The nurse is performing an integumentary system assessment of a patient who has smoked for the last 40 years. The patient has clubbing of the fingernails. What does this finding indicate to the nurse?
The patient has asthma.
The patient has cardiovascular disease.
The patient has emphysema.
The patient has chronic hypoxemia.
The Correct Answer is D
A) The patient has asthma: While asthma can lead to respiratory symptoms and issues, it is not typically associated with clubbing of the fingernails. Asthma primarily affects airway constriction and inflammation, rather than causing the long-term changes in nail morphology seen with clubbing.
B) The patient has cardiovascular disease: Although some cardiovascular conditions can lead to clubbing, it is more commonly associated with chronic lung diseases. Cardiovascular disease might cause other signs or symptoms, but clubbing alone is not a definitive indicator of this condition.
C) The patient has emphysema: Emphysema, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is characterized by the destruction of lung tissue and impaired airflow. While it can contribute to hypoxemia, clubbing is not a common finding specifically associated with emphysema.
D) The patient has chronic hypoxemia: Clubbing of the fingernails is a classic sign of chronic hypoxemia, often resulting from long-term respiratory conditions like COPD, interstitial lung disease, or lung cancer. It indicates a prolonged lack of oxygen in the blood, leading to changes in the nail bed and digit shape. Given the patient's long smoking history, chronic hypoxemia is the most likely explanation for this finding.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is ["A","C","D"]
Explanation
A) Texture: Assessing the texture of the skin is an important part of a comprehensive skin assessment. It provides insights into the health and hydration status of the skin. Normal skin texture should feel smooth and even, while changes can indicate issues such as dryness or conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
B) Tachypnea: This term refers to an increased respiratory rate and is not a characteristic assessed in the skin. While it can indicate a physiological response to various conditions, it does not relate to skin health or characteristics and therefore is not relevant in this context.
C) Turgor: Skin turgor refers to the elasticity and hydration status of the skin, which can be assessed by pinching the skin. Proper turgor indicates adequate hydration, while decreased turgor can signal dehydration or other health issues. This is an essential component of skin assessment.
D) Temperature: Assessing the temperature of the skin can provide information about circulation and potential inflammation or infection. Normal skin temperature should feel warm and consistent, while variations can suggest underlying conditions such as fever or shock.
E) Tympany: Tympany is a term used in percussion assessments of the abdomen and is not applicable to skin assessment. It refers to a hollow sound produced by tapping on a body surface and does not pertain to skin characteristics.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) To determine the location of the pain: While knowing the location of the pain can be relevant for overall assessment, this is not the main reason for reassessing pain after treatment. The focus is more on understanding the response to treatment rather than just identifying where the pain is.
B) To establish the effectiveness of medication: Reassessing pain after treatment is essential to evaluate how well the medication has alleviated the pain. This helps the nurse determine if the current pain management approach is effective or if modifications are necessary to improve the patient's comfort.
C) To make changes to the patient's pain goal: While understanding pain levels can inform care planning, the primary purpose of reassessing pain is to gauge treatment effectiveness rather than directly changing the pain management goals at that moment.
D) To measure the pain's duration: Measuring the duration of pain may be useful in a broader context of pain management, but it is not the immediate rationale for reassessing pain after treatment. The focus should be on the effectiveness of the intervention rather than just how long the pain lasts.