76) ANSWER

A) Recognizing hemorrhage

RATIONALE

The cause of bleeding in a client with esophageal varices is usually rupture, which is a medical emergency. The hemorrhage that occurs is usually frank bleeding such as vomiting of copious amounts of dark-colored blood. The nurse should be able to recognize signs of hemorrhage (tachycardia, hypotension, low platelets, and hematocrit and hemoglobin H & H). Think of hemorrhage associated with esophageal varices.