Nursing Elites

1. A healthcare professional is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. What is the most important action to prevent infection?

• A. Use sterile gloves during the procedure.
• B. Clean the catheter insertion site with alcohol.
• C. Insert the catheter as quickly as possible.
• D. Use a smaller catheter size to minimize trauma.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Using sterile gloves during catheter insertion is crucial to prevent infection. Sterile gloves help maintain asepsis during the procedure, reducing the risk of introducing microorganisms into the urinary tract. Cleaning the insertion site with alcohol, as mentioned in choice B, is important but not as critical as using sterile gloves. Choice C, inserting the catheter as quickly as possible, is not recommended as it can lead to errors and increase the risk of contamination. Choice D, using a smaller catheter size to minimize trauma, is not directly related to preventing infection but rather focuses on patient comfort and reducing tissue damage.

2. A nurse is caring for a patient who has just returned from surgery. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Monitor the patient's pain level.
• B. Assess the patient's vital signs.
• C. Assess the surgical incision site.
• D. Position the patient in a high Fowler's position.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assess the patient's vital signs. Assessing vital signs is crucial as it helps to detect any early signs of complications such as bleeding, shock, or changes in oxygenation. Monitoring the patient's pain level (Choice A) is important but assessing vital signs takes precedence. While assessing the surgical incision site (Choice C) is essential, ensuring the patient's physiological stability through vital sign assessment is the priority. Positioning the patient in a high Fowler's position (Choice D) may be necessary for comfort but does not address the immediate need to assess the patient's condition post-surgery.

3. A nurse is planning preoperative care for a client who will undergo surgery. Which of the following is the priority action by the nurse?

• A. Discuss whether family members will assist with postoperative care
• B. Review the client's current home environment
• C. Identify the client's usual coping mechanisms
• D. Determine what the client knows about the surgery

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In the preoperative phase, determining what the client knows about the surgery is the priority. This action helps address misconceptions, provide necessary information, and ensure the client's understanding and cooperation. Choices A, B, and C are important aspects of preoperative care but assessing the client's knowledge about the surgery takes precedence to alleviate fears, enhance communication, and optimize outcomes.

4. A healthcare provider prescribes a higher-than-usual dose of medication. What is the nurse's first action?

• A. Administer the medication and monitor closely.
• B. Hold the medication and consult the pharmacist.
• C. Ask another nurse to verify the dose.
• D. Call the provider for clarification.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to call the provider for clarification. When faced with a higher-than-usual dose of medication, the nurse's first action should be to contact the prescribing healthcare provider to confirm the dosage. Administering the medication without clarifying the dose with the provider can pose serious risks to the patient's safety. Holding the medication and consulting the pharmacist may be appropriate after contacting the provider for clarification. Asking another nurse to verify the dose is not the most appropriate action when dealing with an unusual prescription; direct communication with the provider is essential in such situations.

5. The family member is observing a family member changing a dressing for a patient in the home health environment. Which observation indicates the family member has a correct understanding of how to manage contaminated dressings?

• A. The family member saves part of the dressing because it is clean.
• B. The family member places the used dressings in a plastic bag.
• C. The family member removes gloves and gathers items for disposal.
• D. The family member wraps the used dressing in toilet tissue before placing it in the trash.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct way to manage contaminated dressings is to place them in plastic bags for proper disposal. This helps prevent the spread of infection. Choice A is incorrect because saving part of the dressing is not a recommended practice. Choice C is not directly related to managing contaminated dressings. Choice D is incorrect as wrapping the used dressing in toilet tissue is not the appropriate way to dispose of contaminated dressings.

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