Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client with home oxygen therapy. Which of the following is essential for safety?

• A. Allow the client to smoke in designated outdoor areas
• B. Place the oxygen equipment 10 feet away from any open flames
• C. Keep oxygen tanks upright at all times
• D. Restrict fluid intake while using oxygen

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is to keep oxygen tanks upright at all times. This is essential for safety as it prevents the tanks from falling and causing injury. Allowing the client to smoke in designated outdoor areas (Choice A) is unsafe as smoking near oxygen equipment can lead to a fire. Placing the oxygen equipment 10 feet away from any open flames (Choice B) is important to prevent fire hazards, but keeping the tanks upright is more directly related to preventing injuries. Restricting fluid intake while using oxygen (Choice D) is not necessary for safety in home oxygen therapy.

2. After sustaining a closed head injury and numerous lacerations and abrasions to the face and neck, a five-year-old child is admitted to the emergency room. The client is unconscious and has minimal response to noxious stimuli. Which of the following assessments, if observed by the nurse three hours after admission, should be reported to the physician?

• A. The client has slight edema of the eyelids
• B. There is clear fluid draining from the client's right ear
• C. There is some bleeding from the child's lacerations
• D. The client withdraws in response to painful stimuli

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Clear fluid draining from the ear can indicate cerebrospinal fluid leakage, which is a serious concern after a head injury. This leakage can signify a skull fracture or damage to the meninges, potentially leading to infection. Therefore, it should be reported immediately for further evaluation and management. Choices A, C, and D are typical findings after head trauma and are not as urgent as the presence of clear fluid draining from the ear.

3. Which of the following situations can be identified as an ethical dilemma?

• A. A nurse demonstrates signs of chemical impairment
• B. A family has conflicting feelings about tube feeding for their terminally ill father
• C. A nurse overhears a colleague threatening to restrain a patient if they do not stay in bed
• D. A client with terminal cancer hesitates to name their spouse as power of attorney

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Ethical dilemmas involve conflicting values or feelings. In this situation, the family is conflicted about tube feeding for their terminally ill father, which presents a moral and ethical challenge. Choices A, C, and D do not represent ethical dilemmas. Choice A involves a nurse's impairment, which is a different issue. Choice C involves a nurse's observation of a colleague's threat, which is a patient safety concern. Choice D involves a client's hesitation in naming a spouse as power of attorney, which is a legal and decision-making issue, not necessarily an ethical dilemma.

4. What is the proper technique for measuring blood pressure manually?

• A. Use a stethoscope to listen for the Korotkoff sounds
• B. Ensure the patient is seated with the arm supported
• C. Use a manual sphygmomanometer
• D. Deflate the cuff slowly while listening to the heartbeat

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct technique for measuring blood pressure manually involves using a stethoscope to listen for the Korotkoff sounds. Choice B, ensuring the patient is seated with the arm supported, is important but not the specific technique for measuring blood pressure. Choice C, using a manual sphygmomanometer, is a necessary tool but not the technique itself. Choice D, deflating the cuff slowly while listening to the heartbeat, is not the correct technique as the deflation should be done while listening for the Korotkoff sounds to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.

5. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a situational crisis following the loss of a job. The client states, 'I don't think I can go through this again.' Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?

• A. Refer the client to a mental health counselor
• B. Encourage the client to express their feelings
• C. Determine if the client is experiencing psychotic thinking
• D. Ask the client about their social support system

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In this situation, the nurse's priority is to determine if the client is experiencing psychotic thinking as it addresses the immediate safety concern. Psychotic thinking may pose a risk to the client's safety or the safety of others. Referring the client to a mental health counselor (choice A) may be appropriate but not the priority when safety is a concern. Encouraging the client to express their feelings (choice B) and asking about their social support system (choice D) are essential aspects of care but are secondary to addressing immediate safety issues.

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