Question

The nurse assesses a patient who has numerous petechiae on both arms. Which question should the nurse ask the patient?

a. "Do you take salicylates?"
b. "Are you taking any oral contraceptives?"
c. "Have you been prescribed antiseizure drugs?"
d. "How long have you taken antihypertensive drugs?"

Answer 1

The nurse should ask the patient if they take salicylates, given that these can affect platelet function and are a common cause of petechiae.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse assesses a patient who has numerous petechiae on both arms. When investigating the cause of petechiae, it is important to consider medications that might affect blood clotting. One relevant question the nurse could ask is, "Do you take salicylates?" Salicylates, such as aspirin, are a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can inhibit platelet function and increase bleeding time, potentially leading to the development of petechiae, which are small hemorrhages in the skin.