

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Which client assessment should a nurse immediately report to the health care provider?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A 75-year-old client has a baseline oral temperature of 96.8° F (36° C). Two hours later the client’s oral temperature is 100.8° F (38.2° C). Which action should a nurse take next?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

At the end of the shift, a nurse enters a crowded elevator and is standing near a client’s health care provider. Which response of the nurse is most appropriate when the health care provider asks, “How is my client in room 913 doing?”.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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