NCLEX-PN › Emergency Procedures
Why are blind finger-sweeps not recommended in infants with foreign objects in their oral cavities or airways?
They may force the object in deeper
They may injure the oral cavity
They may trigger a vomiting reflex
They may trigger a gasping reflex
Blind finger sweeps are not recommended in an infant with airway restriction due to a foreign object because they may inadvertently force the object deeper into the airway. A finger sweep should only be used if the object can be visualized. Injury to the oral cavity would not be a primary concern in the case of airway restriction, and a finger sweep would not be expected to trigger either gasping or vomiting in an infant.
A 39-year-old man presents to the ER with weakness, confusion, and vertigo. His heart rate is 91 and bounding, blood pressure is , temperature is
, and blood glucose is
. He is non-diabetic, he is not on any medication, and he denies recreational drug use. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his symptoms?
Hypoglycemia
Hypertension
Infection
Panic attack
The most likely cause of his symptoms is hypoglycemia, which is defined as a blood glucose below in a non-diabetic patient. The symptoms of hypoglycemia include altered consciousness, tremors, weakness, vertigo, headaches, heart palpitations, and a bounding pulse.
A temperature of is not considered abnormal as it may reflect a normal variation in body temperature.
His blood pressure is slightly elevated, but it is unclear whether this is typical for him or whether this represents a significant change from his normal blood pressure. Regardless it would not likely be sufficiently elevated to cause his symptoms.
It is also possible he may be experiencing a panic attack, but in the presence of his depressed blood sugar (and absence of signs of anxiety), hypoglycemia is the most likely cause of his symptoms.
Abdominal rigidity and decreased bowel sounds would raise your suspicions of what condition?
Peritonitis
Cholecystitis
Cystitis
Ulcerative colitis
Abdominal rigidity and decreased bowel sounds are classic signs of peritontis. In addition, the patient will often want to lie very still, as any motion often increases pain. Cystitis, ulcerative colitis, and cholecystitis all may cause significant abdominal tenderness but would not generally result in rigidity or decreased bowel sounds.
All of the following are forms of shock except __________.
All of these are forms of shock.
hypovolemic
anaphylactic
cardiogenic
The four main categories of shock are as follows: