A patient who has had a splenectomy complains of malaise. The nurse checks the patient's temperature and finds it is 102°F (39°C). Which action by the nurse should take priority?
a. Notify the physician.
b. Encourage fluids to reduce fever and prevent dehydration.
c. Administer acetaminophen to reduce fever and relieve discomfort.
d. Explain to the patient that low-grade fevers are common after splenectomy because the spleen is part of the immune system.
ANS: A
D. Fever in the post-splenectomy period signals overwhelming post-splenectomy infection. This can be deadly if not recognized and treated quickly, so notifying the physician is essential. B and C can be done after the physician has been contacted. D. 102°F is not low-grade fever.
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A female client develops a fungal vaginal infection after being treated with antibiotics for strep throat. Which of the following components of the epidemiological triangle is primarily responsible?
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Using the West nomogram scale, the nurse needs to calculate the safe dosage of a medication for a child
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Client A lives alone and has become room-bound in her bedroom, which is the only place she feels calm and relaxed. She experiences extreme panic if circumstances force her to leave her room
Client B experiences extreme panic when alone and insists on accompanying family members on their errands to avoid staying at home alone. He feels calm and relaxed while he is out with family. Your nursing care interventions for these two clients are correctly based on what knowledge? a. Both clients are manifesting the same disorder based on fear of becoming helpless and incurring a panic attack. b. Client A is manifesting a disorder based on unreasonable fear of specific objects, while Client B is manifesting a disorder based on feeling an overwhelming need to perform ritualistic behaviors. c. Neither client is manifesting an anxiety disorder, as each is choosing his or her behavior within the range of normalcy. d. Client A is manifesting agoraphobia, but Client B is manifesting generalized anxiety. disorder.