The nurse is providing care to a patient who has just undergone a procedure in which epidural anesthesia was used. When the patient returned from the procedure, the nurse administered enoxaparin (Lovenox) 30 mg as ordered
Which of the following findings would warrant an im-mediate call to the prescriber if it occurred after enoxaparin administration? a. The patient's pulse oximetry reading decreases from 99% to 96%.
b. The patient complains of pain at the enoxaparin injection site.
c. The patient complains of numbness and tingling in the lower extremities.
d. The right dorsalis pedis pulse is +3, and the left dorsalis pedis pulse is +2.
C
LMW heparins can cause severe neurologic injury, including permanent paralysis, when given to a patient undergoing spinal or epidural anesthesia. Neurologic injury results from pressure on the spinal cord generated by epidural or spinal bleeding. Numbness and tingling in the lower extrem-ities can be a sign a sign of this condition.
Although the patient's oxygen saturation is slightly decreased, it is still within normal limits.
Pain at the injection site can occur and does not warrant an immediate call to the prescriber.
A pulse of +2 is palpable, and a pulse of +3 is strong and easily palpable. Both findings are nor-mal. No information indicates that the patient's pulse strength has changed.
You might also like to view...
A 69-year-old female patient has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma. The care team has collaborated with the patient and her family and agreed on a plan of care that includes administration of interferon alfa-2b
After administering interferon alfa-2b, the oncology nurse should anticipate that the patient may develop which of the following adverse effects? A) Profound diaphoresis B) Decreased level of consciousness C) Flu-like symptoms D) Cyanosis and pallor
While in the pediatrician's office for their child's 12-month well-child exam, the parents ask the nurse for advice on age-appropriate toys for their child
Based on the child's developmental level, the nurse should suggest which types of toys? Standard Text: Select all that apply. 1. Soft toys that can be manipulated and mouthed 2. Toys with black-and-white patterns 3. Toys that can pop apart and go back together 4. Jack-in-the-box toys 5. Push-and-pull toys
A patient is admitted with possible head and spinal cord injuries sustained after falling from a ladder. Which diagnostic test should the nurse expect to be prescribed that will identify the type and extent of this patient's injuries?
1. magnetic resonance imaging 2. cervical spine x-rays 3. spinal cord x-rays 4. cerebral angiogram
A patient arrives in the emergency department with a heart rate of 128 beats per minute and a temperature of 105? F. The patient's skin feels hot and moist
The free T4 level is 4 ng/dL, the free T3 level is 685 pg/dL, and the TSH level is 0.1 microunits/mL. The nurse caring for this patient will expect to administer: a. intravenous levothyroxine. b. iodine-131 (131I). c. methimazole (Tapazole). d. propylthiouracil (PTU).