A nurse assessing a client with DIC should anticipate which physical finding?

A nurse assessing a client with DIC should anticipate which physical finding?

• A. Bradycardia
• B. Hypertension
• C. Epistaxis
• D. Xerostomia

Answer: (C)

DIC causes both widespread clotting and consumption of platelets and clotting factors, leading to a bleeding tendency. Because mucous membranes are fragile and richly vascularized, spontaneous or easy bleeding often appears there. A nosebleed is a classic sign of this mucosal bleeding tendency, so epistaxis fits the expected physical finding in a patient with DIC. Bradycardia isn’t typical of DIC and, if anything, tachycardia can occur with blood loss or hypovolemia. Hypertension is not a characteristic feature, and xerostomia is unrelated to the coagulation problem.

DIC causes both widespread clotting and consumption of platelets and clotting factors, leading to a bleeding tendency. Because mucous membranes are fragile and richly vascularized, spontaneous or easy bleeding often appears there. A nosebleed is a classic sign of this mucosal bleeding tendency, so epistaxis fits the expected physical finding in a patient with DIC.

Bradycardia isn’t typical of DIC and, if anything, tachycardia can occur with blood loss or hypovolemia. Hypertension is not a characteristic feature, and xerostomia is unrelated to the coagulation problem.