Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is assessing a postoperative patient for signs of infection. Which finding is most concerning?

• A. Mild redness at the incision site.
• B. Increased drainage from the surgical site.
• C. Fever of 101°F.
• D. Normal white blood cell count.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A fever of 101°F is the most concerning finding when assessing a postoperative patient for signs of infection. Fever can indicate an inflammatory response to an infection, and in a postoperative patient, it can signal a surgical site infection or a systemic infection. Prompt attention is necessary to prevent complications such as sepsis. Mild redness at the incision site and increased drainage can be expected in the early postoperative period due to the normal healing process. A normal white blood cell count does not rule out infection as it can be influenced by various factors, and some infections may not initially cause a rise in white blood cells.

2. A patient with diabetes is admitted with high blood sugar levels. What is the nurse's priority intervention?

• A. Administer insulin as prescribed.
• B. Encourage the patient to exercise regularly.
• C. Encourage the patient to drink water.
• D. Provide the patient with a low-sugar diet.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering insulin is the priority intervention for a patient admitted with high blood sugar levels because it helps lower the blood sugar levels effectively and rapidly. Insulin is a crucial medication for managing hyperglycemia in diabetes. Encouraging exercise (choice B) can be beneficial in the long term for managing blood sugar levels but is not the most immediate priority. While staying hydrated (choice C) is important, it is not the priority intervention when dealing with high blood sugar levels. Providing a low-sugar diet (choice D) is essential for long-term diabetes management but is not the immediate action needed to address high blood sugar levels in an admitted patient.

3. A client with hypertension is prescribed atenolol. Which of the following findings should the nurse include as adverse effects of this medication?

• A. Cough
• B. Tremor
• C. Constipation
• D. Bradycardia

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Correct. Bradycardia is a known adverse effect of atenolol, a beta-blocker medication commonly used to treat hypertension. Atenolol can slow down the heart rate, leading to bradycardia. The nurse should monitor the client for signs of bradycardia, such as dizziness, fatigue, or fainting. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because cough, tremor, and constipation are not typically associated with atenolol use.

4. What are the important considerations when administering blood products to a patient?

• A. Ensuring proper documentation of the transfusion
• B. Verifying the patient's identity before administration
• C. Monitoring for allergic reactions or transfusion reactions
• D. Monitoring the patient's vital signs during transfusion

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Verifying the patient's identity before administration is a critical step to ensure that the correct blood product is given to the right patient, thereby preventing transfusion errors. While ensuring proper documentation of the transfusion (choice A) is important for record-keeping, verifying patient identity (choice B) directly addresses the risk of administering blood to the wrong patient. Monitoring for allergic reactions or transfusion reactions (choice C) and monitoring the patient's vital signs during transfusion (choice D) are also essential considerations during blood product administration, but verifying patient identity takes precedence to prevent potentially life-threatening errors.

5. What are the complications of diabetes mellitus that a nurse should monitor for?

• A. Peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy
• B. All of the above
• C. Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
• D. Nephropathy and cardiovascular disease

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Complications of diabetes mellitus that a nurse should monitor for include nephropathy and cardiovascular disease, in addition to diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, neuropathy, and retinopathy. While choices A and C mention some complications of diabetes, they do not cover all the complications that a nurse should monitor for. Choice B is incorrect as it suggests selecting all options, which is not accurate.

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