ATI RN
RN ATI Capstone Proctored Comprehensive Assessment A
1. A nurse is assessing a postoperative patient for signs of infection. Which finding is most concerning?
- A. Mild redness at the incision site.
- B. Increased drainage from the surgical site.
- C. Fever of 101°F.
- D. Normal white blood cell count.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: A fever of 101°F is the most concerning finding when assessing a postoperative patient for signs of infection. Fever can indicate an inflammatory response to an infection, and in a postoperative patient, it can signal a surgical site infection or a systemic infection. Prompt attention is necessary to prevent complications such as sepsis. Mild redness at the incision site and increased drainage can be expected in the early postoperative period due to the normal healing process. A normal white blood cell count does not rule out infection as it can be influenced by various factors, and some infections may not initially cause a rise in white blood cells.
2. Which intervention is essential when caring for a patient with a nasogastric (NG) tube?
- A. Suction the NG tube every 4 hours.
- B. Check the placement of the NG tube before each feeding.
- C. Flush the NG tube with water before and after each medication administration.
- D. Remove the NG tube once the patient feels comfortable.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Checking the placement of the NG tube before each feeding is crucial to ensure it is correctly positioned and safe to use. Option A is incorrect as routine suctioning can lead to complications and should only be done as needed. Option C is not necessary unless there are specific instructions for flushing. Option D is incorrect as the NG tube should only be removed by healthcare professionals based on medical criteria, not solely based on the patient's comfort.
3. Which action should the nurse take to minimize the risk of medication errors?
- A. Prepare medications ahead of time to ensure they are ready.
- B. Ensure two nurses double-check medications before administration.
- C. Administer medications at the same time each day.
- D. Rely on memory to administer the correct medications.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because ensuring two nurses double-check medications before administration is a crucial step in minimizing the risk of medication errors. This practice helps in verifying the accuracy of medication orders and reducing the chances of mistakes. Choice A may not necessarily prevent errors as preparing medications ahead of time does not guarantee accuracy. Choice C, administering medications at the same time each day, is important for consistency but does not directly address the risk of errors. Choice D, relying on memory, is highly discouraged as it increases the likelihood of errors due to human forgetfulness.
4. What is the most important nursing action when caring for a patient with a central venous catheter (CVC)?
- A. Monitor the patient's blood pressure regularly.
- B. Change the CVC dressing every 72 hours.
- C. Flush the CVC with normal saline every shift.
- D. Avoid using the CVC for blood draws.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The most important nursing action when caring for a patient with a central venous catheter (CVC) is to change the CVC dressing every 72 hours. This practice reduces the risk of infection and ensures the catheter remains secure. Monitoring the patient's blood pressure regularly is important but not the most crucial action when managing a CVC. Flushing the CVC with normal saline is essential but not the most important action. Avoiding using the CVC for blood draws is a good practice, but it is not the most critical nursing action in this scenario.
5. What is the priority action for a patient with a fever?
- A. Administer an antipyretic medication as prescribed.
- B. Assess the patient's temperature regularly.
- C. Provide cooling measures such as a cool compress.
- D. Provide the patient with blankets for comfort.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The priority action when a patient has a fever is to assess the patient's temperature regularly. Monitoring the temperature helps track the effectiveness of interventions and detect any worsening fever. Administering antipyretic medication (Choice A) should be done based on healthcare provider's orders after assessing the patient's condition. While providing cooling measures such as a cool compress (Choice C) can help reduce fever, assessing the temperature takes precedence. Providing blankets for comfort (Choice D) is not the priority when dealing with a fever.
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