A patient often seems to have difficulty coming up with the right words. He says, "I was on my way to work, and when I got there, the thing that you step into that goes up was so full that I decided to take the stairs.' The nurse will note on his chart that he is using or experiencing:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Circumlocution. This patient is using circumlocution, which is a communication strategy where a person describes something in a roundabout way instead of using the specific word. In this case, the patient is describing an elevator as "the thing that you step into that goes up." This is a common feature of language difficulties seen in conditions like aphasia. A: Blocking is when a person suddenly stops speaking in the middle of a sentence due to an inability to recall a word, which is not happening in this scenario. B: Neologism is the creation of new words or phrases, which is not evident here. D: Circumstantiality is a speech pattern where the person includes unnecessary details and goes off on tangents, which is not demonstrated in the patient's response.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Step 1: The patient has a history of hypertension and diabetes, putting them at risk for cardiovascular complications. Step 2: Among the choices, stroke is a common complication associated with uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes. Step 3: Monitoring for signs of stroke is crucial to prevent serious consequences in this patient population. Step 4: Hyperglycemia (A) is a common complication of diabetes, but it is not directly related to the patient's hypertension. Step 5: Hypokalemia (C) is an electrolyte imbalance that can occur in some conditions but is not as directly linked to the patient's history. Step 6: Hypoglycemia (D) is a potential complication in diabetic patients but is not as common as hyperglycemia and is not directly related to hypertension.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Blood pressure. Dizziness, blurred vision, and nausea can be symptoms of hypotension or hypertension. Assessing the patient's blood pressure first is crucial to determine if the symptoms are related to blood pressure fluctuations. Electrolyte levels (A) and blood glucose levels (C) may be assessed later but do not address the immediate concern. Temperature and respiratory rate (D) are important assessments but are not the priority in this scenario where cardiovascular status needs to be evaluated first.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because encouraging deep breathing and coughing exercises helps to improve lung function and prevent complications in pneumonia. This intervention can help clear secretions, improve oxygenation, and prevent respiratory distress. Administering antibiotics (choice A) is important but not the priority for immediate patient care. Providing pain relief (choice C) is essential but addressing respiratory function is more critical. Monitoring oxygen saturation levels (choice D) is necessary, but promoting lung function through exercises takes precedence.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: Choice A is correct because using the inhaler at the onset of symptoms can help prevent the asthma attack from worsening. This early intervention can be crucial in managing asthma effectively. Waiting for symptoms to subside (Choice B) can be risky as it may delay necessary treatment. Using the inhaler preventively (Choice C) without symptoms is unnecessary and can lead to overuse. Not using the inhaler for mild symptoms (Choice D) can allow the condition to escalate. Thus, Choice A is the most appropriate response for managing an asthma attack effectively.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because a risk diagnosis involves identifying potential problems that an individual may develop in the future. This type of diagnosis focuses on preemptive measures to prevent or minimize the risk of these potential issues occurring. This is different from options A, B, and D, which do not pertain to future potential problems but rather current levels of wellness, past problems and goals, and strengths respectively. Therefore, option C best aligns with the concept of risk diagnosis in nursing classification.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Percuss the thorax bilaterally, noting any differences in percussion tones. This is the best action because it allows the nurse to assess for potential underlying issues such as pneumothorax or pleural effusion which could be causing the respiratory distress. Percussion can help identify abnormal air or fluid accumulation in the chest. Choice A is incorrect because simply counting respirations does not provide immediate information on the cause of distress. Choice C is incorrect as inspecting for masses and bleeding does not directly address the urgency of the situation. Choice D is incorrect as waiting for a chest x-ray would delay necessary interventions in a critical situation.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because shortness of breath and respiratory distress indicate a potentially life-threatening emergency requiring immediate intervention. This problem falls under the first-level priority as it addresses airway, breathing, and circulation, which are essential for survival. Choices A, B, and C are not first-level priorities as they do not pose an immediate threat to the patient's life or require urgent intervention. Postoperative pain, diabetes teaching, and a small foot laceration are important but can be addressed at a later time without immediate harm to the patient.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Linea nigra. This is a common finding during pregnancy due to hormonal changes causing hyperpigmentation on the abdomen. The other choices are incorrect because keratosis refers to a skin condition characterized by rough, scaly patches; melasma is a condition causing dark patches on the skin, often due to hormonal changes; and linea gravida is not a recognized term in dermatology. Therefore, based on the context of the patient being pregnant and presenting with hyperpigmentation on her face, the most likely finding would be Linea nigra, a dark line that runs from the navel to the pubic bone during pregnancy.