The client is experiencing severe shortness of breath but is not ...

[tuffie]

The client is experiencing severe shortness of breath but is not cyanotic. What lab value would the nurse review in an attempt to understand this phenomenon?
 
  1. Blood sugar
   2. Hemoglobin and hematocrit
   3. Cardiac enzymes
   4. Serum electrolytes

Question 2

The nurse assesses a client's temperature to be 99.8 degrees F. Which of the following nursing diagnoses would be appropriate for the client at this time?
 
  1. Risk for Imbalanced Body Temperature
   2. Hyperthermia
   3. Anxiety
   4. Deficient Fluid Volume

[Jayson]

Answer to Question 1

2. Hemoglobin and hematocrit

Rationale:
In order to exhibit cyanosis, the client's blood must contain about 5 g or more of unoxygenated hemoglobin per 100mL of blood and the surface blood capillaries must be dilated. Severe anemia will interfere with the development of cyanosis, so the nurse should review the hemoglobin and hematocrit. Blood sugar, cardiac enzymes, and serum electrolytes are not implicated in this phenomenon.

Answer to Question 2

1. Risk for Imbalanced Body Temperature

Rationale:
The client's temperature is slightly elevated, which places the client at risk for an imbalance in body temperature. Hyperthermia would be indicated if the client's temperature were greater than 102F. There is not enough information to determine whether the client is or is not experiencing anxiety or deficient fluid volume.