Nursing Elites

1. A client in a long-term care facility reports to the nurse that he has not had a bowel movement in 2 days. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

• A. Instruct the caregiver to offer a glass of warm prune juice at mealtimes.
• B. Notify the healthcare provider and request a prescription for a large-volume enema.
• C. Assess the client's medical record to determine the client's normal bowel pattern.
• D. Instruct the caregiver to increase the client's fluids to five 8-ounce glasses per day.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The first step in addressing a client's reported change in bowel habits is to assess the client's normal bowel pattern. This assessment helps the nurse understand the client's typical bowel habits and identify any deviations from the norm. By assessing the medical record first, the nurse gains valuable information that guides further interventions. In this scenario, offering prune juice (Option A) or increasing fluids (Option D) may not be appropriate until the client's normal bowel pattern is known. Notifying the healthcare provider for a large-volume enema (Option B) is premature without understanding the client's baseline. Therefore, assessing the client's medical record is the priority before proceeding with any interventions.

2. Which instruction should the nurse provide to a preschool-age client to prevent altered growth and development?

• A. Trust
• B. Empathy
• C. Impulse control
• D. Problem-solving

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Teaching a preschool-age child and their parents about the importance of impulse control is essential to prevent the risk of altered growth and development. Preschool-age children are at a stage where they are developing self-regulation skills, so teaching them to manage their impulses can help in their overall growth and development. Trust is a critical concept taught during infancy to foster secure attachments. Empathy is crucial for parents of toddlers to understand their child's emotions. Problem-solving skills are typically emphasized for school-age children to enhance cognitive development.

3. A male client is laughing at a television program with his wife when the evening nurse enters the room. He says his foot is hurting and he would like a pain pill. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Ask him to rate his pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
• B. Encourage him to wait until bedtime so the pill can help him sleep.
• C. Attend to the acutely ill client's needs first because this client is laughing.
• D. Instruct him in the use of deep breathing exercises for pain control.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Obtaining a subjective estimate of the pain experience by asking the client to rate his pain helps the nurse determine which pain medication should be administered and also provides a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of the medication. Medicating for pain should not be delayed to use it as a sleep medication, so encouraging him to wait until bedtime is incorrect. Option C is judgmental and inappropriate as all clients deserve prompt attention. Option D should be used as an adjunct to pain medication, not instead of medication, so instructing him in deep breathing exercises alone is not the priority in this situation.

4. When assessing an older adult, which vital sign changes would the nurse recognize as occurring with aging?

• A. Increase in pulse rate
• B. Widened pulse pressure
• C. Increase in body temperature
• D. Decrease in diastolic blood pressure

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When assessing an older adult, the nurse should be aware that with aging, systolic blood pressure tends to increase, resulting in widened pulse pressure. While in many older individuals both systolic and diastolic pressures increase, the pulse rate and body temperature typically do not increase with aging. Therefore, the correct answer is widened pulse pressure. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because pulse rate does not necessarily increase with age, body temperature generally remains stable, and diastolic blood pressure may increase instead of decreasing in many older adults.

5. When observing an infant lying quietly in the bassinet with eyes open wide, what action should the nurse take in response to the infant's behavior?

• A. Brightening the lights in the room
• B. Encouraging the mother to talk to her baby
• C. Wrapping and then turning the infant to the side
• D. Beginning physical and behavioral assessments

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When an infant is lying quietly in a bassinet with eyes open wide, it indicates a quiet, alert state. This state is optimal for infant stimulation and interaction. Bright lights can be disturbing to newborns and may disrupt the mother-infant interaction. Wrapping and turning the infant to the side is typically done for a sleeping infant. While physical and behavioral assessments are important, in this scenario, the priority is to encourage mother-infant bonding and communication, as it is a valuable opportunity for interaction and stimulation.

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