Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 91%
Simulated
The nurse is caring for a client who just had a subclavian central venous catheter inserted. Which symptom should the nurse recognize as setting a priority for this client's care?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B: Tachycardia. After subclavian central venous catheter insertion, tachycardia can indicate a potential complication like cardiac tamponade or pneumothorax, which are life-threatening. Decreased pedal pulses (A) are not typically related to subclavian central venous catheter insertion. Presence of bibasilar crackles (C) may indicate fluid overload, but it is not as urgent as tachycardia. Headache (D) is a common side effect post-procedure and not a priority.