A patient who had a subtotal thyroidectomy earlier today develops laryngeal stridor and a cramp in the right hand upon returning to the surgical nursing unit. Which collaborative action will the nurse anticipate next?
a. Suction the patient's airway.
b. Administer IV calcium gluconate.
c. Plan for emergency tracheostomy.
d. Prepare for endotracheal intubation.
ANS: B
The patient's clinical manifestations of stridor and cramping are consistent with tetany caused by hypocalcemia resulting from damage to the parathyroid glands during surgery. Endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy may be needed if the calcium does not resolve the stridor. Suctioning will not correct the stridor.
You might also like to view...
A researcher evaluates the internal consistency (reliability) a newly developed scale used in a pilot study and notes a Cronbach alpha coefficient of space 0.72. The researcher will
a. compare the measure with scores from another group of subjects. b. test the scale for validity prior to using it in another study. c. try another measure with better reliability in another pilot study. d. use the scale in the larger study and continue to monitor coefficient results.
A nursing student is learning the application of the nursing process to client care. When questioned by the student about the reason for implementing a nursing diagnosis, the nurse's professor responds: "The nursing diagnosis statement:
a) Describes client problems that nurses are licensed to treat c) Includes the disease the client has during the treatment of care d) Helps standardize care for all clients
Because you are concerned about possible smoke inhalation, what will you monitor for
in A.N.? What will be an ideal response?
MC AIDS is transmitted through all of the following mechanisms except
A. Transfused blood products. B. Intravenous drug use with shared needles. C. Body-to-body contact. D. Broken skin area.