A nurse assesses a client admitted with a brown recluse spider bite. Which priority assessment should the nurse perform to identify complications of this bite?

a. Ask the client about pruritus at the bite site.
b. Inspect the bite site for a bluish purple vesicle.
c. Assess the extremity for redness and swelling.
d. Monitor the client's temperature every 4 hours.


ANS: D
Fever and chills indicate systemic toxicity, which can lead to hemolytic reactions, kidney failure, pulmonary edema, cardiovascular collapse, and death. Assessing for a fever should be the nurse's priority. All other symptoms are normal for a brown recluse bite and should be assessed, but they do not provide information about complications from the bite, and therefore are not the priority.

Nursing

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While interacting with the family of a critically ill patient, the nurse suggests that the family must be feeling very anxious and perhaps angry. How does this nursing action benefit the family?

A) Removes the focus of the conversation from the patient B) Focusing on feelings helps the family avoid delayed grief and unhealthy coping C) Gives validation of need for psychological counseling D) Reduces family insistence for patient progress information

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The nurse is concerned about new scheduling changes and their impact on staffing levels

If applying the component of professional comportment, in which ways should the nurse respond? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Call a friend in another care area and discuss the changes in the unit station. 2. Request a private discussion of the proposed changes with the nurse manager. 3. Shake her head and laugh while saying, "Here we go again." 4. Discuss the changes with other staff members in the unit hallway. 5. Ask to serve on the committee that will evaluate the changes over the next 6 months.

Nursing

Which of the following describes proxemics?

a. Study of relationship between message and topic at hand b. Study of implied meanings within individuals c. Study of an individual's use of space d. Study of the emotional personal space boundary

Nursing

Which strategy started by managed care is now the most important strategy used to try to manage outcomes?

1. Formularies 2. Provider performance 3. Efficiency management 4. Provider panels

Nursing