Nursing Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment NCLEX Practice Quiz #3

After exposure to hot weather and sun, clients with signs and symptoms of heat-related ailment rush to the Emergency Department (ED). Sort clients into those who need critical attention and those with less serious conditions. • 1. An abandoned person who is a teacher; has altered mental state, weak muscle movement, hot, dry, pale skin; and whose duration of heat exposure is unknown. • 2. An elderly traffic enforcer who complains of dizziness and syncope after standing under the heat of the sun for several hours to perform his job. • 3. A sportsman who complains of severe leg cramps and nausea, and displays paleness, tachycardia, weakness, and diaphoresis. • 4. A comparatively healthy housewife who states that the air conditioner has been down for 5 days and who exhibits hypotension, tachypnea, profuse diaphoresis, and fatigue. The correct order is shown above 1. The abandoned person has symptoms of heat stroke, a medical emergency, which heightens the risk of brain damage. The sequelae of the insult may persist beyond the initial CNS dysfunction, involving injury to the gut, kidney, skeletal muscle, or other organ systems. 2. The elderly traffic enforcer is at risk for heat syncope and should be instructed to relax in a cool environment and withdraw from approaching related circumstances. It represents a temporary, self-limited dizziness, weakness, or loss of consciousness during prolonged standing or positional changes in a hot environment, including physical activity. 3. The sportsman is experiencing heat cramps, which can be treated with rest and fluids. This condition is due to a relative deficiency of sodium, potassium, chloride, or magnesium. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, sweating, and tachycardia. 4. The homemaker is having heat exhaustion and management includes IV or oral fluids and settling in a cool area. External temperatures may be more moderate if associated with intense physical exertion. Survey-based data has shown that some of the most common symptoms are headache, exhaustion, or a combination of symptoms