On the second postoperative day after a subtotal thyroidectomy, the client tells the nurse that he feels numbness and tingling around his mouth. Which is the nurse's priority intervention?
a. Offer mouth care.
b. Loosen the dressing.
c. Assess Chvostek's sign.
d. Assess the client hourly.
C
Numbness and tingling around the mouth or in the fingers and toes are manifestations of hypo-calcemia, which could progress to cause tetany and seizure activity. The nurse should assess the client further by testing for Chvostek's sign and Trousseau's sign. Then the nurse should notify the provider. The other choices do not address the emergency situation.
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An older client reports to a nurse, "My daughter says there is something wrong with my hearing. I am not so sure. Yes, I have some problems hearing, but I am 78 years old. What does she ex-pect?
I noticed that at Christmas dinner, with all the racket around, I had some trouble. I think it is that my granddaughters mumble a lot, just like all young people. I guess it has been getting steadily worse; it seems to be both ears as well." Based on the client's description, the nurse suspects which of the following? a. Presbycusis b. Otosclerosis c. Tinnitus d. A perforated eardrum
The nurse is administering medications to a patient who is receiving cyclosporine (Sandimmune). Which medication, when administered concurrently with cyclosporine, would warrant a reduction in the dosage of cyclosporine?
a. Phenytoin (Dilantin) b. Prednisone c. Ketoconazole (Nizoral) d. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
In counseling an adolescent who is abusing alcohol, the nurse explains that alcohol abuse primarily affects which organ of the body?
a. Heart b. Liver c. Brain d. Lungs
A premature newborn is unable to suck at the breast. The nurse arranges for the mother to use an electric pump at least:
A. Two times in a 24-hour period. B. Four times in a 24-hour period. C. Six times in a 24-hour period. D. Eight times in a 24-hour period.