Nursing Elites

1. A client has a new prescription for oxcarbazepine. Which of the following should the nurse monitor?

• A. Liver function
• B. Serum sodium levels
• C. Blood glucose
• D. Heart rate

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Serum sodium levels. Oxcarbazepine can lead to hyponatremia, making it crucial to monitor serum sodium levels. Monitoring liver function (choice A) is not typically associated with oxcarbazepine use. Blood glucose (choice C) monitoring is more relevant in medications affecting blood sugar levels. Heart rate (choice D) is not directly impacted by oxcarbazepine.

2. A nurse is caring for a client who has liver cirrhosis and ascites. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment?

• A. Measure the client’s abdominal girth daily
• B. Monitor the client’s hemoglobin level
• C. Administer lactulose as prescribed
• D. Weigh the client weekly

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Measuring the client’s abdominal girth daily is the most effective way to monitor the reduction of ascites and fluid retention in clients with liver cirrhosis. This measurement helps assess the effectiveness of treatment in managing ascites by monitoring changes in abdominal size. Monitoring the client’s hemoglobin level (Choice B) is not directly related to assessing the effectiveness of ascites treatment. Administering lactulose as prescribed (Choice C) is important in managing hepatic encephalopathy, not ascites. Weighing the client weekly (Choice D) may not provide real-time feedback on the reduction of ascites compared to daily abdominal girth measurements.

3. A client is being educated by a nurse on nutritional intake. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?

• A. Carbohydrates should be at least 45% of your caloric intake
• B. Protein should be at least 55% of your caloric intake
• C. Carbohydrates should be at least 30% of your caloric intake
• D. Protein should be at least 60% of your caloric intake

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Carbohydrates should make up 45-65% of daily caloric intake as they are the body’s main source of energy. This aligns with general dietary recommendations. Choice B is incorrect as protein should typically make up about 10-35% of daily caloric intake, not 55%. Choice C is also incorrect, as carbohydrates should ideally be between 45-65%, not 30%. Choice D is incorrect because protein should generally account for around 10-35% of total caloric intake, not 60%.

4. A client is receiving oxytocin to augment labor. The contractions are occurring every 45 seconds, and the fetal heart rate is 170-180 beats/min. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Increase the oxytocin infusion
• B. Decrease the oxytocin infusion
• C. Discontinue the oxytocin infusion
• D. Maintain the oxytocin infusion

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When contractions occur every 45 seconds with a high fetal heart rate, it indicates uterine hyperstimulation and fetal distress. In this situation, the oxytocin infusion should be discontinued immediately to prevent further complications. Increasing or maintaining the infusion would worsen the hyperstimulation and distress. Decreasing the infusion may not be sufficient to address the current situation and could still lead to complications.

5. A nurse is assessing a newborn who was born vaginally with vacuum extractor assistance. The nurse notes swelling over the newborn's head that crosses the suture line. The nurse should identify the swelling as which of the following findings?

• A. Nevus simplex
• B. Caput succedaneum
• C. Cephalohematoma
• D. Erythema toxicum

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Caput succedaneum is the correct answer. It is the swelling of the soft tissues of the head that crosses suture lines, often resulting from pressure during delivery, especially with vacuum extraction. Nevus simplex (Choice A) is a pink or red birthmark that is flat and usually fades on its own. Cephalohematoma (Choice C) is a collection of blood between a baby's skull and the periosteum, often caused by birth trauma. Erythema toxicum (Choice D) is a common rash in newborns that is benign and typically resolves on its own. In this case, the description of swelling over the newborn's head crossing the suture line is characteristic of caput succedaneum, which is a common finding in newborns after vaginal delivery.

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