Nursing Elites

1. A client with osteoarthritis is prescribed acetaminophen. What is the most important teaching the nurse should provide?

• A. Take the medication with food to improve absorption.
• B. Avoid taking other pain medications to prevent liver damage.
• C. Take acetaminophen on an empty stomach to prevent stomach upset.
• D. Monitor liver function tests regularly to detect any liver damage.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if taken in excessive amounts or in combination with other medications containing acetaminophen. Clients should be advised to avoid other pain medications to prevent liver toxicity. Choice A is incorrect because acetaminophen is usually taken with or without food, not specifically on an empty stomach. Choice C is incorrect because taking acetaminophen with food can help prevent stomach upset. Choice D is incorrect because while monitoring liver function tests is important for long-term acetaminophen use, the most crucial teaching is to avoid other pain medications to prevent liver damage.

2. On admission to the Emergency Department, a female client who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 3 years ago reports that this morning, she took a handful of medications and left a suicide note for her family. Which information is most important for the nurse to obtain?

• A. Client's current mood and affect
• B. When the client last took medications for bipolar disorder
• C. History of previous suicide attempts
• D. Details of the medications ingested

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Determining the specific medications ingested is the priority for guiding immediate treatment in the Emergency Department. Knowing when the client last took medications and her current mood are also important, but the ingested medications are the most urgent information needed. The client's current mood and affect are crucial for assessing her immediate state, but the priority is to identify the substances she ingested to provide appropriate interventions. While understanding the history of previous suicide attempts is relevant for assessing the client's risk, the immediate focus should be on the medications taken during this specific incident.

3. A pregnant client complains of heartburn. What instruction should the nurse provide?

• A. Eat spicy food to help digestion.
• B. Eat small meals throughout the day to avoid a full stomach.
• C. Drink carbonated beverages to ease digestion.
• D. Avoid drinking fluids after meals.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct instruction for a pregnant client experiencing heartburn is to eat small meals throughout the day to avoid a full stomach. This helps prevent the stomach from becoming overly full, reducing the likelihood of heartburn during pregnancy. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Eating spicy food can exacerbate heartburn, carbonated beverages may trigger heartburn due to gas, and avoiding fluids after meals does not directly address the issue of heartburn.

4. A client with schizophrenia is experiencing paranoia. What is the nurse's priority intervention?

• A. Reassure the client that their fears are unfounded.
• B. Place the client in a private room to reduce stimuli.
• C. Provide the client with a distraction to redirect their attention.
• D. Encourage the client to express their concerns and validate their feelings.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Encouraging clients with paranoia to express their concerns and validating their feelings is crucial as it helps establish trust and reduce anxiety. This approach also aids in building a therapeutic relationship. Reassuring the client that their fears are unfounded (Choice A) may invalidate their feelings and worsen trust. Placing the client in a private room to reduce stimuli (Choice B) may be helpful in some situations but does not address the underlying issue of paranoia. Providing a distraction (Choice C) may temporarily shift the client's focus but does not address the root cause of the paranoia. Therefore, the priority intervention is to encourage the client to express their concerns and validate their feelings.

5. A client was just taken off the ventilator after surgery and has a nasogastric tube draining bile-colored liquids. Which nursing measure will provide the most comfort to the client?

• A. Allow the client to melt ice chips in the mouth
• B. Provide mints to freshen the breath
• C. Perform frequent oral care with a tooth sponge
• D. Swab the mouth with glycerin swabs

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Performing frequent oral care with a tooth sponge is the most appropriate nursing measure in this scenario. This helps maintain comfort and prevent dryness in clients with nasogastric tubes. Allowing the client to melt ice chips in the mouth may not address oral care needs effectively. Providing mints to freshen the breath is not the priority when the client needs oral care. Swabbing the mouth with glycerin swabs may not be as effective as performing thorough oral care with a tooth sponge.

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