a nurse is administering iv fluids to a dehydrated patient what is the nurses priority assessment
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Nursing Elites

ATI RN

ATI Capstone Comprehensive Assessment B

1. When administering IV fluids to a dehydrated patient, what is the nurse's priority assessment?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the patient's blood pressure regularly. Monitoring blood pressure is crucial when administering IV fluids to a dehydrated patient as it helps in evaluating the patient's fluid status. Changes in blood pressure can indicate the effectiveness of the fluid therapy, the patient's response to treatment, and the possibility of complications such as fluid overload or hypovolemia. Monitoring electrolyte levels (Choice A) is essential but not the priority when assessing a dehydrated patient receiving IV fluids. Heart rate (Choice C) should be monitored more frequently than every 4 hours in such a situation. Checking urine output (Choice D) is important but not as critical as assessing blood pressure in this scenario.

2. Which action should the nurse take to minimize the risk of medication errors?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because ensuring two nurses double-check medications before administration is a crucial step in minimizing the risk of medication errors. This practice helps in verifying the accuracy of medication orders and reducing the chances of mistakes. Choice A may not necessarily prevent errors as preparing medications ahead of time does not guarantee accuracy. Choice C, administering medications at the same time each day, is important for consistency but does not directly address the risk of errors. Choice D, relying on memory, is highly discouraged as it increases the likelihood of errors due to human forgetfulness.

3. How can a healthcare professional help prevent pressure ulcers in an immobile patient?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Ensuring proper nutrition and hydration is crucial in preventing pressure ulcers in immobile patients. Adequate nutrition supports tissue health and repair, while hydration helps maintain skin elasticity. While turning the patient every 2 hours is important to prevent pressure injuries, it is not the primary way to address prevention. Using moisture barriers and providing special mattresses or padding are essential components of pressure ulcer prevention, but they are not as fundamental as ensuring proper nutrition and hydration.

4. A healthcare provider is assessing a patient with dehydration. Which finding indicates the patient's condition is worsening?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Tachycardia and low blood pressure are indicative of worsening dehydration in a patient. Tachycardia is the body's compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output in response to decreased intravascular volume, while low blood pressure reflects inadequate perfusion due to decreased fluid levels. Bradycardia and shallow respirations are not typical findings in worsening dehydration, and clear lung sounds do not directly correlate with the severity of dehydration.

5. A public health nurse is developing guidelines for the management of a botulism outbreak. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Rinsing the skin with soap and water following exposure to the botulism toxin is crucial as it helps remove the toxin from the skin, preventing further absorption. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is not used in the management of botulism. Airborne precautions are not necessary for botulism as it is not transmitted through the air. Aminoglycoside medications are not the treatment of choice for botulism.

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