A nurse is caring for four clients. After reviewing today's laboratory results, which client would the nurse assess first?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Client with a prothrombin time (PT) of 28 seconds. A PT measures the time it takes for blood to clot, indicating the client's clotting ability. A PT of 28 seconds is prolonged, suggesting a potential bleeding risk. This client should be assessed first to prevent any complications related to inadequate clotting. A: Client with an international normalized ratio of 2.8 - Although an elevated INR indicates a risk of bleeding, it is not as time-sensitive as a prolonged PT. B: Client with a platelet count of 128,000/mm3 - While low platelets can lead to bleeding, a prolonged PT is more critical for immediate assessment. D: Client with a red blood cell count of 5.1 million/mcl - This value is within normal range and does not indicate an urgent issue related to clotting.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Tapeworm infestation. The symptoms described are consistent with vitamin B12 deficiency, which can result in macrocytic anemia and neurological symptoms. Chronic atrophic gastritis and ileal resection can impair absorption of vitamin B12, leading to deficiency. Alcoholism can also lead to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Tapeworm infestation, on the other hand, does not directly affect vitamin B12 absorption. Therefore, tapeworm infestation is not a factor causing the condition described.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Monocytosis. In chronic bacterial infections, monocytosis occurs due to the increased presence of monocytes in response to the persistent infection. Monocytes differentiate into macrophages to help eliminate the bacteria. Neutrophilia (A) is more common in acute bacterial infections. Basophilia (B) is associated with conditions like chronic myeloid leukemia, not bacterial infections. Lymphocytosis (C) is often seen in viral infections or chronic inflammatory conditions, not specifically in chronic bacterial infections.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Filovirus. Viral hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses within the Filovirus family, which includes Ebola and Marburg viruses. Symptoms such as fever, vomiting, hypotension, and facial edema are characteristic of these infections. Togavirus (choice B) does not typically cause hemorrhagic fevers. Adenovirus (choice C) and Bunyavirus (choice D) are not commonly associated with viral hemorrhagic fevers. Therefore, the suspected virus in this patient most likely belongs to the Filovirus family.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD). Sulfonamides can trigger hemolysis in patients with G6PD deficiency due to oxidative stress on red blood cells. G6PD enzyme deficiency impairs the ability of red blood cells to combat oxidative damage, leading to hemolysis. In this case, the patient's hemoglobin decreased significantly after sulfonamide treatment, indicating red blood cell destruction. The other choices (A: Sickle cell disease, B: Thalassemia minor, C: Hereditary spherocytosis) are not directly associated with sulfonamide-induced hemolysis and would not explain the observed decrease in hemoglobin levels after treatment.