Nursing Elites

1. A client is admitted with coronary artery disease (CAD) and reports dyspnea at rest. What is the nurse's priority intervention?

• A. Elevate the head of the bed.
• B. Administer oxygen.
• C. Perform continuous ECG monitoring.
• D. Apply a nasal cannula.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The nurse's priority intervention for a client with coronary artery disease (CAD) experiencing dyspnea at rest is to elevate the head of the bed. Elevating the head of the bed helps improve lung expansion and reduces the workload on the heart, aiding in respiratory effort and cardiac function. This intervention is crucial in enhancing oxygenation and optimizing cardiac output in individuals with CAD presenting with dyspnea. Administering oxygen (Choice B) is important but elevating the head of the bed takes precedence as it directly addresses the client's respiratory distress. Continuous ECG monitoring (Choice C) and applying a nasal cannula (Choice D) are relevant interventions but not the priority when a client with CAD reports dyspnea at rest.

2. A client has a new prescription for alendronate. Which of the following instructions should be included in the teaching?

• A. Take the medication with a full glass of water.
• B. Lie down for 30 minutes after taking the medication.
• C. Take the medication at bedtime.
• D. Avoid dairy products while taking the medication.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct instruction for taking alendronate is to take it with a full glass of water to prevent esophageal irritation. This helps ensure proper absorption and reduces the risk of irritation to the esophagus. Choice B is incorrect because patients should remain upright for at least 30 minutes after taking alendronate to prevent esophageal irritation. Choice C is incorrect as alendronate should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. Choice D is also incorrect as there is no specific requirement to avoid dairy products while taking alendronate.

3. A client has a new prescription for methotrexate. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Avoid consuming dairy products.
• B. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
• C. Increase your intake of folic acid.
• D. Monitor for signs of hyperglycemia.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Increasing folic acid intake is crucial when taking methotrexate because the medication can lead to folic acid deficiency. Folic acid supplementation helps counteract this deficiency and reduces the risk of adverse effects associated with methotrexate therapy. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Avoiding dairy products is not specifically necessary for methotrexate therapy. Methotrexate is usually taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal side effects, so taking it on an empty stomach is not recommended. Monitoring for signs of hyperglycemia is not directly related to methotrexate use.

4. A client is wearing a continuous cardiac monitor, which begins to alarm at the nurse's station. The nurse sees no electrocardiographic complexes on the screen. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Call a code blue.
• B. Call the healthcare provider.
• C. Check the client's status and lead placement.
• D. Press the recorder button on the ECG console.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse to take is to check the client's status and lead placement. This step is crucial to ensure that the alarm is not triggered by a simple issue such as lead displacement. Calling a code blue (choice A) is premature without assessing the client first. Contacting the healthcare provider (choice B) can be done after ruling out basic causes for the alarm. Pressing the recorder button (choice D) is not as urgent as checking the client's status and lead placement in this scenario.

5. The healthcare provider has reinforced dietary instructions to a client with coronary artery disease. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the dietary instructions?

• A. I should substitute eggs and milk for meat.
• B. I will eliminate all cholesterol and fat from my diet.
• C. I should routinely use polyunsaturated oils in my diet.
• D. I need to consider becoming a strict vegetarian.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Using polyunsaturated oils, such as vegetable oils, can help manage cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. This dietary change is beneficial for individuals with coronary artery disease as it promotes heart health by improving cholesterol profiles. Substituting eggs and milk for meat (Choice A) may not address the overall dietary needs for managing the condition. Completely eliminating all cholesterol and fat from the diet (Choice B) is not necessary as the body needs some healthy fats. Considering becoming a strict vegetarian (Choice D) is a personal choice and may not necessarily be required to manage coronary artery disease.

Similar Questions