Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is to administer a unit of whole blood to a postoperative client. What does the nurse do to ensure the safety of the blood transfusion?

• A. Asks the client to both say and spell their full name before starting the blood transfusion
• B. Ensures that another qualified healthcare professional checks the unit before administering
• C. Checks the blood identification numbers with the laboratory technician at the Blood Bank at the time it is dispersed
• D. Ensures that all staff wear appropriate personal protective equipment during the transfusion process

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Ensuring the safety of a blood transfusion is crucial to prevent potential errors or adverse reactions. Checking the blood identification numbers with the laboratory technician at the Blood Bank when the blood is dispersed helps confirm that the correct blood product is being administered to the right patient, reducing the risk of transfusion reactions. The other choices are incorrect because asking the client to say and spell their full name (Choice A) is a part of the identification process but not specific to ensuring the safety of the blood transfusion. While having another qualified healthcare professional check the unit (Choice B) is a good practice, the direct verification with the Blood Bank technician is a more critical step in ensuring the correct blood product is administered. Choice D is irrelevant to ensuring the safety of the blood transfusion as it addresses infection control measures.

2. The nurse assesses distended neck veins in a client sitting in a chair to eat. What intervention is the nurse's priority?

• A. Document the observation in the chart.
• B. Measure urine specific gravity and volume.
• C. Assess the pulse and blood pressure.
• D. Assess the client's deep tendon reflexes.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the pulse and blood pressure. Distended neck veins can indicate fluid volume overload or heart failure, which can lead to hemodynamic instability. Assessing the pulse and blood pressure will provide immediate information on the client's cardiovascular status. Documenting the observation in the chart (choice A) is important but not the priority when immediate assessment is needed. Measuring urine specific gravity and volume (choice B) is important for assessing renal function but is not the priority in this situation. Assessing the client's deep tendon reflexes (choice D) is not relevant to addressing distended neck veins in a client sitting to eat.

3. A client is hospitalized with a urinary tract infection (UTI). Which clinical manifestation alerts the nurse to the possibility of a complication from the UTI?

• A. Burning on urination
• B. Cloudy, dark urine
• C. Fever and chills
• D. Hematuria

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Fever and chills are systemic symptoms that may indicate a more severe infection or a complication of a urinary tract infection (UTI). While burning on urination and cloudy, dark urine are common symptoms of UTI, fever and chills suggest a more serious condition requiring immediate attention. Hematuria, which is blood in the urine, is also a concerning symptom but is more indicative of inflammation or infection rather than a complication.

4. While taking the history of an older adult client, which assessment finding alerts the nurse that the client needs further assessment for fluid or electrolyte imbalance?

• A. "I am often cold and need to wear a sweater."?
• B. "I seem to urinate more when I drink coffee."?
• C. "In the summer, I feel thirsty more often."?
• D. "My rings seem to be tighter this week."?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'My rings seem to be tighter this week.' This assessment finding indicates possible fluid retention, which can be a sign of fluid or electrolyte imbalance in an older adult. Choices A, B, and C do not specifically point towards fluid or electrolyte imbalance. Feeling cold, increased urination with coffee consumption, and feeling thirsty in the summer are not direct indicators of fluid or electrolyte imbalance in this context.

5. The nurse is caring for a client who has had surgery the previous day. The client tells the nurse, "Breathing in using this thing (incentive spirometer) is a ridiculous waste of time."? What is the nurse's best response?

• A. "The spirometer will help you cough effectively."?
• B. "The spirometer will help your lungs expand."?
• C. "The spirometer will help prevent blood clots."?
• D. "The spirometer will improve blood flow in your lungs."?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is, '"The spirometer will help your lungs expand."?' Incentive spirometry is used postoperatively to help prevent atelectasis by expanding the lungs and improving lung function. Choice A is incorrect because the primary purpose of the spirometer is not to help cough effectively. Choice C is incorrect because while deep breathing with the spirometer can indirectly help prevent blood clots by improving lung function, its primary purpose is not to prevent blood clots directly. Choice D is incorrect because although using the spirometer can improve ventilation and oxygenation, its main purpose is not to improve blood flow in the lungs.

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