A patient presents to the emergency department reporting difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath. A CT scan would most likely reveal an aneurysm in the:
a. cerebral vessels.
b. renal arteries.
c. inferior vena cava.
d. thoracic aorta.
ANS: D
Thoracic aortic aneurysms can cause dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and dyspnea (breathless-ness). Aneurysms in cerebral vessels will produce a headache. Aneurysms in the renal arteries will produce flank pain. Aneurysms in the inferior vena cava may produce chest pain.
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A nurse is conducting a home visit as part of the community health assessment of a patient who will receive scheduled wound care. During assessment, the nurse should prioritize which of the following variables?
A) Availability of home health care, current Medicare rules, and family support B) The community and home environment, support systems or family care, and the availability of needed resources C) The future health status of the individual, and community and hospital resources D) The characteristics of the neighborhood, and the patient's socioeconomic status and insurance coverage
Policy and procedure dictates that handwashing is a requirement when caring for patients. Which statement supports this policy?
A) Frequent handwashing reduces transmission of pathogens from one patient to another. B) Wearing gloves is a substitute for handwashing. C) Bar soap, which is generally available, should be used for handwashing. D) Waterless products should be avoided in situations where running water is unavailable.
Add the following fractions: 1/16 + 1/2 + 3/8 =
1. 5/26 2. 15/16 3. 5/16 4. 17/16
The nurse is designing a study to determine why some patients with diabetes develop foot ulcers while others do not. When reviewing this research question, what should the nurse highlight as the sample population?
1. Patients with diabetes 2. Foot ulcer development 3. Patients with foot ulcers 4. Patients without foot ulcers