Question

The nurse is caring for a group of clients on a medical surgical unit. Which of the following clients should receive priority status? A. A client with chronic renal failure whose \(\mathrm{Hgb}\) is \(10.2 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{dL}\) B. A client with pernicious anemia who is complaining of tingling in the right arm C. A client with a pleural effusion and an oxygen saturation of \(95 \%\) D. A client with hypertension reporting numbness in the right hand

Short answer

Answer: D. A client with hypertension reporting numbness in the right hand.

Step-by-step solution

Understand each client's medical situation

In this step, we will analyze each option and their corresponding medical situation. A. The client with chronic renal failure has a low hemoglobin (Hgb) level (10.2 g/dL), which can indicate anemia, but it is not critically low. B. The client with pernicious anemia is experiencing tingling in the right arm, which is a symptom of nerve damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency, but this is not an immediately life-threatening situation. C. The client with pleural effusion has an oxygen saturation level of 95%, which is slightly reduced but still within a safe range. D. The client with hypertension is reporting numbness in the right hand, which could be a symptom of a more severe issue, like a stroke.

Determine the severity of each client's condition

In this step, we will rank the clients' severity according to their medical conditions. 1. A client with hypertension reporting numbness in the right hand (could be a sign of a stroke, which is considered a medical emergency) 2. A client with pernicious anemia who is complaining of tingling in the right arm (nerve damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency, requires treatment but not an immediate threat) 3. A client with chronic renal failure whose Hgb is 10.2 g/dL (anemia related to kidney disease, may need treatment but not the highest priority) 4. A client with pleural effusion and oxygen saturation of 95% (it is slightly reduced but still within safe limits, not an immediate concern)

Assign priority status to the client who has the most severe condition

According to the severity rankings we determined in the previous step, the client with hypertension reporting numbness in the right hand should receive priority status. This situation requires immediate medical attention as it could be a symptom of a stroke or another severe issue. Therefore, the correct answer is: D. A client with hypertension reporting numbness in the right hand.