Final answer:
Nurses should expect to find signs like vomiting of blood, dark tarry stools, pallor, rapid heart rate, and low blood pressure in clients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and must coordinate care promptly.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse assessing a client with upper gastrointestinal bleeding should expect to find certain clinical signs and symptoms that reflect this condition. These can include vomiting of blood (hematemesis), which may look like coffee grounds due to the interaction of the blood with gastric acid; dark, tarry stools (melena), which indicate the presence of digested blood in the stool; paleness or pallor due to anemia; a rapid heart rate (tachycardia); low blood pressure (hypotension); and symptoms of shock if the bleeding is severe. Additionally, the patient may have a history of risk factors such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, known ulcers, or alcohol abuse.
It is crucial for the nurse to act promptly and coordinate care to manage the patient's condition effectively, including volume resuscitation and involvement of a gastroenterologist for possible endoscopic intervention as indicated by the severity of the clinical presentation.