Nursing Elites

1. A licensed practical nurse arrives at work at the long-term care center and is immediately faced with several activities that require attention. Which activity will the nurse attend to first?

• A. Task assignments for the day
• B. Stocking the medication closet
• C. A phone message from employee health services
• D. A phone message from a client's wife

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The nurse's priority should be attending to task assignments for the day. This ensures that client care can begin promptly and efficiently. Stocking the medication closet is important but can be done after ensuring task assignments are clear. Phone messages from employee health services and a client's wife, although important, can be addressed after organizing the staff for client care.

2. Following an automobile accident that caused a head injury to an adult client, the nurse observes that the client sleeps for long periods of time. The nurse determines that the client has experienced injury to the:

• A. hypothalamus.
• B. thalamus.
• C. cortex.
• D. medulla.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating sleep patterns among other functions. Injury to the hypothalamus can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, leading to excessive sleepiness or changes in sleep patterns. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not primarily control sleep regulation. The thalamus is involved in relaying sensory information, the cortex is responsible for higher brain functions, and the medulla controls vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing.

3. A licensed practical nurse (LPN) in the long-term care unit who has another LPN and a nursing assistant on the nursing team is planning task assignments for the day. Which task should the nurse assign to the LPN?

• A. Monitoring a client receiving oxygen who requires frequent pulse oximetry monitoring and respiratory treatments
• B. Assisting a client who is wearing eye patches and requires assistance with hygiene measures
• C. Feeding a client on bedrest who needs assistance with feeding
• D. Turning a client who must be turned and repositioned every 2 hours

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a nurse assigns tasks for a client's care to another staff member, the nurse is responsible for appropriately assigning tasks based on the educational level and competency of the staff member. In this scenario, the LPN should be assigned the task of monitoring a client receiving oxygen who requires frequent pulse oximetry monitoring and respiratory treatments. This is because the LPN is competent to perform these tasks and can accurately note changes in the client's condition. Tasks such as feeding a client, turning and repositioning a client, and assisting with hygiene measures, which are noninvasive interventions, can be assigned to a nursing assistant. These tasks do not require the same level of assessment and monitoring as the respiratory treatments and pulse oximetry monitoring.

4. In a disaster triage situation, which of the following should the nurse be least concerned with regarding a client in crisis?

• A. ability to breathe
• B. pallor or cyanosis of the skin
• C. number of accompanying family members
• D. motor function

Correct answer: C

Rationale: During a disaster triage situation where quick decisions are crucial, the nurse's primary focus should be on factors directly related to the patient's immediate condition and survival. The ability to breathe, pallor or cyanosis of the skin, and motor function are critical indicators of a patient's health status and need for urgent intervention. In contrast, the number of accompanying family members, although important for emotional support, is not a priority when assessing and prioritizing care during a crisis. While emotional support is valuable, the focus in triage is on identifying and addressing the most critical and life-threatening issues first to maximize survival chances. Therefore, the nurse should be least concerned with the number of accompanying family members as it does not directly impact the patient's immediate medical needs in a crisis situation. Choices A, B, and D are all crucial factors to assess a client's health status and determine the urgency of intervention during a disaster triage. The ability to breathe indicates respiratory function, pallor or cyanosis of the skin reflect circulatory and oxygenation status, and motor function can hint at neurological impairment or injury, all of which are vital in determining the severity of the crisis and the immediate medical needs of the patient.

5. The nurse should teach parents of small children that the most common type of first-degree burn is:

• A. scalding from hot bath water or spills.
• B. contact with hot surfaces such as stoves and fireplaces.
• C. contact with flammable liquids or gases resulting in flash burns.
• D. sunburn from lack of protection and overexposure.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'sunburn from lack of protection and overexposure.' First-degree burns primarily affect the outer layer of the skin and are commonly caused by overexposure to the sun without adequate protection, making it a significant concern for parents of small children. Choices A, B, and C describe other types of burns (scalding, contact with hot surfaces, and contact with flammable substances) that can cause more severe burns beyond the first-degree level. It is crucial for parents to be educated about sun safety measures to prevent sunburns in children.

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