Nursing Elites

1. A client with a history of diabetes mellitus is admitted with a blood glucose level of 600 mg/dl and is unresponsive. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

• A. Administer 50% dextrose IV push.
• B. Administer insulin as prescribed.
• C. Monitor the client's urine output.
• D. Obtain a blood glucose level.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering 50% dextrose IV push is the first priority in treating a blood glucose level of 600 mg/dl in a client who is unresponsive due to hyperglycemia. This intervention is crucial to rapidly raise the client's blood glucose levels and address the emergency situation. Administering insulin (Choice B) would further lower the blood glucose level, worsening the client's condition. Monitoring urine output (Choice C) and obtaining a blood glucose level (Choice D) are important assessments but are secondary to the immediate need to address the high blood glucose levels causing the client's unresponsiveness.

2. The mother of a one-month-old boy born at home brings the infant to his first well-baby visit. She mentions that he was born two weeks after his due date and is a 'good, quiet baby' who almost never cries. To assess for hypothyroidism, what question is most important for the nurse to ask the mother?

• A. Has your son had any immunizations yet?
• B. Is your son sleepy and difficult to feed?
• C. Are you breastfeeding or bottle feeding your son?
• D. Were any relatives born with birth defects?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Sleepiness and difficulty feeding are key signs of congenital hypothyroidism, which requires early diagnosis and treatment. Asking about immunizations (choice A) is important but not directly related to assessing hypothyroidism. The feeding method (choice C) is relevant for overall health but not specific to hypothyroidism. Inquiring about relatives with birth defects (choice D) is not the most crucial question to assess hypothyroidism in this scenario.

3. An elderly female client with osteoarthritis reports increasing pain and stiffness in her right knee and asks how to reduce these symptoms. In responding to the client, the nurse recognizes what pathology as the cause of her symptoms?

• A. Destruction of joint cartilage.
• B. Inflammation of synovial membrane.
• C. Formation of bone spurs.
• D. Reduction of joint space.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Corrected Rationale: Osteoarthritis typically involves the destruction of joint cartilage, leading to pain and stiffness. This destruction of joint cartilage results in bone rubbing against bone, causing pain and reduced mobility. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Inflammation of the synovial membrane (choice B) is more commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Formation of bone spurs (choice C) and reduction of joint space (choice D) are manifestations that can occur as a result of osteoarthritis but are not the primary pathology responsible for the symptoms of pain and stiffness.

4. When organizing home visits for the day, which older client should the home health nurse plan to visit first?

• A. A woman who takes naproxen (Naprosyn) and reports a recent onset of dark, tarry stools.
• B. A man who receives weekly injections of epoetin (Procrit) for a low serum iron level.
• C. A man with emphysema who smokes and is complaining of white patches in his mouth.
• D. A frail woman with heart failure who reported a 2-pound weight gain in the last week.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Dark, tarry stools may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate attention. Visiting this client first is crucial for prompt assessment and intervention. Choices B, C, and D do not present immediate life-threatening conditions that require urgent attention compared to the potential emergency indicated by dark, tarry stools.

5. A nurse is caring for a client with Diabetes Insipidus. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?

• A. Hypernatremia
• B. Excessive thirst
• C. Elevated heart rate
• D. Poor skin turgor

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hypernatremia. In a client with Diabetes Insipidus, hypernatremia, an elevated sodium level in the blood, can lead to neurological symptoms such as confusion, seizures, or coma. Immediate intervention is necessary to prevent these serious complications. Excessive thirst (choice B) is a common symptom of Diabetes Insipidus but does not require immediate intervention. Elevated heart rate (choice C) and poor skin turgor (choice D) are important assessments but are not as critical as hypernatremia in this context.

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