Nursing Elites

1. A client with a fractured femur is placed in skeletal traction. What action should the nurse prioritize?

• A. Ensure that the weights are freely hanging.
• B. Place pillows under the client's knees.
• C. Adjust the weights to alleviate discomfort.
• D. Ensure that the traction ropes are free of knots.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct action the nurse should prioritize when a client is placed in skeletal traction for a fractured femur is to ensure that the weights are freely hanging. This is crucial to maintain proper alignment of the bone and prevent complications. Placing pillows under the client's knees (Choice B) is not a priority in skeletal traction. Adjusting the weights to alleviate discomfort (Choice C) should not be done without proper orders from the healthcare provider. Ensuring that the traction ropes are free of knots (Choice D) is important but ensuring the weights hang freely is the priority to maintain traction effectiveness.

2. An unresponsive male victim of a diving accident is brought to the emergency department where immediate surgery is required to save his life. No family members are available. What action should the nurse take first?

• A. Ask the friend to sign an informed consent.
• B. Notify the unit manager that a court order is needed.
• C. Continue providing life support until a guardian is found.
• D. Proceed with surgery preparation without consent.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In emergency situations where immediate surgery is required to save a patient's life and no family members are available, consent can be waived to proceed with necessary interventions. The priority in this scenario is to proceed with surgery preparation without waiting for consent, as any delay could jeopardize the patient's life. Asking the friend to sign informed consent or notifying the unit manager for a court order would cause unnecessary delays, which are not advisable in this critical situation. Continuing life support until a guardian is found is not the most appropriate action when immediate surgical intervention is necessary.

3. A client presses the call bell and requests pain medication for a severe headache. To assess the quality of the client's pain, which approach should the nurse use?

• A. Use the Wong-Baker Faces pain rating scale
• B. Assess vital signs to gauge pain severity
• C. Ask the client to describe the pain
• D. Offer a 1-10 pain scale

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Asking the client to describe the pain is the most appropriate approach to assess the quality of pain. It provides valuable qualitative information that aids in understanding the nature, cause, and potential management strategies for the headache. While pain rating scales like the Wong-Baker Faces scale and using vital signs can help quantify pain severity, they do not offer specific descriptive details that can give insights into the type and characteristics of the pain experienced by the client.

4. A client is admitted with ascites, malnutrition, and recent complaints of spitting up blood. What assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?

• A. Capillary refill of 8 seconds
• B. Bruises on arms and legs
• C. Round and tight abdomen
• D. Pitting edema in lower legs

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A round and tight abdomen suggests fluid accumulation from ascites, which could signal a more severe underlying condition requiring immediate intervention. This finding indicates increased intra-abdominal pressure, which can lead to respiratory compromise or other serious complications. Capillary refill time, bruises on arms and legs, and pitting edema in the lower legs are important assessments but do not directly indicate the need for immediate intervention as a round and tight abdomen does in this case.

5. After receiving hemodialysis, what is the nurse's priority assessment for a client with chronic kidney disease?

• A. Monitor the client's potassium level.
• B. Assess the client's blood pressure.
• C. Check the client's hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
• D. Monitor for signs of infection.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor the client's potassium level. During hemodialysis, there is a risk of potassium shifting, which can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias if not properly managed. Assessing the potassium level is crucial to prevent complications. While assessing blood pressure, checking hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and monitoring for signs of infection are important aspects of care for a client with chronic kidney disease, monitoring potassium levels takes precedence due to its immediate life-threatening potential post-dialysis.

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