Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Assessing postural blood pressures is important in determining if the client may be experiencing orthostatic hypotension, which could have contributed to the fall. Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure that can occur when a person stands up from a sitting or lying position. Older adults on antihypertensive medications are at increased risk for orthostatic hypotension. By monitoring postural blood pressures, the nurse can identify fluctuations in blood pressure that may put the client at risk for falls and implement appropriate interventions to prevent future falls. Monitoring serum sodium levels and creatinine levels are important for detecting electrolyte imbalances or kidney dysfunction but do not directly address the issue of orthostatic hypotension related to falls. Monitoring blood pressure every 2 hours may not provide valuable information on postural blood pressure changes that are associated with orthostatic hypotension.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The highest priority when caring for a patient with manifestations of appendicitis is to provide pain relief. By inserting a saline lock for intravenous pain medication, the patient can receive immediate pain relief to alleviate their discomfort. Pain management is crucial in appendicitis as it can help in improving the patient's overall well-being and reduce the risk of complications. While other options such as withholding food and fluids, performing preoperative skin preparation, or teaching postoperative exercises are important aspects of care, addressing the patient's pain is the top priority to ensure their comfort and well-being.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Option B, washing the lower extremities with mild soap, drying the legs, and applying a light moisturizer, indicates effective teaching for a client with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Proper hygiene, including gentle washing with mild soap, thorough drying to prevent moisture-related skin breakdown, and moisturizing to prevent dry skin and promote circulation, are key components of self-care for individuals with PVD. Option A is incorrect because sitting with a pillow behind the knees does not specifically address PVD self-care. Option C is incorrect because crossing the left leg over the right while sitting does not relate to appropriate PVD management. Option D is incorrect because smoking in any form is detrimental to vascular health and should be discouraged in PVD management.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When performing medication teaching for the client's family about fibrinolytic therapy with alteplase (rt-PA), the nurse should include information that this medication is administered to break up existing clots and increase cerebral blood flow. rt-PA works by converting plasminogen to plasmin, which helps dissolve clots and restore blood flow to the brain. It is used specifically for ischemic strokes, not hemorrhagic strokes, and is most effective when administered within 3 hours (up to 4.5 hours in some cases) of the stroke symptoms starting. It is associated with potential serious complications, including an increased risk of bleeding, which the nurse should also educate the family about.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: When the nurse asks the patient to move an extremity away from the body midline, they are assessing the movement of abduction. Abduction refers to the movement of a body part away from the midline of the body. In this case, moving the extremity away from the body midline represents abduction, as the limb is being moved outward or away from the center of the body. Flexion and extension involve bending and straightening movements, respectively, along a joint axis, while adduction involves moving a body part towards the midline of the body.