Nursing Elites

1. What can cause dehydration?

• A. Prolonged vomiting.
• B. Prolonged diarrhea.
• C. Too little fluid intake.
• D. Prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, and too little fluid intake.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Dehydration can result from significant fluid loss due to vomiting, diarrhea, or inadequate fluid intake. Prolonged vomiting and diarrhea lead to excessive fluid loss from the body, contributing to dehydration. Similarly, not consuming enough fluids can also result in dehydration. Choice A and B are too specific as they only mention one cause each, while choice C is also correct but does not encompass all the potential causes of dehydration as mentioned in choice D.

2. Who would have the greatest percentage of body water?

• A. an obese male
• B. a nonobese male
• C. a nonobese female
• D. a newborn

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Newborns have a higher percentage of body water compared to adults due to their higher body fluid content. Factors such as the higher ratio of body surface area to body volume and lower body fat content contribute to this. This is why a newborn would have the greatest percentage of body water. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because obesity and gender do not determine the percentage of body water in individuals. Therefore, the correct answer is a newborn.

3. What would be the best initial nursing action prior to inserting an IV?

• A. Instruct the patient to wash their hands.
• B. Prepare the IV insertion site with povidone iodine.
• C. Verify the order for IV therapy.
• D. Identify a suitable vein.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best initial nursing action prior to inserting an IV is to verify the order for IV therapy. This step ensures that the IV insertion is appropriate and necessary based on the physician's orders. Instructing the patient to wash their hands (Choice A) is important for infection control but not the immediate priority before IV insertion. While preparing the IV insertion site with povidone iodine (Choice B) and identifying a suitable vein (Choice D) are crucial steps in the process, confirming the order for IV therapy (Choice C) takes precedence to ensure the correct intervention is being performed.

4. You are caring for a patient with a diagnosis of pancreatitis. The patient was admitted from a homeless shelter and is a vague historian. The patient appears malnourished and on day 3 of the patients admission total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been started. Why would you know to start the infusion of TPN slowly?

• A. Patients receiving TPN are at risk for hypercalcemia if calories are started too rapidly.
• B. Malnourished patients receiving parenteral nutrition are at risk for hypophosphatemia if calories are started too aggressively.
• C. Malnourished patients who receive fluids too rapidly are at risk for hypernatremia.
• D. Patients receiving TPN need a slow initiation of treatment in order to allow digestive enzymes to accumulate

Correct answer: B

Rationale:

5. The nurse is caring for a postthyroidectomy patient at risk for hypocalcemia. What action should the nurse take when assessing for hypocalcemia?

• A. Monitor laboratory values daily for an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone.
• B. Observe for swelling of the neck, tracheal deviation, and severe pain.
• C. Evaluate the quality of the patient's voice postoperatively, noting any drastic changes.
• D. Observe for muscle twitching and numbness or tingling of the lips, fingers, and toes.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Muscle twitching and numbness or tingling of the lips, fingers, and toes are signs of hyperirritability of the nervous system due to hypocalcemia. The other options describe complications the nurse should also be observing for; however, tetany and neurologic alterations are primary indications of hypocalcemia. Monitoring for an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (choice A) is not relevant in assessing for hypocalcemia. Observing for swelling of the neck, tracheal deviation, and severe pain (choice B) are more related to airway compromise. Evaluating the quality of the patient's voice postoperatively (choice C) is important but not a primary sign of hypocalcemia.

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