Nursing Elites

1. A patient is admitted with chest pain, possible acute coronary syndrome. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
• B. Get IV access
• C. Obtain cardiac enzymes
• D. Auscultate heart sounds

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a patient with chest pain, possible acute coronary syndrome, the nurse should administer sublingual nitroglycerin first. Nitroglycerin helps to vasodilate coronary arteries, improving blood flow to the heart, and reducing cardiac workload. This can alleviate chest pain and decrease cardiac tissue damage in acute coronary syndrome. Getting IV access, obtaining cardiac enzymes, and auscultating heart sounds are important steps in the assessment and management of acute coronary syndrome, but administering nitroglycerin to relieve chest pain and improve blood flow takes precedence as it directly addresses the patient's symptoms and aims to prevent further cardiac damage.

2. A patient who experienced an acute episode of gastritis should avoid which type of foods?

• A. Avoid foods high in potassium
• B. Avoid foods high in sodium
• C. Increase exercise
• D. Drink milk as a snack

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Patients who have experienced an acute episode of gastritis should avoid foods high in potassium. Potassium-rich foods can irritate the gastric lining, exacerbating gastritis symptoms. Therefore, choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Avoiding foods high in sodium is beneficial for other health conditions like hypertension, increasing exercise is generally good for overall health but not specifically for gastritis management, and drinking milk may provide temporary relief for some but is not a definitive recommendation for gastritis management.

3. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 20 mg PO twice daily. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include during discharge teaching?

• A. Monitor for increased blood pressure
• B. Increase intake of high-potassium foods
• C. Expect an increase in swelling in the hands and feet
• D. Take the second dose at bedtime

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to instruct the client to increase their intake of high-potassium foods. Furosemide can lead to hypokalemia, a condition of low potassium levels in the blood. Increasing the consumption of high-potassium foods helps prevent this adverse effect. Monitoring for increased blood pressure (choice A) is not directly related to furosemide use. Expecting an increase in swelling (choice C) is incorrect as furosemide is a diuretic that helps reduce swelling. Taking the second dose at bedtime (choice D) is not necessary unless prescribed by the healthcare provider.

4. What lab value should be prioritized for monitoring in a patient with HIV?

• A. CD4 T-cell count below 180 cells/mm3
• B. Hemoglobin levels
• C. Serum albumin levels
• D. White blood cell count

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: CD4 T-cell count below 180 cells/mm3. Monitoring CD4 T-cell count is crucial in patients with HIV as it reflects the status of their immune system. A CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 is indicative of severe immunocompromise, necessitating close monitoring and potential intervention. Choices B, C, and D are less specific to HIV management and do not directly reflect the immune status in these patients. Hemoglobin levels are more relevant for assessing anemia, serum albumin levels for nutritional status, and white blood cell count for overall immune response, but none are as directly tied to HIV disease progression as the CD4 T-cell count.

5. What does continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber of a chest tube indicate?

• A. An air leak
• B. Normal chest tube function
• C. A blockage in the chest tube
• D. A malfunction in the drainage system

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber of a chest tube indicates an air leak. This bubbling occurs when air leaks from the patient's pleural space into the chest tube system. It is essential to address this issue promptly to prevent complications like a pneumothorax. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber is not indicative of normal chest tube function, a blockage in the chest tube, or a malfunction in the drainage system.

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