Blog

The client develops Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) as a complication of sepsis. Which assessment finding is most suggestive of the early thrombotic phase of DIC?

A 22-year-old college student presents to the University Student Health Center at 10:00 AM complaining of “bad indigestion.” He reports a dull, diffuse ache around his belly button that started late last night. He has no significant past medical history.The patient continues to have RLQ. Labs are completed, showing a WBC count of 16,500/mm^3 with a “shift to the left.” How should the nurse interpret this finding when communicating with the surgical team?

The client is now 24 hours post-op. He is hypotensive (BP 88/50) and his urine output has been 15 mL/hr for the last 4 hours, and complaining of pain at 7/10. Laboratory analysis shows Creatinine: 2.1 mg/dL (Baseline 0.8), Lactate: 4.5 mmol/ and WBC: 22,000/mm³. The nurse recognizes the patient is likely progressing from Peritonitis to Septic Shock. Which order should the nurse question?

The patient is actively seizing. After stopping the seizure with benzodiazepines, the provider orders Hypertonic Saline (3% NaCl). Which safety parameter is most critical for the nurse to monitor during this infusion?

A nurse reviews the assessment findings shown in the image. Which nursing precautions should be implemented to prevent complications?

A 72-year-old client is admitted with confusion, headache, nausea, and muscle cramps. Laboratory results reveal: Sodium: 124 mEq/L (Normal: 135–145 mEq/L) Potassium: 4.2 mEq/L (Normal: 3.5–5 mEq/L ) Which nursing intervention should the nurse implement first?

A nurse is caring for an older adult admitted with severe dehydration. Assessment findings include dry mucous membranes, poor skin turgor, urine output of 15 mL/hr, heart rate 118/min, blood pressure 88/54 mm Hg, and elevated BUN levels. Which nursing action is the priority?

A 68-year-old client with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted with shortness of breath, confusion, and drowsiness. Patient is also taking furosemide 20 mg daily and complaining of diarrhea. Arterial blood gas (ABG) results show: pH: 7.28 PaCO₂: 58 mmHg HCO₃⁻: 26 mEq/L Which condition is the most likely cause of the client’s respiratory acidosis?

A nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease who is admitted with hyperkalemia. The client’s serum potassium level is 6.8 mEq/L, and the cardiac monitor shows peaked T waves and a widened QRS complex. Which action should the nurse take first?

If a hospital admits only the first 100 persons who come in on any given day and turns away everyone else, the hospital is focusing primarily on: