Nursing Elites

1. A healthcare professional in the emergency department is assessing a client who has a suspected flail chest. Which of the following findings should the professional not expect?

• A. Bradycardia
• B. Cyanosis
• C. Hypotension
• D. Dyspnea

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Bradycardia is not typically associated with a flail chest. Flail chest is characterized by paradoxical chest wall movement, respiratory distress, and hypoxia, but it does not usually cause bradycardia. The other options, such as cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin due to poor oxygenation), hypotension (low blood pressure), and dyspnea (difficulty breathing), are commonly seen in patients with flail chest due to the underlying respiratory compromise.

2. Which of the following vascular system changes result from aging?

• A. Increased peripheral resistance of the blood vessels
• B. Decreased blood flow
• C. Increased workload of the left ventricle
• D. All of the above

Correct answer: D

Rationale: As individuals age, various changes occur in the vascular system. These changes include increased peripheral resistance of the blood vessels, decreased blood flow, and an increased workload of the left ventricle. Therefore, all the listed changes result from aging, making option D, 'All of the above,' the correct answer.

3. Which of the following actions should be taken to use a wide base support when assisting a client to get up in a chair?

• A. Bend at the waist and place arms under the client’s arms and lift
• B. Face the client, bend knees, and place hands on the client’s forearm and lift
• C. Spread the feet apart
• D. Tighten the pelvic muscles

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Spread the feet apart. When assisting a client to get up in a chair, it is crucial to use a wide base of support to maintain stability and prevent injuries. Spreading the feet apart provides a broader base, increasing balance and support for both the client and the caregiver. This position helps distribute the weight evenly and allows for better control when assisting the client in moving. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because bending at the waist, placing arms under the client's arms, tightening pelvic muscles, or placing hands on the client's forearm do not provide the necessary wide base support needed for stability and safety during the transfer process.

4. Which of the following actions will most likely lead to a break in the sterile technique for respiratory isolation?

• A. Opening the patient’s window to the outside environment
• B. Turning on the patient’s room ventilator
• C. Opening the door of the patient’s room leading into the hospital corridor
• D. Failing to wear gloves when administering a bed bath

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Failure to wear gloves during a bed bath can potentially introduce pathogens, compromising the sterile technique necessary for respiratory isolation. Proper hand hygiene and personal protective equipment are crucial to prevent the transmission of infectious agents in such settings.

5. Which of the following scenarios represents nursing malpractice?

• A. The nurse administers penicillin to a patient with a documented history of allergy to the drug. The patient experiences an allergic reaction and suffers cerebral damage due to anoxia.
• B. The nurse applies a hot water bottle or a heating pad to the abdomen of a patient with abdominal cramping.
• C. The nurse assists a patient out of bed with the bed locked in position; the patient slips and fractures his right humerus.
• D. The nurse administers the wrong medication to a patient, resulting in vomiting. This error is documented and reported to the physician and the nursing supervisor.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Administering a drug to a patient with a known allergy, leading to severe harm such as an allergic reaction causing cerebral damage due to anoxia, constitutes nursing malpractice. In this scenario, the nurse failed to adhere to the standard of care by administering a medication that the patient was allergic to, resulting in serious harm, which is a clear example of malpractice in nursing.

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