While changing the dressing of a client who is immobile, the nurse observes a red and swollen wound with a moderate amount of yellow and green drainage and a foul odor. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should note which of the client's laboratory values?

C-reactive protein level.

Culture for sensitive organisms.

Serum albumin.

Serum blood glucose (BG) level.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A.   CRP is an acute-phase protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation. Elevated CRP levels indicate systemic inflammation or infection. Measuring the CRP level can help confirm the presence of an inflammatory process, such as infection, and monitor the severity of inflammation. However, while useful, CRP alone might not provide the complete picture needed for specific wound management.
B.   Culturing the wound for sensitive organisms is crucial when an infection is suspected. This test will identify the specific bacteria or other pathogens causing the infection and determine their sensitivity to various antibiotics. This information is essential for choosing the appropriate treatment to address the infection effectively.
C.   Serum albumin levels provide information about the client’s nutritional status and can reflect protein malnutrition. Low serum albumin levels can indicate poor wound healing due to inadequate protein levels, which affects tissue repair. While serum albumin is important for understanding overall nutritional status, it does not directly diagnose or confirm infection.
D.   Blood glucose levels are important to monitor, especially in diabetic patients, as high blood glucose can impair wound healing and increase the risk of infections. However, blood glucose levels are more related to the client's ability to heal rather than directly identifying or managing an infection.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Pitting edema, especially at a 4+ level, indicates significant fluid retention in the lower extremities. While this can be a concern for skin integrity and may contribute to skin breakdown due to increased pressure and reduced mobility, it is not the most direct indicator for turning schedules.
B. Hypoactive bowel sounds and infrequent bowel movements suggest gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation or reduced bowel motility. While these issues are important to address for overall client health, they do not directly impact the scheduling of turning to prevent pressure ulcers.
C. The Braden Risk Assessment Scale is a tool used to evaluate a client's risk for developing pressure ulcers. A score of 10 indicates a high risk for pressure ulcer development. This assessment directly informs the need for a more aggressive turning schedule and other preventive measures to protect skin integrity.
D. Warm, dry skin and a low-grade fever might indicate an infection or other underlying condition, but these factors are not the primary considerations for determining the turning schedule. While fever and skin temperature can be important for overall assessment and care, they do not directly impact the need for turning to prevent pressure ulcers.

A. Protein. B. Hemoglobin. C. White blood cell count D. Sodium.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. While protein levels are important in assessing overall nutritional status and can indicate conditions like malnutrition or liver disease, they are not the primary focus in the context of fever, dry mucous membranes, and skin turgor changes.
B. Hemoglobin levels are crucial for assessing anemia and overall oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Although dehydration can potentially concentrate hemoglobin levels, it is not the primary laboratory value to monitor in the context of the acute symptoms
C. The white blood cell count is important for diagnosing infections and understanding the body's response to illness. However, in this scenario, the primary concern is dehydration, which is not directly measured by WBC count. While an elevated WBC could indicate an infection contributing to the fever, it is not the primary laboratory value to monitor for fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
D. Sodium is a key electrolyte that can be significantly affected by dehydration. Dry mucous membranes, inelastic skin turgor, and a fever suggest potential fluid loss and dehydration, which can lead to imbalances in sodium levels. Monitoring sodium levels is crucial because dehydration often results in elevated sodium concentrations (hypernatremia), which can have serious implications for the client’s health.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

While changing the dressing of a client who is immobile, the nurse observes a red and swollen wound with a moderate amount of yellow and green drainage and a foul odor. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should note which of the client's laboratory values?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

In planning the turning schedule for a bedfast client, it is most important for the nurse to consider which assessment finding?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

An older adult client's skin feels warm and the client has a temperature of 101.2° F (38.4° C). The nurse further assesses that the client has a reddened tongue, dry mucous membranes, and inelastic skin turgor. Which serum laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

An elderly woman comes to the clinic because of vaginal bleeding. The healthcare provider finds a vagina tear, which the client reports is likely to have occurred during sexual intercourse. Which content is most important for the nurse to include in this client's teaching plan?

The nurse is performing a functional assessment for a client requiring nursing home care. During the client interview, which action should the nurse implement?

The nurse attaches a pulse oximeter to a client's finger and obtains an oxygen saturation reading of 91%. Which assessment finding most likely contributes to this reading?

An older adult client is admitted to a long term care facility. Upon admission, the client is oriented but fatigued, is incontinent of urine, and has a stage II pressure ulcer on the left heel. Which additional finding requires further assessment?

In assisting the family of an older adult client to determine the best living environment for the client, which factor is most important for the nurse to consider?

The nurse is teaching a client how to do active range of motion (ROM) exercises. To exercise the hinge joints, which action should the nurse instruct the client to perform?

While changing the dressing of a client who is immobile, the nurse observes a red and swollen wound with a moderate amount of yellow and green drainage and a foul odor. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should note which of the client's laboratory values?