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 providing teaching to a client who has schizophrenia about thioridazine. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Report any sign of infection to the provider immediately
• B. Expect your blood pressure to increase
• C. Easy bruising may occur while taking this medication
• D. Muscle rigidity is an expected adverse effect during the first few days of therapy

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Report any sign of infection to the provider immediately.' This instruction is essential for clients taking thioridazine or other antipsychotic medications. Thioridazine does not typically affect blood pressure or cause easy bruising. Muscle rigidity is more commonly associated with other antipsychotic medications. Reporting signs of infection promptly is crucial as antipsychotic medications can affect the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections. Early detection and treatment of infections help prevent complications and ensure proper medication management.

3. The patient has been in bed for several days and needs to be ambulated. What action should the nurse take first?

• A. Dangle the patient at the bedside.
• B. Encourage isometric exercises.
• C. Suggest a high-calcium diet.
• D. Maintain a narrow base of support.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Dangle the patient at the bedside.' When a patient has been in bed for an extended period and needs to be ambulated, it is essential to dangle the patient at the bedside first. Dangling involves helping the patient sit on the edge of the bed with their legs over the side before standing up. This action helps prevent orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure when moving from lying down to standing up, which can lead to dizziness or fainting. Encouraging isometric exercises (choice B) or suggesting a high-calcium diet (choice C) are not the first actions to take before ambulating a patient. Maintaining a narrow base of support (choice D) is related to assisting with ambulation but is not the initial step that should be taken.

4. A client is preparing for surgery wearing a necklace. What is the appropriate action?

• A. Remove the necklace and place it in a drawer
• B. Tape the necklace to the patient's skin
• C. Ask the patient for permission to lock it in a safe
• D. Ask the family to hold onto the necklace

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The appropriate action when a client is wearing a necklace before surgery is to ask the patient for permission to lock it in a safe. This is in line with hospital policy to secure valuables before entering surgery. Choice A is incorrect because simply placing the necklace in a drawer may not be secure. Choice B is incorrect as taping the necklace to the patient's skin can cause skin irritation and is not a standard practice. Choice D is incorrect because the responsibility for securing valuables typically lies with the healthcare team, not the patient's family.

5. A nurse is preparing to measure a client's level of oxygen saturation and observes edema of both hands and thickened toenails. The nurse should apply the pulse oximeter probe to which of the following locations?

• A. Finger
• B. Earlobe
• C. Toe
• D. Skin fold

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a client has edema of both hands and thickened toenails, these conditions can impede accurate readings from the finger and toe locations. The earlobe is the best alternative site for the pulse oximeter probe in this scenario. Placing the probe on the earlobe will help ensure a more accurate measurement of oxygen saturation despite the issues with the hands and toenails. Therefore, the correct answer is to apply the pulse oximeter probe to the earlobe. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because of the potential limitations presented by the edema and thickened toenails.

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