The nurse assesses a patient before knee surgery. Which assessment finding reported by the nurse will most likely require the surgery to be delayed?
a. A 10-year history of smoking a pack of cigarettes per day
b. A reddened, swollen, and painful calf
c. An upper respiratory infection last month
d. A low-normal serum hemoglobin level
B
Calf pain, tenderness, and swelling are consistent with clinical indicators of a deep vein throm-bosis or an infection; thus the surgery most likely will be rescheduled after resolution of these findings. Impaired circulation of the lower extremities would require that the surgery be post-poned. Many surgeons refuse to operate electively on patients with a significant smoking history unless they quit smoking for a long period because smoking impairs tissue healing. The patient should be fully recovered from an uncomplicated upper respiratory infection last month. Low-normal hemoglobin is sufficient to clear the patient for surgery.
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A 37-year-old male patient presents at the emergency department (ED) complaining of nausea and vomiting and severe abdominal pain. The patient's abdomen is rigid, and there is bruising to the patient's flank. The patient's wife states that he was on a drinking binge for the past 2 days. The ED nurse should assist in assessing the patient for what health problem?
A) Severe pancreatitis with possible peritonitis B) Acute cholecystitis C) Chronic pancreatitis D) Acute appendicitis with possible perforation
A lipid panel has been drawn on a patient who has a family history of atherosclerosis. The nurse would explain that which value on the panel is most implicated in development of atherosclerosis?
1. High-density lipoprotein 2. Total cholesterol level 3. Triglyceride level 4. Low-density lipoprotein
A client is taking triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide) and furosemide (Lasix). What assessment finding requires action by the nurse?
a. Cough b. Headache c. Pulse of 62 beats/min d. Potassium of 2.9 mEq/L
The nurse educator is differentiating between a house diet, modified diet, and therapeutic diet with a group of nursing students. Which statement by a student nurse indicates the need for further teaching about the types of diets?
A) A house diet is the diet most frequently ordered. B) A house diet allows a wide choice of foods. C) A modified diet is an important part of therapy for many diseases. D) A therapeutic diet is prescribed according to the client's ability to tolerate food.