Nursing Elites

1. During a patient assessment, which principle should be a priority?

• A. Foot care is always important.
• B. Daily bathing is always important.
• C. Hygiene needs are always important.
• D. Critical thinking is always important.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: During a patient assessment, critical thinking is a priority because a patient's condition can change rapidly, necessitating continuous critical thinking and adaptation of nursing interventions. While foot care, daily bathing, and hygiene needs are important components of patient care, they may not always take precedence over critical thinking, which guides the nurse in making timely and appropriate decisions based on the patient's current condition and needs. Therefore, critical thinking stands out as the most crucial principle during patient assessments.

2. During an assessment, a healthcare professional observes significant tenting of the skin over an older adult client's forearm. What factor should the healthcare professional primarily consider as a cause for this finding?

• A. Thin, parchment-like skin
• B. Loss of adipose tissue
• C. Dehydration
• D. Diminished skin elasticity

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Dehydration is the primary factor to consider in this scenario. Dehydration leads to decreased skin turgor and tenting, where the skin does not return to its normal position when pinched. While thin, parchment-like skin, loss of adipose tissue, and diminished skin elasticity can contribute to skin changes, they are not the primary cause of the significant tenting observed.

3. The nurse is caring for a patient who is immobile and needs to be turned every 2 hours. The patient has poor lower extremity circulation, and the nurse is concerned about irritation of the patient's toes. Which device will the nurse use?

• A. Hand rolls
• B. A foot cradle
• C. A trapeze bar
• D. A trochanter roll

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A foot cradle is the correct choice for this situation. A foot cradle is used to reduce pressure on the tips of a patient's toes in individuals with poor lower extremity circulation. Hand rolls are not designed to address toe irritation specifically. A trapeze bar is used to assist patients with repositioning in bed, and a trochanter roll is used to support the hips and prevent external rotation of the legs, neither of which directly address toe irritation in this scenario.

4. While auscultating the anterior chest of a client newly admitted to a medical-surgical unit, a nurse listens to the audio clip of breath sounds through her stethoscope. What type of breath sounds does the nurse hear?

• A. Crackles
• B. Rhonchi
• C. Friction rub
• D. Normal breath sounds

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Normal breath sounds. In the scenario described, the nurse hears normal bronchovesicular breath sounds, which are moderate in intensity and resemble blowing as air moves through the larger airways during inspiration and expiration. Crackles (choice A) are typically heard in conditions like heart failure or pneumonia and are not present in this case. Rhonchi (choice B) are low-pitched, continuous sounds often associated with conditions like chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis. Friction rub (choice C) is a grating sound usually heard in conditions like pleurisy or pericarditis, which is not the case here where normal breath sounds are heard.

5. During a follow-up visit, a home health nurse notices that a client with a gastrostomy tube, who receives intermittent feedings and medications, has developed diarrhea. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a possible cause of the diarrhea?

• A. The client’s caregiver washes out the feeding bag once every 24 hours with warm water.
• B. The client’s caregiver washes out the feeding bag with hot water every 24 hours.
• C. The client’s caregiver changes the feeding bag every 48 hours.
• D. The client’s caregiver adds water to the formula before administration.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Washing out the feeding bag once every 24 hours with warm water can lead to bacterial growth due to inadequate cleaning, potentially causing diarrhea. Hot water, as in choice B, can also promote bacterial growth, which is not desirable. Changing the feeding bag every 48 hours, like in choice C, is within an acceptable timeframe and is unlikely to be a cause of diarrhea. Adding water to the formula before administration, as in choice D, is a common practice to dilute the formula but is not typically associated with causing diarrhea in this scenario.

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