Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is teaching postoperative care to the parents of a toddler following a cleft palate repair. Which of the following should be included in the teaching?

• A. Provide an orthodontic pacifier for comfort
• B. Offer fluids using a straw
• C. Cleanse the suture line with a cotton-tip swab
• D. Remove elbow splints periodically to perform range of motion

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Elbow splints are utilized to prevent the child from touching the surgical site. However, it is essential to remove them periodically to conduct range-of-motion exercises to prevent joint stiffness. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because providing an orthodontic pacifier, offering fluids using a straw, and cleansing the suture line with a cotton-tip swab are not directly related to postoperative care following a cleft palate repair.

2. A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of enalapril. Which of the following should the nurse assess first?

• A. Heart rate
• B. Blood pressure
• C. Serum creatinine
• D. Potassium levels

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess blood pressure first. Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor commonly used to manage hypertension. It is crucial to evaluate the patient's blood pressure before administering enalapril to ensure it is within safe limits. Assessing other parameters like heart rate, serum creatinine, and potassium levels is also important but assessing blood pressure takes precedence due to the medication's mechanism of action and potential effects on blood pressure regulation.

3. A nurse receives a report from an assistive personnel that a client's BP is 160/95. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Notify the healthcare provider
• B. Recheck the client's BP
• C. Document the findings
• D. Administer antihypertensive medication

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to recheck the client's BP. It is essential for the nurse to verify the accuracy of the initial reading by reassessing the blood pressure. Notifying the healthcare provider or administering antihypertensive medication should only occur after confirming the elevated blood pressure through a recheck. Documenting the findings is important but should follow the confirmation of the BP reading.

4. A healthcare provider is caring for a client receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which of the following should the healthcare provider monitor?

• A. Serum glucose levels
• B. Serum potassium levels
• C. Blood pressure
• D. Both A and B

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When caring for a client receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN), monitoring serum glucose levels is essential due to the impact TPN can have on glucose metabolism. Additionally, electrolytes like potassium should be monitored as they can be affected by TPN administration. Blood pressure monitoring is not directly related to TPN administration, making choices A and B the correct options to monitor in this scenario.

5. A nurse is caring for a client who has deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the left lower extremity. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Position the client with the affected extremity higher than the heart
• B. Administer acetaminophen for pain
• C. Massage the affected extremity every 4 hours
• D. Withhold heparin IV infusion

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to withhold heparin IV infusion. The nurse should withhold heparin if there are signs of complications, such as bleeding, or if there are contraindications to continuing anticoagulation therapy. Positioning the client with the affected extremity higher than the heart helps reduce swelling and improve blood flow. Administering acetaminophen for pain management can be appropriate, but it is not the priority in this situation. Massaging the affected extremity can dislodge the clot and lead to serious complications, so it should be avoided.

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