Nursing Elites

1. A patient has come to the office for a blood draw. The patient starts to sweat and is very anxious. Which of the following would be the BEST way to proceed?

• A. Do not perform the procedure. Notify the physician of the reason why.
• B. Perform the procedure but pay close attention for signs of potential syncope.
• C. Allow the patient to reschedule for a time when he isn't as anxious.
• D. Have the physician draw the blood.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the scenario where a patient is sweating and anxious, it is important to assess for signs of potential syncope (fainting) while proceeding with the blood draw. If the patient does not exhibit signs of fainting, the phlebotomy procedure can be performed safely. Postponing the procedure may not address the patient's anxiety and inconvenience them. Having the physician draw the blood is not necessary if the phlebotomist can handle the situation effectively.

2. The nurse is preparing to assess a hospitalized patient who is experiencing significant shortness of breath. How should the nurse proceed with the assessment?

• A. Have the patient lie down to obtain an accurate cardiac, respiratory, and abdominal assessment.
• B. Obtain a thorough history and physical assessment from the patient's family member.
• C. Immediately perform a complete history and physical assessment to obtain baseline information.
• D. Examine the body areas relevant to the problem and complete the rest of the assessment after the problem has resolved.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When assessing a patient experiencing significant shortness of breath, it is crucial to prioritize the evaluation of areas directly related to the problem. Having the patient lie down may exacerbate the breathing difficulty. Therefore, the nurse should focus on examining the body areas pertinent to the issue, such as the respiratory and cardiac systems. Completing the rest of the assessment can be deferred until after addressing the immediate problem. Obtaining a complete history or involving family members should come after addressing the acute issue to ensure the patient's safety and comfort.

3. During a client interview, which of the following leading questions should the nurse avoid asking?

• A. What medication do you take at home?
• B. You are really excited about the plastic surgery, aren't you?
• C. Were you aware I've had this same type of surgery?
• D. What would you like to talk about?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The nurse should avoid asking leading questions during a client interview as they can influence the client's response. Option B is a leading question as it suggests an expected response from the client, potentially biasing the information provided. This can lead to inaccurate data collection and subsequent errors in diagnostic reasoning. Choices A, C, and D are open-ended questions that encourage the client to provide unbiased information and allow for a more comprehensive assessment.

4. A healthcare professional realizes after a patient has left the office that they forgot to document the patient's complaint of a sore throat. Which of the following choices would BEST correct the error?

• A. Pull out that page of the chart and rewrite it with the correct information.
• B. Put one line through the original Chief Complaint, write 'ERROR,' your initials, and today's date. Make the correction by rewriting the Chief Complaint with the correct information.
• C. Go to the next available line of the SOAP notes. Write the current date, then write 'Late Entry.' Place the date and time when the patient stated they had a sore throat. Sign and date the entry.
• D. All of the above are incorrect.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When adding information to a patient's chart after the encounter, using the term 'Late Entry' is essential. This clearly indicates that the information was added after the fact and helps to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the medical record. Option A is incorrect because removing a page from the chart and rewriting it can lead to inaccuracies and is not a recommended practice for correcting errors. Option B suggests marking the original Chief Complaint as an error, which may not be clear to future readers of the chart and could lead to confusion. Option D is incorrect as it dismisses the correct approach outlined in Option C, which is the best way to handle the situation of missed documentation during a patient encounter.

5. A patient suffering from hyperglycemia would be experiencing:

• A. Low blood sugar
• B. High blood sugar
• C. Normal blood sugar
• D. None of the above

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Hyperglycemia is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. In this state, there is an excess of glucose in the bloodstream. Patients with hyperglycemia are often diagnosed with diabetes. The term 'hyperglycemia' specifically refers to elevated blood sugar levels. Therefore, the correct answer is 'High blood sugar.' Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because hyperglycemia indicates elevated blood sugar levels and not low or normal levels.

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