Nursing Elites

1. 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.

2. The mother of an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit expresses concern about her infant. Which nursing intervention best facilitates mother-infant bonding?

• A. Asking the mother to change her baby's diaper
• B. Assuring the mother that her baby is receiving excellent care
• C. Encouraging the mother to touch her baby whenever possible
• D. Keeping the mother informed about the care the nursing staff is providing her baby

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Encouraging the mother to touch her baby whenever possible is the best intervention to promote mother-infant bonding, especially when the infant is too ill to be held. Physical touch is a powerful way to establish a connection. Mother-infant bonding is a gradual process and encouraging touch can help initiate this bond. Asking the mother to change her baby's diaper is not the most appropriate action to promote bonding in this scenario. Assuring the mother about the care her baby is receiving is important but does not directly enhance bonding. Keeping the mother informed about the care her baby is receiving is crucial, but it alone does not actively foster bonding between the mother and infant.

3. A nurse is assigned to care for a close friend in the hospital setting. Which action should the nurse take first when given the assignment?

• A. Notify the friend that all medical information will be kept confidential.
• B. Explain the relationship to the charge nurse and ask for reassignment.
• C. Approach the client and ask if the assignment is uncomfortable.
• D. Accept the assignment but protect the client's confidentiality.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a nurse is assigned to care for a close friend, it is essential to maintain professional boundaries to ensure the best care for the client and the nurse. The most appropriate action for the nurse to take first is to explain the relationship to the charge nurse and ask for reassignment (B). This is important to avoid potential conflicts of interest and maintain objectivity in the care provided. Option A, notifying the friend about confidentiality, may not address the underlying issue of the conflict of interest. Option C, asking the client if the assignment is uncomfortable, may not be appropriate as it puts the client in a difficult position. Option D, accepting the assignment but protecting the client's confidentiality, does not address the conflict of interest and potential ethical issues that may arise from caring for a close friend.

4. The parents tell the nurse that their preschooler often awakes from sleep screaming in the middle of the night. The preschooler is not easily comforted and screams if the parents try to restrain the child. What should the nurse instruct the parents to do?

• A. Always read a story to the child before bedtime.
• B. Intervene only if necessary to protect the child from injury.
• C. Discuss counseling options with the primary health care provider.
• D. Try to wake the child and ask the child to describe the dream.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Waking up screaming from sleep at night indicates sleep terrors. The nurse would advise the parents to observe the child and intervene only if there is a risk for injury. Reading a story before bedtime helps calm the child before sleeping, but it does not ensure that the child will not have a sleep terror. There is no need for professional counseling because sleep terrors are a common phenomenon in preschool-age children. Trying to wake the child and asking the child to describe the dream is not appropriate as the child is not aware of anybody's presence during a sleep terror, and this may cause the child to scream and thrash more.

5. A client undergoing presurgical testing before a total abdominal hysterectomy says to the nurse, 'After I have this surgery I know my husband will never come near me again.' Which response would the nurse give?

• A. You're underestimating how your husband will respond to your surgery.
• B. You're concerned about the effect on your sexual relations.
• C. You're worried that the surgery will change how others see you.
• D. You're concerned about how your husband will respond to your surgery.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct response acknowledges the client's expressed concern about her husband's reaction to the surgery, encouraging further discussion without imposing the nurse's assumptions. Choice A reframes the client's concern to focus on the husband's response, aligning more closely with the client's stated worry. Choice B makes an assumption about the client's concerns regarding sexual relations, which may not be the primary focus of her statement. Choice C shifts the attention to how others perceive the client, deviating from the client's specific reference to her husband's reaction, thus not addressing the client's main concern.

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