Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is using the Glasgow Coma Scale to perform a neurologic assessment. A comatose client winces and pulls away from a painful stimulus. Which action should the nurse take next?

• A. Document that the client responds to the painful stimulus.
• B. Observe the client's response to verbal stimulation.
• C. Place the client on seizure precautions for 24 hours.
• D. Report decorticate posturing to the health care provider.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take next is to document that the client responds to the painful stimulus. In this scenario, the client has shown a purposeful response to pain by wincing and pulling away, which should be accurately documented. Verbal stimulation assessment typically follows the assessment of responses to painful stimuli. Placing the client on seizure precautions is not warranted based solely on the observed response to a painful stimulus. Decorticate posturing, which involves abnormal flexion movements, is not demonstrated by the client in this case, making it unnecessary to report to the provider.

2. A newly diagnosed client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comments to the nurse, 'There are so many rotten people around. Why couldn't one of them get HIV instead of me?' Which statement is the nurse's best response?

• A. 'I can understand why you are afraid of dying.'
• B. 'It seems unfair that you contracted this disorder.'
• C. 'Do you really wish this disorder on someone else?'
• D. 'Have you thought of speaking with your religious adviser?'

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The client is expressing feelings of unfairness and questioning why they have HIV. The nurse's best response is to acknowledge the client's emotions. Choice B, 'It seems unfair that you contracted this disorder,' reflects empathy and validates the client's feelings, which can help them move towards acceptance. Choice A, 'I can understand why you are afraid of dying,' introduces the topic of death, which may not be the primary concern at this stage. Choice C, 'Do you really wish this disorder on someone else?' is judgmental and could induce guilt in the client. Choice D, 'Have you thought of speaking with your religious adviser?' deflects the conversation and does not address the client's current emotional needs.

3. A mother complains to the nurse that her 3-year-old child refuses to go to preschool. The child rarely interacts and avoids playing with other children. Which statement would the nurse provide?

• A. Do not be concerned because all toddlers behave this way.
• B. Ask the teacher to push the child to speak up and open up to the other kids.
• C. Set boundaries and supervise the child closely.
• D. Give your child time to get acquainted and warm up to the new environment.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: According to the mother's description, the child is a slow-to-warm-up child. These children are uneasy in new situations or with unfamiliar people. The nurse would educate the mother to give the child time to be more familiar with the new environment. All toddlers do not behave in the same manner. A slow-to-warm-up child should not be pressured to do anything against his or her wishes. Setting boundaries and closely supervising the child is not the best approach for a child who needs time to adapt. Asking the teacher to push the child to open up can create more anxiety and stress for the child, which is not recommended.

4. The nurse who is preparing to give an adolescent client a prescribed antipsychotic medication notes that parental consent has not been obtained. Which action should the nurse take?

• A. Review the chart for a signed consent for medication administration.
• B. Get the guardian's permission to give the medication.
• C. Do not give the medication and document the reason.
• D. Complete an incident report and notify the supervisor.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In this scenario, the correct action for the nurse to take is not to administer the medication and document the reason. Since the adolescent client is a minor, parental or guardian consent is required for medical treatment, including medication administration. Option A, reviewing the chart for a signed consent for medication administration, is not the appropriate action in this situation as the focus is on parental consent for the client. Option B is incorrect because obtaining the health care provider's permission does not replace the need for parental consent for a minor. Option D, completing an incident report and notifying the supervisor, is unnecessary as there is no adverse event to report; the key concern is the lack of parental consent for medication administration.

5. When a client with newly diagnosed chronic bronchitis tells the home health nurse about continuing to smoke 1 or 2 cigarettes a day and not doing the prescribed pulmonary physiotherapy exercises, which response by the nurse is best?

• A. ''Tell me about your typical day before you were diagnosed with chronic lung disease.''
• B. ''Smoking and not doing the exercises will make your lung disease continue to get worse.''
• C. 'I can't make you stop doing what you are doing, and it's your choice to be sick or well.''
• D. ''Your shortness of breath is probably because of your smoking and not doing the exercises.''

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Asking the client to describe a typical day is the best response. More data are needed about the client's usual activities of daily living so that the plan can be adapted to the client's preferences. The statement indicating that smoking and not doing the pulmonary exercises will allow the lung disease to progress is probably not news to the client and does not help in determining factors that might be contributing to nonadherence. The statement that the nurse cannot stop the client's behaviors indicates that the client is to blame and will place the client on the defensive. The statement that the client's dyspnea is caused by smoking and not doing the pulmonary exercises places the client on the defensive and will decrease trust, preventing the nurse from obtaining more information about why the client is nonadherent with the treatment plan.

Similar Questions