A client lost 35 pounds over the past 3 months on a very low-carbohydrate diet. The nurse is concerned about certain vitamin deficiencies. What physical signs would suggest to the nurse that a vitamin deficiency might exist?
1. Reddened, bleeding gums
2. Generalized skin lesions
3. Swollen, shiny tongue
4. Difficulty maintaining balance
1
Rationale: Reddened, bleeding gums are a precursor to scurvy, a deficiency of vitamin C which is found in fresh fruits and vegetables. An individual who is on a very low-carbohydrate diet will refrain from eating fruits and vegetables and would need a vitamin supplement. If a supplement is not used, a vitamin C deficiency might develop. Skin lesions, or dermatitis, are a potential sign of vitamin B-6 deficiency. A shiny, swollen tongue, or glossitis, is associated with a riboflavin (B-2) deficiency. Balance problems, or ataxia, result from a thiamine (B-1) deficiency. The B vitamins are readily available in high-protein foods which are consumed on a very low-carbohydrate diet.
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During the assessment of an adult client's blood pressure, the nurse notes the following on the sphygmomanometer:
first faint tapping sounds at 136, swishing sounds at 120, clear tapping sounds at 108, muffled sounds at 98, and silence at 76. This nurse would document this client's blood pressure as _____________. Record your answer as a fraction.
0.9 + 0.6 = _____
a. 0.3 b. 1.4 c. 1.5 d. 0.085
Clinical features of insidious onset, slow progression, and a lack of other findings to explain the symptoms are fairly diagnostic of which condition?
Common causes of falls are
a. throw rugs b. telephone and lamp at the bedside c. handrails d. nonskid shoes and slippers