Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is assessing a client who has a brainstem injury. The nurse should expect the client to exhibit which of the following findings?

• A. Decerebrate posturing.
• B. Hypervigilance.
• C. Absence of deep tendon reflexes.
• D. Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Decerebrate posturing. Decerebrate posturing is an abnormal body posture characterized by rigid extension of the arms and legs, which indicates severe brainstem injury affecting the midbrain and pons. This posture suggests dysfunction or damage to neural pathways controlling muscle tone. Choice B, hypervigilance, is not typically associated with brainstem injury but rather with increased alertness and arousal. Choice C, absence of deep tendon reflexes, is not a specific finding related to brainstem injury. Choice D, a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15, indicates a fully awake and alert state, which is not expected in a client with a brainstem injury.

2. What are the key nursing interventions for a patient with a tracheostomy?

• A. Maintain a patent airway and monitor for infection
• B. Suction airway secretions and provide humidified oxygen
• C. Educate patient on self-care and tracheostomy cleaning
• D. Change tracheostomy ties daily

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to maintain a patent airway and monitor for infection. These are crucial nursing interventions for patients with tracheostomies to ensure adequate oxygenation and prevent complications. Suctioning airway secretions and providing humidified oxygen can be part of the care plan but are not as essential as maintaining a patent airway. Educating the patient on self-care and tracheostomy cleaning is important for long-term management but is not as immediate as ensuring a patent airway and monitoring for infection. Changing tracheostomy ties daily is a specific task related to tracheostomy care but is not as critical as ensuring the airway is clear and infection-free.

3. What are the key components of a respiratory assessment?

• A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
• B. Inspection, Observation, Auscultation, Percussion
• C. Auscultation, Palpation, Observation, Percussion
• D. Observation, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation. A focused respiratory assessment involves inspecting the chest for symmetry and signs of distress, palpating for tenderness or abnormal masses, performing percussion to assess underlying tissues, and auscultating lung sounds. Choice B is incorrect as observation is a broad term that can encompass both inspection and palpation. Choice C is incorrect as auscultation is usually performed after inspection and palpation. Choice D is incorrect as observation should be more specific, and auscultation is a key component that is typically done last in a respiratory assessment.

4. What are the early signs of DVT?

• A. Leg pain, swelling, and redness
• B. Shortness of breath and high fever
• C. Cough and chest pain
• D. Decreased oxygen saturation and low blood pressure

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Leg pain, swelling, and redness are early signs of DVT. DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is a condition where blood clots form in deep veins, commonly in the legs. These clots can cause symptoms like pain, swelling, and redness in the affected leg. Choices B, C, and D describe symptoms more commonly associated with other conditions like pulmonary embolism (shortness of breath and high fever), respiratory issues (cough and chest pain), and cardiovascular problems (decreased oxygen saturation and low blood pressure), respectively. Therefore, they are not indicative of early signs of DVT.

5. A nurse is collecting data from a client who delivered a full-term newborn 16 hours ago. The nurse notes excessive lochia discharge. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

• A. Administer pain medication
• B. Perform a fundal massage for the client
• C. Check the baby's heart rate
• D. Apply an ice pack

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct action the nurse should take first when noting excessive lochia discharge in a client who delivered a full-term newborn 16 hours ago is to perform a fundal massage. Fundal massage helps stimulate uterine contractions, which in turn reduces bleeding in postpartum clients. Administering pain medication (Choice A) is not the priority in this situation as addressing the excessive lochia discharge is crucial to prevent complications. Checking the baby's heart rate (Choice C) is important but not the first action to manage the mother's condition. Applying an ice pack (Choice D) is not appropriate for managing excessive lochia discharge; fundal massage is the initial intervention to address this issue effectively.

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