Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 70%
Full-length
The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. When assessing the client's vital signs, the nurse notes an apical pulse of 150 bpm, a respiratory rate of 46 breaths/minutes, and blood pressure of 100/60 mm Hg. The client appears anxious and restless. What should be the nurse's first course of action?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
These symptoms suggest a possible pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication of DVT, requiring immediate physician notification.