Nursing Elites

1. A twenty-one-year-old man suffered a concussion, and the MD ordered an MRI. The patient asks, 'Will they allow me to sit up during the MRI?' The correct response by the nurse should be:

• A. "I will have to talk to the doctor about letting you sit upright during the test."?
• B. "You will be positioned in the reverse Trendelenburg position to maximize the view of the brain."?
• C. "The radiologist will let you know."?
• D. "You will have to lie down on your back during the test."?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to inform the patient that they will have to lie down on their back during the MRI. This positioning is necessary for the scan to obtain accurate images of the brain. Choice A is incorrect because the decision on the positioning during the MRI is typically determined by the imaging protocol and not subject to negotiation during the test. Choice B is incorrect as the reverse Trendelenburg position is not commonly used during MRI scans. Choice C is incorrect because the radiologist does not usually make decisions on patient positioning during the MRI; it is predetermined by the imaging requirements.

2. A home health nurse is planning for her daily visits. Which client should the home health nurse visit first?

• A. A client with AIDS being treated with Foscarnet
• B. A client with a fractured femur in a long leg cast
• C. A client with laryngeal cancer with a laryngectomy
• D. A client with diabetic ulcers on the left foot

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is the client with laryngeal cancer who had a laryngectomy. This client is at risk for airway obstruction due to the surgical procedure, making it a priority visit. Clients with AIDS (choice A), a fractured femur (choice B), and diabetic ulcers (choice D) do not have immediate life-threatening conditions that require urgent attention compared to a client with a recent laryngectomy.

3. In the United States, several definitions of death are currently being used. The definition that uses apnea testing and pupillary responses to light is termed:

• A. whole brain death.
• B. heart-lung death.
• C. circulatory death.
• D. higher brain death.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'whole brain death.' Most protocols for determining whole brain death require two separate clinical examinations, including the induction of painful stimuli, pupillary responses to light, oculovestibular testing, and apnea testing. This comprehensive approach ensures that all functions of the brain, including the brainstem, are evaluated to confirm the absence of brain function. Choices B and D are incorrect as they do not reflect the specific tests required for determining whole brain death. Choice C, 'circulatory death,' does not involve the evaluation of brain function and is not a current definition of death in the United States.

4. A client with cancer is to undergo an intravenous pyelogram. The nurse should:

• A. Ensure adequate fluid intake 24 hours before the procedure
• B. Ask the client to void immediately before the study
• C. Administer medication that affects the central nervous system as prescribed
• D. Position the client appropriately for the procedure

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to ask the client to void immediately before the study. For an intravenous pyelogram, the client may have orders for laxatives or enemas, so ensuring the client voids before the test is important to prevent obscuring visualization of the kidney, ureters, and bladder. Choice A is incorrect because there is no need to force fluids before the procedure. Choice C is incorrect as medications affecting the central nervous system should not be held unless specified by the healthcare provider. Choice D is incorrect as covering the reproductive organs with an x-ray shield is not necessary for an intravenous pyelogram.

5. The nurse is caring for a client with laryngeal cancer. Which finding ascertained in the health history would not be common for this diagnosis?

• A. Foul breath
• B. Dysphagia
• C. Diarrhea
• D. Chronic hiccups

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Diarrhea is not a common finding in clients with laryngeal cancer. Foul breath (A), dysphagia (B), and chronic hiccups (D) are expected findings associated with laryngeal cancer. Foul breath can result from tissue breakdown in the mouth and throat. Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, can occur due to the tumor's location affecting the swallowing mechanism. Chronic hiccups can be a symptom of irritation to the phrenic nerves from the cancer.

Similar Questions