Nursing Elites

1. How should a healthcare professional care for a patient with a central line?

• A. Flush the line daily
• B. Monitor for infection
• C. Change the dressing weekly
• D. Replace the central line every week

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When caring for a patient with a central line, monitoring for infection is crucial. This is because central lines can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream, leading to serious infections. While flushing the line daily and changing the dressing weekly are important aspects of central line care, monitoring for infection takes precedence. Infections can occur rapidly and have severe consequences, so early detection through vigilant monitoring is key. Replacing the central line every week is not a standard practice and should only be done when clinically indicated, such as in cases of infection or malfunction.

2. A healthcare professional is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has chronic kidney disease. Which of the following findings should the healthcare professional report to the provider?

• A. Serum potassium 4.5 mEq/L
• B. Serum calcium 9.2 mg/dL
• C. Serum creatinine 2.5 mg/dL
• D. Serum albumin 3.5 g/dL

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Elevated serum creatinine levels indicate impaired kidney function. As kidney disease progresses, the kidneys are less able to filter waste products, leading to an increase in creatinine levels. Therefore, a high serum creatinine level of 2.5 mg/dL should be reported to the provider for further evaluation and management. Choices A, B, and D are within normal ranges and do not directly signify worsening kidney function in this context.

3. A charge nurse is educating a group of unit nurses about delegating client tasks to assistive personnel. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

• A. The nurse is legally responsible for the actions of the AP.
• B. An AP can perform tasks outside of their scope if they have been trained.
• C. An experienced AP can delegate tasks to another AP.
• D. An RN evaluates the client's needs to determine tasks to delegate.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct statement is D: 'An RN evaluates the client's needs to determine which tasks are appropriate to delegate to assistive personnel.' This is an essential step in the delegation process to ensure that tasks are assigned appropriately based on the client's condition and the competencies of the assistive personnel. Option A is incorrect because while the nurse retains accountability for delegation decisions, the AP is responsible for their actions. Option B is incorrect as tasks should be within the AP's scope of practice regardless of training. Option C is incorrect as delegation typically involves assigning tasks from the RN to the AP, not between APs.

4. A nurse is caring for a client who has a pulmonary embolism. The nurse should identify the effectiveness of the treatment by assessing which of the following?

• A. A chest x-ray reveals increased density in all lung fields
• B. The client reports feeling less anxious
• C. Diminished breath sounds are auscultated unilaterally
• D. ABG results include pH 7.48, PaO2 77 mm Hg, and PaCO2 47 mm Hg

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Client-reported improvement in anxiety is an indication of effective treatment for pulmonary embolism. Choice A is incorrect as increased density in all lung fields on a chest x-ray may indicate complications or lack of improvement. Choice C is incorrect as diminished breath sounds auscultated unilaterally may suggest a localized lung issue and not necessarily reflect the effectiveness of treatment for a pulmonary embolism. Choice D is incorrect as the ABG results provided do not specifically indicate the effectiveness of treatment for a pulmonary embolism.

5. A nurse in a pediatric clinic is teaching a newly hired nurse about the varicella roster. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

• A. Children who have varicella are contagious until vesicles are crusted
• B. Children who have varicella should receive the herpes zoster vaccination
• C. Children who have varicella should be placed in droplet precautions
• D. Children who have varicella are contagious 4 days before the first vesicle eruption

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Children with varicella are contagious until the vesicles crust over, which is important for preventing transmission. Choice B is incorrect as varicella and herpes zoster are caused by different viruses, so the varicella vaccine is given to prevent varicella, not herpes zoster. Choice C is incorrect because varicella is primarily spread through respiratory secretions, so airborne precautions are recommended, not droplet precautions. Choice D is incorrect as children with varicella are contagious even before the first vesicle eruption, not just 4 days before.

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