Overview
Quick Clinical Scenario
A 58 year old client with a mechanical aortic valve has had four days of fever and night sweats.
NCLEX-RN
NCLEX-RN
A 58-year-old client with a mechanical aortic valve has had four days of fever and night sweats. This morning the client develops right arm weakness and slurred speech. The temperature is 38.9 °C, heart rate 112/min, BP 168/94 mmHg, and a new murmur is audible. Clinical priority: Treat this as an acute stroke emergency in a client who may have infective endocarditis. Activate the stroke pathway, record the last known well time, and tell the stroke team about the fever, the new murmur and the valve history at the first call. Do not assume that standard clot-dissolving treatment is suitable, and do not start or stop any anticoagulant or antibiotic without an order.
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