Nursing Elites

1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed digoxin. What is the most important instruction the nurse should provide?

• A. Take an extra dose if you miss one.
• B. Avoid high-potassium foods.
• C. Report any visual disturbances.
• D. Stop taking the medication if your pulse is normal.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Report any visual disturbances.' Patients taking digoxin should be instructed to report any visual disturbances, as this can be a sign of digoxin toxicity. Visual disturbances like changes in color vision, blurred vision, or seeing halos around lights can indicate an overdose of digoxin. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Instructing a patient to take an extra dose if they miss one can lead to overdose. Avoiding high-potassium foods is important for patients on potassium-sparing diuretics, not digoxin. Stopping the medication if the pulse is normal is incorrect, as the pulse rate alone is not an indicator of digoxin effectiveness or toxicity.

2. A 40-year-old man presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. He has a history of Crohn's disease. Laboratory tests reveal low hemoglobin and elevated ESR. What is the most likely diagnosis?

• A. Ulcerative colitis
• B. Irritable bowel syndrome
• C. Celiac disease
• D. Crohn's disease flare

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, along with the history of Crohn's disease, and the laboratory findings of low hemoglobin and elevated ESR, strongly suggest a Crohn's disease flare. These clinical manifestations are classic features of a flare-up in a patient with a known history of Crohn's disease.

3. An 89-year-old male client complains to the nurse that people are whispering behind his back and mumbling when they talk to him. What age-related condition is likely to be occurring with this client?

• A. Delirium
• B. Presbyopia
• C. Presbycusis
• D. Cerebral dysfunction

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, Presbycusis. Presbycusis is age-related hearing loss that often affects the ability to hear high-pitched sounds, making speech appear mumbled. This condition is common in older adults and can lead to difficulties in understanding conversations, as in the case of the client complaining about people whispering and mumbling.

4. What action should the nurse take to prevent tracheal tissue damage in a client with a tracheostomy?

• A. Secure the tracheostomy ties firmly.
• B. Change the tracheostomy tube daily.
• C. Use the minimal leak technique when inflating the cuff.
• D. Clean the stoma with hydrogen peroxide.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: To prevent tracheal tissue damage in a client with a tracheostomy, the nurse should use the minimal leak technique when inflating the cuff. This method helps avoid excessive pressure on the tracheal tissue, thereby reducing the risk of damage. Choice A is incorrect because securing the tracheostomy ties too tightly can cause pressure and tissue damage. Choice B is incorrect as changing the tracheostomy tube daily is not necessary unless there is a specific clinical indication. Choice D is incorrect as cleaning the stoma with hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin and mucous membranes, potentially leading to damage.

5. A patient with glaucoma is prescribed timolol eye drops. What is the primary action of this medication?

• A. Reduce intraocular pressure
• B. Dilate the pupils
• C. Constrict the pupils
• D. Enhance tear production

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Timolol eye drops are prescribed to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. By decreasing the pressure within the eye, timolol helps prevent damage to the optic nerve, which is crucial in managing glaucoma and preserving vision. Dilating or constricting the pupils or enhancing tear production are not the primary actions of timolol eye drops.

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