Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure who has developed pulmonary edema. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Administer a diuretic as prescribed.
• B. Place the patient in a high Fowler's position.
• C. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula.
• D. Monitor the patient's lung sounds every 2 hours.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to place the patient in a high Fowler's position. This position helps improve lung expansion and oxygenation in cases of pulmonary edema by reducing venous return to the heart and enhancing respiratory mechanics. Administering a diuretic (Choice A) can be important but is not the priority over positioning in this situation. Administering oxygen (Choice C) is essential, but the priority action for improving oxygenation is the positioning of the patient. Monitoring lung sounds (Choice D) is crucial for ongoing assessment but is not the priority action when the patient is in distress with pulmonary edema.

2. A healthcare professional is reviewing the lab results of a client with liver disease. Which finding requires immediate intervention?

• A. Elevated bilirubin levels
• B. Low albumin levels
• C. Elevated ammonia levels
• D. Low hemoglobin levels

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Elevated ammonia levels in a client with liver disease can lead to hepatic encephalopathy, requiring immediate intervention. Ammonia is a neurotoxin that can cause cognitive impairment and altered mental status. Elevated bilirubin levels (Choice A) are common in liver disease but do not require immediate intervention. Low albumin levels (Choice B) and low hemoglobin levels (Choice D) are also common in liver disease but do not pose an immediate threat compared to elevated ammonia levels.

3. A healthcare provider is reviewing the laboratory report of a client who is receiving heparin therapy for a deep vein thrombosis. Which of the following lab values indicates a therapeutic response to the therapy?

• A. PT of 12 seconds
• B. aPTT of 70 seconds
• C. Platelets of 150,000/mm3
• D. INR of 1.5

Correct answer: B

Rationale: An aPTT of 70 seconds is within the therapeutic range for a client receiving heparin therapy. The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is the most sensitive test to monitor heparin therapy. A therapeutic aPTT range for a client receiving heparin is usually 1.5 to 2.5 times the control value. Choices A, C, and D are not indicators of a therapeutic response to heparin therapy. PT measures the extrinsic pathway of coagulation and is not specific to monitoring heparin therapy. Platelet count is important to monitor for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, but it does not indicate the therapeutic response to heparin therapy. INR is used to monitor warfarin therapy, not heparin therapy.

4. A client with a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus is being taught about self-administration of insulin by a nurse. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Store the current bottle of insulin at room temperature
• B. Massage the injection site after removing the needle
• C. Pull back on the plunger after injecting the insulin
• D. Use each syringe up to six times

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to store the current bottle of insulin at room temperature. Insulin should be stored this way to maintain its potency and effectiveness. Choice B is incorrect because massaging the injection site after removing the needle is not recommended practice and can cause bruising. Choice C is incorrect as pulling back on the plunger after injecting insulin can lead to injecting air bubbles into the tissue. Choice D is incorrect as syringes should not be reused multiple times due to the risk of contamination and inaccurate dosing.

5. A nurse observes a colleague not using proper hand hygiene. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Ignore the behavior and continue with care
• B. Discuss the behavior with other colleagues
• C. Confront the colleague about the behavior
• D. Report the behavior to the supervisor

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take first is to report the behavior to the supervisor. Proper hand hygiene is essential in preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings. By reporting the observed behavior to the supervisor, the nurse is prioritizing patient safety and promoting a culture of accountability. Ignoring the behavior (Choice A) can put patients at risk, discussing it with other colleagues (Choice B) may not address the issue effectively, and confronting the colleague directly (Choice C) might not be the most appropriate initial step and could lead to conflicts rather than a constructive resolution.

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