The patient in this case study required invasive arterial monitoring. Discuss some of the potential complications of such monitoring and measures to prevent them
What will be an ideal response?
Suggested response: Your discussion should consider the following considerations: • infection at the insertion site (explore your institution's practice guidelines or protocols for manage ment of arterial line sites) • arterial thrombosis (explore what fluids may be used for continuous flushing of arterial lines) • distal ischaemia (discuss what measure you may take to prevent or detect ischaemia) • air embolism (how this may be avoided) • accidental disconnection (the insertion sites should be always visible) • accidental drug administration through the arterial catheter; all arterial lines and connections should be clearly identified as such (e.g. marked with red stickers or have red bungs).
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The nurse is assessing the client's neck. Which of the following findings is abnormal?
1. The client's carotid arteries are visibly pulsating. 2. The neck is symmetrical. 3. The tracheal cartilage does not move when the client swallows. 4. The thyroid has no palpable nodules.
What is the best nursing response to the mother of a 4-year-old child who asks what she can do to help the child cope with a sibling's repeated hospitalizations?
a. Recommend that the child be sent to visit the grandmother until the sibling returns home. b. Inform the parent that the child is too young to visit the hospital. c. Assume the child understands that the sibling will soon be discharged because the child asks no questions. d. Help the mother give the child a simple explanation of the treatment, and encourage the mother to have the child visit the hospitalized sibling.
Nursing assistants may report to which of the following?
a. An RN b. A physician c. An occupational therapist d. Another nursing assistant
A patient at 28 weeks’ gestation is admitted to the labor and birth unit. Which test would most likely be used to assess the patient's comprehensive fetal status?
1. Ultrasound for physical structure 2. Nonstress test (NST) 3. Biophysical profile (BPP) 4. Amniocentesis