A client with a fractured leg is exhibiting shortness of breath pain upon deep breathing and hemoptysis. What do these clinical manifestations indicate to the nurse?

Congestive heart failure Pulmonary embolusAdult respiratory distress syndromeTension pneumothorax

Explanation.

Hemoptysis is a hallmark symptom of a pulmonary embolus and this clients fracture history and other clinical manifestations lead to this conclusion. The clinical manifestations do not correlate with the diagnoses in answers A C and D.