Nursing Elites

1. A healthcare professional is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to a client. Which of the following actions should the healthcare professional take?

• A. Use a 1-inch needle.
• B. Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle.
• C. Aspirate before injecting the medication.
• D. Administer the injection in the deltoid muscle.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Aspirating before injecting the medication is a crucial step in IM injections to check for blood return, ensuring that the needle is not in a blood vessel. This technique helps prevent accidental intravascular injection of the medication, reducing the risk of complications such as inadvertent intravenous administration of the substance.

2. A client is receiving continuous enteral feedings. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement?

• A. Monitor intake and output every 8 hours.
• B. Flush the feeding tube every 4 hours.
• C. Measure the client's temperature every 24 hours.
• D. Change the feeding bag and tubing every 72 hours.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Flush the feeding tube every 4 hours. Flushing the feeding tube every 4 hours is essential to maintain patency and prevent clogging, ensuring the client receives the prescribed enteral nutrition without interruption. This intervention helps prevent complications such as tube occlusion. Monitoring intake and output is important for assessing the client's hydration status but does not directly address tube patency. Measuring the client's temperature is essential for monitoring for signs of infection but is not directly related to tube maintenance. Changing the feeding bag and tubing every 72 hours is important for infection control but does not address tube patency.

3. Following a total hip arthroplasty, what intervention should the healthcare provider implement for the client?

• A. Place a pillow between the client's legs.
• B. Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees.
• C. Position the client on the operative side.
• D. Keep the client’s legs adducted.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Placing a pillow between the client's legs is crucial post hip arthroplasty surgery to prevent hip dislocation. This intervention helps maintain proper alignment and prevents legs from crossing midline, reducing the risk of hip prosthesis dislocation. Elevating the head of the bed to 45 degrees, positioning the client on the operative side, or keeping the client's legs adducted are not recommended postoperative interventions for a total hip arthroplasty, as they can increase the risk of complications and compromise the surgical site.

4. A client with a new diagnosis of hypothyroidism is being taught about medication management. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

• A. You should take your medication with a high-fiber meal.
• B. You should take your medication on an empty stomach.
• C. You should take your medication with a calcium supplement.
• D. You should take your medication before bedtime.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'You should take your medication on an empty stomach.' When educating a client with hypothyroidism, it is essential to advise taking thyroid medication on an empty stomach to enhance absorption and effectiveness. Taking the medication with food, especially high-fiber or with supplements like calcium, can interfere with absorption and reduce its efficacy. Therefore, it is crucial for the client to follow the recommendation of taking the medication on an empty stomach. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because taking the medication with a high-fiber meal (Choice A) or with a calcium supplement (Choice C) can hinder absorption, and taking it before bedtime (Choice D) does not optimize absorption compared to taking it on an empty stomach.

5. A client is receiving continuous enteral feedings through a nasogastric tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Elevate the head of the bed to 30°
• B. Flush the tube with 50 mL of water every 2 hours
• C. Replace the feeding bag and tubing every 72 hours
• D. Check the client's gastric residual every 8 hours

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed to 30° is the correct action to take when a client is receiving continuous enteral feedings through a nasogastric tube. This position helps prevent aspiration of the enteral feedings into the lungs, reducing the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Additionally, elevating the head of the bed promotes proper digestion and absorption of the feedings by utilizing gravity to facilitate movement into the stomach and through the gastrointestinal tract. Flushing the tube with water every 2 hours (Choice B) is not necessary for continuous feedings and may disrupt the feeding schedule. Replacing the feeding bag and tubing every 72 hours (Choice C) is not the standard recommendation unless there are specific concerns or complications. Checking the client's gastric residual every 8 hours (Choice D) is important but not the immediate action needed to prevent aspiration during enteral feedings.

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