A client has been taking a decongestant for allergic rhinitis. During a follow-up visit, which of the following suggests that the decongestant has been effective?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A decongestant is a medication often used to relieve nasal congestion and reduce allergy symptoms such as sneezing. If a client with allergic rhinitis has experienced reduced sneezing during a follow-up visit after taking a decongestant, it suggests that the medication has been effective in helping to alleviate their symptoms. Increased salivation, increased tearing, and headache are not typical indicators of the effectiveness of a decongestant for allergic rhinitis.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the brain, not connective tissue or bones. It is characterized by the accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates in the brain, leading to loss of cognitive function and memory. The nurse would be aware that Alzheimer's disease does not involve bones or purine metabolism, making connective tissue the correct answer in this context.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Cryoprecipitate is a blood product that contains concentrated amounts of clotting factors, including fibrinogen, Factor VIII, Factor XIII, and von Willebrand factor. These clotting factors are essential for the formation of blood clots, and when a patient has a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia or von Willebrand disease, cryoprecipitate is used to replace the missing or deficient clotting factors. Platelets are used to help with clot formation in cases of thrombocytopenia, albumin is used to treat low albumin levels in conditions like liver disease, and packed RBCs are used to treat anemia by providing oxygen-carrying red blood cells. However, for a patient with a bleeding disorder needing replacement of missing clotting factors, cryoprecipitate is the most appropriate blood product.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The best way to assess a patient's fatigue is to have her rate her fatigue on a scale of 0 to 10. Fatigue is primarily a subjective symptom, and patients are the best source of information regarding their own levels of fatigue. Using a standardized scale allows for a more quantitative assessment of the severity of the fatigue experienced by the patient. This can also help in monitoring changes in fatigue over time and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions aimed at managing fatigue. While observing the patient's activity level (choice A) can provide some information, it may not always accurately reflect the subjective experience of fatigue. Monitoring for changes in vital signs (choice C) and assessing hemoglobin and hematocrit values (choice D) can be important in evaluating overall health status and potential causes of fatigue, but they do not directly assess the patient's subjective experience of fatigue.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The client's platelet count of 50,000/ul is significantly low (normal range is around 150,000-450,000/ul). A low platelet count places the client at risk for bleeding tendencies. Therefore, the most appropriate nursing instruction to include in the teaching plan is bleeding precautions. This would involve educating the client on measures to prevent bleeding such as avoiding activities that may cause injury, using a soft toothbrush, avoiding tight clothing, and being cautious while shaving.