Author Question: A patient with endocarditis develops sudden leg pain with pallor, tingling, and loss of peripheral ... (Read 35 times)

scienceeasy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 565
A patient with endocarditis develops sudden leg pain with pallor, tingling, and loss of peripheral pulses. What should the nurse do first?
 
  1. notify the physician about these findings
  2. elevate the leg above the level of the heart
  3. wrap the extremity in a loose, warm blanket and apply a foot cradle
  4. perform passive range of motion (PROM) exercises to stimulate circulation

Question 2

The nurse is caring for patients on a cardiac unit. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
 
  1. patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who is reporting dyspnea
  2. patient who had a cardiac catheterization and will be ambulating for the first time
  3. patient receiving antibiotics for bacterial endocarditis who is reporting anxiety and chest pain
  4. patient recovering from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery with a temperature of 101F.



ilianabrrr

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 332
Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 3
The patient is exhibiting symptoms of acute arterial occlusion due to possible embolization of a vegetative lesion. Without immediate intervention, tissue ischemia and necrosis will develop, with ultimate loss of the extremity. The nurse should first wrap the leg in a loose, warm blanket to maintain the temperature and protect the leg from injury, apply a foot cradle, then notify the physician. Elevating the leg above the heart could worsen the ischemia. Passive range of motion exercises will increase tissue demand for oxygen and increase ischemia.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 3
The patient with bacterial endocarditis is at risk for thrombus formation. This patient requires immediate attention as chest pain and anxiety are signs of pulmonary embolism (PE), which is life-threatening. Dyspnea is a chronic symptom with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which requires assessment; a temperature of 101F requires further assessment; and the patient ambulating for the first time will be assessed by a nurse. However, the patient with a possible PE is the most emergent.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

Thyroid conditions may make getting pregnant impossible.

Did you know?

Approximately one in three babies in the United States is now delivered by cesarean section. The number of cesarean sections in the United States has risen 46% since 1996.

Did you know?

There are approximately 3 million unintended pregnancies in the United States each year.

Did you know?

The U.S. Pharmacopeia Medication Errors Reporting Program states that approximately 50% of all medication errors involve insulin.

Did you know?

More than 34,000 trademarked medication names and more than 10,000 generic medication names are in use in the United States.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library