Nursing Elites

1. A client with cancer develops xerostomia. The nurse can help alleviate the discomfort associated with xerostomia by:

• A. Offering hard candy
• B. Administering analgesic medications
• C. Splinting swollen joints
• D. Providing saliva substitute

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Xerostomia is dry mouth, a common side effect in cancer patients. Providing a saliva substitute helps alleviate the discomfort associated with dry mouth by moistening the oral mucosa. Offering hard candy, as mentioned in choice A, can worsen xerostomia by increasing sugar content and potentially causing irritation. Administering analgesic medications, as in choice B, is not directly related to treating dry mouth. Splinting swollen joints, as in choice C, is irrelevant to xerostomia, which primarily affects the oral cavity.

2. All of the following are common reasons that nurses are reluctant to delegate except:

• A. lack of self-confidence
• B. desire to maintain authority
• C. confidence in subordinate
• D. getting trapped in the 'I can do it better myself' mindset

Correct answer: C

Rationale: If a delegator has confidence in their subordinates and believes a task will be performed correctly, they are more likely to delegate. Reasons nurses may be reluctant to delegate include their own lack of self-confidence, the desire to maintain authority, and getting trapped in the 'I can do it better myself' mindset. Therefore, 'confidence in subordinate' is the exception as it actually encourages delegation. The other choices are common barriers to delegation in healthcare settings.

3. A client with suspected renal disease is to undergo a renal biopsy. The nurse plans to include which statement in the teaching session?

• A. "You will be positioned lying down during the examination procedure."?
• B. "Portions of the procedure will cause pain or discomfort."?
• C. "You may be given anesthesia during the procedure."?
• D. "You should refrain from eating or drinking before the procedure."?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to inform the client that portions of the renal biopsy procedure can cause pain or discomfort, particularly when the sample is being withdrawn. This prepares the client for any unpleasant sensations during the procedure. Answer A is incorrect because the client will be positioned lying down, not sitting up, during the exam, so this information is not relevant to include in the teaching session. Answer C is incorrect as anesthesia is commonly used to numb the area for a renal biopsy, reducing pain, so the client can expect to receive anesthesia. Answer D is incorrect because clients are usually instructed to refrain from eating or drinking for a period before the procedure to prevent any complications during the biopsy, not simply before the study.

4. Six hours after birth, the infant is found to have an area of swelling over the right parietal area that does not cross the suture line. The nurse should chart this finding as:

• A. A cephalohematoma
• B. Molding
• C. Subdural hematoma
• D. Caput succedaneum

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, a cephalohematoma. A cephalohematoma is an area of bleeding outside the cranium but beneath the periosteum, typically not crossing the suture line. Answer B, molding, is the overlapping of the bones of the cranium and does not involve bleeding, making it an incorrect choice. Answer C, a subdural hematoma, involves intracranial bleeding and is typically diagnosed through imaging studies like a CAT scan or x-ray. Answer D, caput succedaneum, is characterized by edema that crosses the suture line, unlike the described swelling in this case.

5. A client goes to the mental health center for difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and nightmares. The client reports being raped as a child. The nurse should assess the client for further signs of:

• A. generalized anxiety disorder.
• B. schizophrenia.
• C. post-traumatic stress disorder.
• D. bipolar disorder.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Given the history of childhood sexual abuse and the presenting symptoms of difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and nightmares, the nurse should assess the client for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Childhood sexual abuse is strongly associated with adult-onset depression and an increased risk for PTSD. Individuals with PTSD may exhibit re-experiencing symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened reactions to trauma triggers. They may also display emotional numbing, avoidance behaviors, and increased arousal symptoms like difficulty sleeping and hypervigilance. Generalized anxiety disorder (Choice A) is characterized by excessive worry and anxiety about various events or activities, not necessarily tied to a specific trauma. Schizophrenia (Choice B) is a severe mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, and behavior, unrelated to the traumatic event described. Bipolar disorder (Choice D) involves mood swings between depressive and manic episodes, and its symptoms differ from those typically seen in PTSD.

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