A client diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) comes to the emergency department with severe back pain. She reports that she first felt pain after manually opening her garage door and that she is taking prednisone daily. When adverse effect of long-term corticosteroid therapy is most likely responsible for the pain?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Osteoporosis is the most likely adverse effect of long-term corticosteroid therapy responsible for the severe back pain experienced by the client with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Corticosteroids such as prednisone can lead to bone resorption and calcium loss, resulting in weakened bones and increased risk of fractures. Back pain in this case could be a sign of vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis induced by prolonged corticosteroid use. It is important for healthcare providers to monitor bone health in patients on long-term corticosteroid therapy and consider strategies to prevent or manage osteoporosis.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In the case of an acute hemolytic reaction during a blood transfusion, the most important nursing intervention is to immediately stop the transfusion and infuse normal saline solution. This is crucial to prevent further complications associated with the hemolysis of red blood cells. Normal saline helps maintain blood pressure and support kidney function, which may be compromised during a hemolytic reaction. Additionally, notifying the blood bank is important to investigate and prevent future reactions, and to determine if there was an error in blood compatibility. Administering antihistamines or changing the fluid type (such as dextrose 5% in water) will not address the underlying issue of hemolysis and may not be the most appropriate interventions in this scenario.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. An individual has no risk of exposure to HIV when they limit sexual contact to those without HIV antibodies. This is because HIV is primarily transmitted through contact with body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk of an infected person. If an individual only engages in sexual activities with people who do not have HIV antibodies, the risk of exposure to the virus is significantly reduced. It is important to note that although this reduces the risk, it does not completely eliminate it, as there is still a chance of transmission through other means such as sharing needles or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Severe anemia is associated with a reduced number of red blood cells, leading to decreased oxygen delivery to the body's tissues. Therefore, symptoms commonly seen in patients with severe anemia include pallor (pale skin), fatigue (due to decreased energy levels), and dyspnea (shortness of breath) especially on exertion (due to the heart working harder to compensate for the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood). Cold sensitivity is not a typical symptom of anemia and is not directly related to the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When assessing for pallor in a patient with anemia, the nurse should specifically look at the conjunctivae (the membranes that cover the white part of the eyes). In individuals with anemia, the lack of red blood cells can result in paleness in the conjunctivae, which can be observed as a pale or whitish color. This area is especially useful for assessing pallor in individuals with darker skin tones, such as African Americans, where pallor may be less noticeable on other areas of the body.