Question

isabel arrived at the er (emergency room) with pain in the abdomen, vaginal bleeding, and dizziness. during triage (preliminary assessment of patients in order to determine urgency of their need for treatment), the er nurse documents isabel is a smoker, carrier of an intrauterine device, and has had a pelvic infection within the last year. the er nurse says all of isabels symptoms point to a(an) _______________ and her condition is bumped up to an emergency status.
a endometriosis
b urinary tract infection
c ectopic pregnancy
d polycystic ovary syndrome

Explanation:

• Endometriosis (A): Typically presents with pelvic pain (often cyclical), heavy menstrual bleeding, and infertility. While abdominal pain can occur, the combination of symptoms like dizziness (which could indicate significant blood loss) along with risk factors like intrauterine device (IUD) use (though IUDs are more linked to other conditions in this context) doesn't strongly point to endometriosis as an emergency - endometriosis is usually a chronic condition managed over time, not an immediate - emergency - status condition based on the given symptoms.
• Urinary tract infection (B): Symptoms include frequent urination, burning on urination, lower abdominal pain. There is no mention of urinary - specific symptoms like dysuria (painful urination) or frequency. Also, vaginal bleeding is not a typical symptom of a urinary tract infection.
• Ectopic pregnancy (C): Risk factors include pelvic inflammatory disease (Isabel had a pelvic infection), IUD use (though IUDs reduce the risk of pregnancy, they have a higher association with ectopic pregnancy if pregnancy occurs), smoking. Symptoms are abdominal pain (due to the growing embryo in a non - uterine location, which can cause rupture), vaginal bleeding (as the body tries to expel the pregnancy), and dizziness (which can be due to internal bleeding if the fallopian tube ruptures). Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency as it can lead to life - threatening hemorrhage.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (D): Symptoms include irregular periods, hirsutism, acne, obesity. There is no indication of these hormonal - related symptoms in Isabel's case.

Answer:

C. ectopic pregnancy