Nursing Elites

1. A patient experiences a chest wall contusion as a result of being struck in the chest with a baseball bat. The emergency department nurse would be most concerned if which finding is observed during the initial assessment?

• A. Paradoxic chest movement
• B. Complaint of chest wall pain
• C. Heart rate of 110 beats/minute
• D. Large bruised area on the chest

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Paradoxic chest movement is the most concerning finding as it indicates a potential flail chest, which can lead to severe compromise in gas exchange and rapid hypoxemia. This condition requires immediate attention to prevent respiratory distress. Complaint of chest wall pain, a slightly elevated heart rate, and a large bruised area on the chest are important assessment findings but may not immediately threaten gas exchange or respiratory function. Therefore, identifying paradoxic chest movement is critical for prompt intervention and management.

2. Which of the following clients is most appropriate for receiving telemetry?

• A. A client with syncope potentially related to cardiac dysrhythmia
• B. A client with unstable angina
• C. A client with sinus rhythm and PVCs
• D. A client who had a myocardial infarction 6 hours ago

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Telemetry is used to monitor the cardiac rhythms of clients with potentially unstable conditions or those rhythms that affect activities. Clients with syncope potentially related to cardiac dysrhythmia require continuous monitoring to detect any potential life-threatening dysrhythmias. Unstable angina can be monitored in a telemetry unit, but syncope with potential cardiac causes takes precedence. Clients with sinus rhythm and PVCs may not necessitate telemetry unless there are further indications of instability. A client who had a myocardial infarction 6 hours ago is typically monitored in an intensive care unit rather than a telemetry unit.

3. Which of the following diseases or disorders is acute?

• A. Pneumonia
• B. Paralysis
• C. Alzheimer's disease
• D. Diabetes

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is Pneumonia. Pneumonia is an acute illness characterized by inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs. It comes on suddenly and typically lasts for a short duration. Treatment can help cure pneumonia. Paralysis, Alzheimer's disease, and Diabetes are chronic conditions. Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of the body, usually permanent. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder leading to memory loss and cognitive decline, and it is incurable. Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body turns food into energy, and it requires lifelong management. Therefore, Pneumonia is the only acute condition among the options provided.

4. The parents of a newborn have been told that their child was born with bladder exstrophy, and the parents ask the nurse about this condition. Which explanation, given by the parents, indicates understanding of this condition?

• A. ''It's a hereditary disorder that occurs in every other generation.''
• B. ''It is caused by the use of medications taken by the mother during pregnancy.''
• C. ''It is a condition in which the urinary bladder is abnormally located in the pelvic cavity.''
• D. ''It's an extrusion of the urinary bladder to the outside of the body through a defect in the lower abdominal wall.''

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Bladder exstrophy is a congenital anomaly characterized by the extrusion of the urinary bladder to the outside of the body through a defect in the lower abdominal wall. The cause of bladder exstrophy is not precisely known, but it is believed to be due to a developmental abnormality during embryogenesis. The condition is more common in male newborns. Choice A is incorrect as bladder exstrophy is not a hereditary disorder that occurs in every other generation. Choice B is incorrect as bladder exstrophy is not caused by medications taken by the mother during pregnancy. Choice C is incorrect as it describes the condition inaccurately; it is not just an abnormal location of the bladder in the pelvic cavity, but rather an extrusion of the bladder outside the body through a defect in the lower abdominal wall.

5. A client is admitted for a head injury. His body is lying in an abnormal position and the physician states he is exhibiting decorticate posturing. Based on this assessment, the nurse can expect to find the client with:

• A. The legs extended and rotated internally; the elbow, wrists, and fingers flexed
• B. The legs pulled toward the chest; the head bent back at a 30-degree angle
• C. The back arched; the arms and legs extended and rigid
• D. The legs extended and rotated externally; the head turned to the right or the left

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Decorticate posturing is indicative of an injury to the corticospinal tract, resulting in abnormal posturing. It may occur spontaneously or in response to stimulation. This posture involves the legs being extended and rotated internally, while the elbows, wrists, and fingers are flexed inward. Choice A is correct because it accurately describes the expected positioning associated with decorticate posturing. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Choice B describes a different type of posturing known as opisthotonos. Choice C describes an exaggerated arching of the back, which is not characteristic of decorticate posturing. Choice D describes a different type of posturing with external rotation of the legs and head turning to the side, not consistent with decorticate posturing.

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