Nursing Elites

1. A home health nurse is teaching a new caregiver how to care for a client who has had a tracheostomy for 1 year. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Use tracheostomy covers when going outdoors.
• B. Maintain sterile technique when performing tracheostomy care.
• C. Do not remove the outer cannula for routine cleaning.
• D. Clean around the stoma with normal saline.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to use tracheostomy covers when going outdoors. This instruction is important as it helps protect the airway from dust and other particles, reducing the risk of infection or irritation. Choice B is incorrect because maintaining sterile technique is crucial during tracheostomy care to prevent infections, but it is not the most pertinent instruction in this scenario. Choice C is incorrect as removing the outer cannula is not a routine cleaning procedure and should only be done by healthcare professionals when necessary. Choice D is incorrect because cleaning around the stoma with normal saline is not recommended as it can cause irritation to the skin and stoma site.

2. A client's readiness to learn about insulin administration is being assessed by a nurse. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the client is ready to learn?

• A. ''I can concentrate best in the morning.''
• B. ''It is difficult to read the instructions because my glasses are at home.''
• C. ''I'm wondering why I need to learn this.''
• D. ''You will have to talk to my wife about this.''

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Choice A is the correct answer because the client's statement about the best time to concentrate indicates readiness for learning. This statement shows an awareness and interest in learning. Choice B is incorrect as it indicates a barrier to learning due to not having glasses. Choice C is incorrect as it shows a lack of understanding or motivation for learning. Choice D is incorrect as it suggests a lack of personal involvement or responsibility in the learning process since the client is deflecting the responsibility to someone else.

3. A client admitted with abdominal pain tells the nurse that her father died recently, and she begins crying while talking about him. The nurse determines that the client’s temperature is 39.2°C (102.6°F), her abdomen is soft without tenderness, and her menses are overdue by 2 days. To which observation should the nurse give priority attention?

• A. The client’s temperature
• B. The client’s menses are overdue
• C. The client’s crying
• D. The client’s soft abdomen

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. An overdue menses might indicate a potential cause of abdominal pain, especially in the context of recent emotional stress. While the client's temperature, crying, and soft abdomen are important observations, the priority should be given to the overdue menses as it could provide crucial information related to the abdominal pain and the client's overall health status. The emotional distress may have a secondary impact on the physical symptoms, making the menstrual status a critical observation to address first.

4. A client who is postoperative is verbalizing pain as a 2 on a pain scale of 0-10. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the client understands the preoperative teaching they received about pain management?

• A. "It might help me to listen to music while I'm lying in bed."
• B. "I will use the pain medication as prescribed to manage the pain."
• C. "I will request a different type of pain medication if the pain persists."
• D. "I will ask for a physical therapist to help with the pain."

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Listening to music is a non-pharmacological method to help manage mild pain, reflecting an understanding of pain management strategies. It shows the client's grasp of non-pharmacological pain management techniques taught preoperatively. Choice B, while important, only addresses pharmacological pain management, omitting other strategies discussed in preoperative teaching. Choice C jumps to changing medications without considering non-pharmacological methods first, indicating a narrow approach to pain management. Choice D involves a physical therapist, which is not directly related to the pain management strategies typically discussed in preoperative teaching.

5. The nurse is caring for a 17-month-old child with acetaminophen poisoning. Which laboratory reports should the nurse review first?

• A. Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
• B. Red blood cell and white blood cell counts
• C. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels
• D. Liver enzymes (AST and ALT)

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In acetaminophen poisoning, liver damage is a significant concern due to the drug's metabolism in the liver. Monitoring liver enzymes such as AST and ALT is crucial as they indicate liver function and damage. Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) (Choice A) are coagulation studies and are not the priority in acetaminophen poisoning. Red blood cell and white blood cell counts (Choice B) are not directly related to acetaminophen poisoning. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels (Choice C) assess kidney function, but liver enzymes are more specific for evaluating liver damage in acetaminophen poisoning.

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