A student nurse is assisting with the care of a 50-year-old man who is being treated in the emergency department for hypothermia. The student asks the charge nurse why the patient is having his heart monitored. How should the nurse best respond?
a. Infusing intravenous (IV) fluids rapidly raise blood pressure (BP) and heart rate.
b. Adrenal output of epinephrine increases in response to cold stress.
c. Lactic acid from pooled blood in the ex-tremities shunts back to the heart.
d. The warming process causes vasodilation.
C
Lactic acid in the blood that was pooled in the extremities while being exposed to cold will shunt back to the heart through systemic perfusion as the warming process becomes effective. The lac-tic acid can cause arrhythmias.
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All of the following statements about the Beer's List are true except:
1. It is a list of medications or medication classes that should generally be avoided in persons 65 years or older because they are either ineffective or they pose unnecessarily high risk for older persons and a safer alternative is available. 2. It is derived from the expert opinion of one geriatrician and is not evidence-based. 3. These criteria have been adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for regulation of long-term care facilities. 4. These criteria are directed at the general population of patients over 65 years of age and do not take disease states into consideration.
The doctor ordered bedrest for a resident. Which is correct?
a. The person can perform some activities of daily living. b. Everything is done for the person. c. The person can use the beside commode. d. The person can use the bathroom.
A nurse is caring for an elderly client who is to undergo a brief mental status
examination as part of psychometric testing. What function is lost in the initial stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD)? A) Memory of childhood events B) Ability to concentrate C) Ability to complete simple tasks D) Ability to remember everyday words
M.M.'s physician calls your unit to find out what is happening. Using SBAR, what information would you need to convey at this time?
The hospital's staff physician is coming to the floor immediately to evaluate the patient. In the meantime she orders furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV push STAT. You have only 20 mg in stock. Should you give the 20 mg now, and then give the additional 20 mg when it comes up from the pharmacy? Explain your answer.