Nursing Elites

1. A patient is experiencing shortness of breath. What is the nurse's immediate action?

• A. Assist the patient into a high Fowler's position.
• B. Administer oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula.
• C. Encourage the patient to take deep breaths and cough.
• D. Assess the patient's lung sounds.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Administering oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula is the immediate action for a patient experiencing shortness of breath. This intervention helps to improve oxygenation and relieve respiratory distress promptly. Placing the patient in a high Fowler's position (choice A) may also be beneficial but providing oxygen takes precedence in this scenario to address the underlying hypoxemia. Encouraging deep breaths and coughing (choice C) may not be appropriate as the first action, especially without assessing the patient first. Assessing lung sounds (choice D) is essential but should follow the initial intervention of administering oxygen.

2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diarrhea due to shigella. Which of the following precautions should the nurse take?

• A. Wear gloves only
• B. Wear a mask
• C. Wash hands before and after client care
• D. Use an N95 respirator

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct precaution for a nurse caring for a client with shigella-induced diarrhea is to wash hands before and after client care. Shigella is a highly contagious bacterium that spreads through contaminated food, water, or contact with infected individuals. While wearing gloves is important when directly handling bodily fluids, hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the transmission of the infection. Wearing a mask or using an N95 respirator is not necessary for preventing the spread of shigella, as it primarily spreads through the fecal-oral route rather than through respiratory droplets.

3. The nurse is caring for a patient who is at risk for infection. Which action by the nurse indicates correct understanding about standard precautions?

• A. Teaches the patient about good nutrition.
• B. Disposes of an uncapped needle in the designated container.
• C. Wears eyewear when emptying the urinary drainage bag.
• D. Dons gloves when wearing artificial nails.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct understanding of standard precautions includes wearing appropriate personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to body fluids. Wearing eyewear when emptying the urinary drainage bag is crucial as it protects the nurse's eyes from potential splashes of body fluids. Teaching the patient about good nutrition (Choice A) is important for overall health but is not directly related to standard precautions. Disposing of an uncapped needle correctly (Choice B) is part of safe needle handling but does not specifically relate to standard precautions. Donning gloves when wearing artificial nails (Choice D) is not a correct understanding of standard precautions, as artificial nails can harbor microorganisms and increase the risk of infection transmission.

4. How should a healthcare professional assess a patient's pain who is non-verbal?

• A. Looking for changes in vital signs that may indicate pain
• B. Using alternative methods like touch or distraction
• C. Using a pain scale appropriate for non-verbal patients
• D. Observing for facial expressions or other non-verbal cues

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When assessing pain in non-verbal patients, looking for changes in vital signs that may indicate pain is crucial. While using alternative methods like touch or distraction can be helpful, they may not directly indicate the presence of pain. Using a pain scale appropriate for non-verbal patients is important, but it may not always provide immediate feedback. Observing for facial expressions or other non-verbal cues can be subjective and may not always accurately reflect the level of pain the patient is experiencing. Therefore, monitoring vital signs is a more objective way to assess pain in non-verbal patients.

5. A healthcare provider is providing teaching for a patient with a prescription for oral metronidazole, what is the priority teaching point?

• A. Report headaches
• B. Report a rash
• C. Avoid sunlight
• D. Take with meals

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to 'Report a rash.' Metronidazole can cause severe adverse reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening rash. It is crucial to educate the patient to report any rash immediately to prevent serious complications. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because while they may be relevant to consider during metronidazole therapy, they are not the priority teaching point. Headaches can occur but are not as serious as a rash; avoiding sunlight is more related to doxycycline, not metronidazole; and taking with meals is a general instruction for some medications but not the priority teaching point for metronidazole.

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