The client has experienced left-sided chest trauma 3 hours ago, which included simple fractures of three ribs. The nurse now finds the client to have increased dyspnea, pulse oxi-metry of 86%, and tracheal deviation to the right
What is the nurse's interpretation of these findings? A. Flail chest
B. Pulmonary contusion
C. Tension pneumothorax
D. Acute respiratory distress syndrome
C
Blunt chest trauma can cause an air leak into the thoracic cavity, collapsing the lung on the side with the air leak. More air enters the pleural space with each breath, increasing intrathoracic pressure on the affected side, moving the trachea to the unaffected side, and leading to decreased cardiac output. This condition is life threatening without intervention.
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A patient who has had a total parathyroidectomy has returned to the unit from PACU. The nurse caring for the patient knows to assess for what complication following this surgery?
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1. "The eye cannot drain the fluid that it produces.". 2. "It means that the condition occurs within days.". 3. "It is a rare type of glaucoma.". 4. "One of the first signs of it is pain behind the eyes.".