Nursing Elites

1. When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Educate the family not to push the button for the client while the client is asleep.
• B. Explain to the client that vital signs will be monitored regularly due to being on a PCA pump.
• C. Instruct the client to push the button only when pain is above a 7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
• D. Adjust the basal rate and decrease the lock-out interval time if the client's pain level is too high.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, it is essential to adjust the settings if their pain level is not adequately controlled. Increasing the basal rate and shortening the lock-out interval time can help manage the client's pain more effectively. This adjustment should be made by the healthcare provider based on the client's pain assessment and response to the current settings. It is crucial to individualize the PCA pump settings to optimize pain management for each client. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because educating the family not to push the button, explaining vital sign monitoring, and setting a specific pain level for button pushing are not direct actions the nurse should take to adjust the PCA pump settings for effective pain management.

2. What is the primary role of a nurse in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH)?

• A. Coordinate patient care
• B. Administer treatments
• C. Provide health education
• D. Conduct research

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The primary role of a nurse in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is to coordinate patient care. Nurses in PCMH settings focus on ensuring continuity of care, managing transitions between different healthcare providers, and facilitating communication among the healthcare team and the patient. Administering treatments, providing health education, and conducting research are important aspects of nursing practice but are not the primary role of a nurse in a patient-centered medical home.

3. In dealing with a conflict on a unit, the nurse manager decides to ask one of the staff nurses, who is not moving towards resolution, to transfer to another unit. What tactic has the manager implemented?

• A. Avoidance
• B. Withdrawal
• C. Suppression
• D. Competition

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Suppression. In this scenario, the nurse manager has implemented a suppression tactic by asking the staff nurse to transfer to another unit, which eliminates one of the conflicting parties from the current unit. This technique aims to resolve the conflict by physically separating the individuals involved. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect: Avoidance involves ignoring the conflict, withdrawal is the act of pulling out or retreating, and competition refers to a situation where one party's gain is at the expense of the other.

4. A unit director at a local hospital knows even leadership may face ethical dilemmas. Which of the following should the director take into consideration when dealing with an employee who is incompetent?

• A. The situation should be tolerated for as long as possible because of the amount of time and paperwork required to terminate an incompetent nurse.
• B. Incompetence only impacts the individual nurse.
• C. The director should follow her institution�s formal process for reporting and handling practices that jeopardize patient safety.
• D. Most nurse practice acts direct how to handle incompetent nurses.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Incompetence jeopardizes patient safety. Therefore, the formal process for handling these practices should be followed.

5. A 32-year-old patient with diabetes is starting on intensive insulin therapy. Which type of insulin will the nurse discuss using for mealtime coverage?

• A. Lispro (Humalog)
• B. Glargine (Lantus)
• C. Detemir (Levemir)
• D. NPH (Humulin N)

Correct answer: A

Rationale: For mealtime coverage in intensive insulin therapy, rapid-acting insulins like Lispro (Humalog) are used. Lispro has a quick onset of action, making it suitable for covering the rise in blood sugar levels after meals. Glargine (Lantus), Detemir (Levemir), and NPH (Humulin N) are all long-acting insulins and are not appropriate for mealtime coverage as they do not act quickly enough to manage postprandial glucose spikes.

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