Nursing Elites

1. After surgery, a patient is experiencing pain. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Administer pain medication as prescribed.
• B. Assess the patient's pain using a pain scale.
• C. Offer the patient non-pharmacological pain relief methods.
• D. Reassess the patient's pain level after 30 minutes.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the patient's pain using a pain scale. This is the priority action because it allows the nurse to obtain an objective measure of the patient's pain intensity. By accurately assessing the pain level, the nurse can determine the appropriate intervention, which may include administering pain medication as prescribed (choice A) or offering non-pharmacological pain relief methods (choice C). Reassessing the patient's pain level after 30 minutes (choice D) is important but comes after the initial assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions implemented.

2. A nurse is preparing to administer verapamil to a client who is 2 days postmyocardial infarction. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following outcomes as a therapeutic response to the medication?

• A. Decreased blood pressure
• B. Decreased anginal pain
• C. Decreased heart rate
• D. Decreased anxiety

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Decreased anginal pain. Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to relieve angina by reducing myocardial oxygen demand. Monitoring for decreased anginal pain is essential as it indicates a therapeutic response to the medication. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as verapamil's primary goal in this context is not to decrease blood pressure, heart rate, or anxiety.

3. A nurse is completing an assessment of a recently widowed older adult client. He states he is unable to drive and is afraid to cook on the stove. Which of the following community resources should the nurse recommend?

• A. Hospice care
• B. Meals on Wheels
• C. Home health services
• D. American Association of Retired Persons

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels is a community resource that provides food for older adults who are unable to cook for themselves, promoting independence and ensuring proper nutrition. Hospice care (choice A) focuses on providing comfort and support for individuals with life-limiting illnesses; it is not primarily aimed at providing meals. Home health services (choice C) typically involve skilled nursing care and therapy services provided in the home setting, rather than meal delivery. The American Association of Retired Persons (choice D) offers advocacy, support, and resources for older adults but does not directly address the specific needs mentioned in the client's situation.

4. A patient with a history of asthma is admitted with shortness of breath. What is the nurse's priority intervention?

• A. Administer a bronchodilator as prescribed.
• B. Encourage the patient to use an incentive spirometer.
• C. Place the patient in a high Fowler's position.
• D. Monitor the patient's oxygen saturation closely.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to administer a bronchodilator as prescribed. This intervention is the priority for a patient with asthma experiencing shortness of breath as it helps relax the airways, making breathing easier. Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer (Choice B) is beneficial for lung expansion but not the priority in this acute situation. Placing the patient in a high Fowler's position (Choice C) can also help with breathing but is not as immediate as administering a bronchodilator. While monitoring the patient's oxygen saturation closely (Choice D) is important, the immediate action to address the breathing difficulty is administering a bronchodilator.

5. A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter and a prescription for a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Wipe the area around the needleless port with sterile water
• B. Insert the syringe into the needleless port at a 60-degree angle
• C. Withdraw 3 to 5 ml of urine from the port
• D. Don sterile gloves

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to withdraw 3 to 5 ml of urine from the port for an accurate culture and sensitivity test. Wiping the area around the needleless port with sterile water (Choice A) is not necessary when obtaining a urine specimen. Inserting the syringe into the needleless port at a 60-degree angle (Choice B) is incorrect as it does not align with the correct procedure for obtaining a urine specimen. Donning sterile gloves (Choice D) is a good practice but not the immediate action required for obtaining a urine specimen.

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