A nursing assessment that is most important in the care of a patient with a deep vein thrombosis is to assess for: 1. pale, cool extremity. 2. decreasing level of consciousness. 3.... A nursing assessment that is most important in the care of a patient with a deep vein thrombosis is to assess for: 1. pale, cool extremity. 2. decreasing level of consciousness. 3. sudden shortness of breath. 4. sudden acute pain.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the most important nursing assessment for a patient with deep vein thrombosis, offering multiple options to consider.
Answer
Sudden shortness of breath.
The most important assessment in the care of a patient with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is to assess for sudden shortness of breath, which may indicate a pulmonary embolism, a serious complication of DVT.
Answer for screen readers
The most important assessment in the care of a patient with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is to assess for sudden shortness of breath, which may indicate a pulmonary embolism, a serious complication of DVT.
More Information
Assessing for sudden shortness of breath is crucial because it can be a sign of a pulmonary embolism, which is a life-threatening complication that can arise from a deep vein thrombosis.
Tips
A common mistake is focusing solely on the affected limb's physical symptoms and overlooking systemic signs of complications.
Sources
- Pulmonary Embolism (PE): Practice Essentials - emedicine.medscape.com
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