Nursing Elites

1. How should a healthcare professional manage a patient with a tracheostomy?

• A. Monitor airway patency and provide humidified oxygen
• B. Provide education on tracheostomy care
• C. Suction airway secretions and change tracheostomy ties
• D. Provide a high-protein diet and ensure fluid restriction

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Correct answer: Monitoring airway patency and providing humidified oxygen is crucial in managing a patient with a tracheostomy to ensure proper breathing and oxygenation. Ensuring the airway is clear and providing oxygen support are immediate priorities. Providing education on tracheostomy care (Choice B) is important for long-term management but not the immediate priority. Suctioning airway secretions and changing tracheostomy ties (Choice C) are tasks that may be necessary but do not address the primary concern of maintaining airway patency. Providing a high-protein diet and ensuring fluid restriction (Choice D) are unrelated to the immediate management of a tracheostomy.

2. A client is given morphine 6 mg IV push for postoperative pain. Following administration of this drug, the nurse observes the following: pulse 68, respirations 8, BP 100/68, client sleeping quietly. Which of the following nursing actions is MOST appropriate?

• A. Allow the client to sleep undisturbed
• B. Administer oxygen via facemask or nasal prongs
• C. Administer naloxone (Narcan)
• D. Place epinephrine 1:1,000 at the bedside

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is to administer naloxone (Narcan). The client's vital signs indicate opioid-induced respiratory depression, which is a potential side effect of morphine. Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of opioids, particularly to restore normal respiratory function. Administering oxygen alone (Choice B) may not address the underlying cause of respiratory depression. Allowing the client to sleep undisturbed (Choice A) is inappropriate when signs of respiratory depression are present. Epinephrine (Choice D) is not indicated in this situation and is not used to reverse opioid effects.

3. Which instruction should be emphasized for a client with diabetes being discharged?

• A. Check blood sugar once daily
• B. Take insulin before meals as prescribed
• C. Monitor glucose levels weekly
• D. Eat carbohydrate-rich meals to maintain glucose levels

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to 'Take insulin before meals as prescribed' because it is crucial for managing blood glucose levels effectively in clients with diabetes. Insulin helps the body utilize glucose from the food consumed, preventing high blood sugar levels. Checking blood sugar once daily (Choice A) may not be sufficient for proper management, as blood sugar levels can fluctuate throughout the day. Monitoring glucose levels weekly (Choice C) is too infrequent and may lead to missed opportunities for timely intervention. Eating carbohydrate-rich meals to maintain glucose levels (Choice D) is not appropriate advice, as it can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, especially without the proper insulin dosage.

4. Which of the following is an expected side effect of furosemide?

• A. Bradycardia
• B. Hypokalemia
• C. Increased blood pressure
• D. Increased urine output

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Hypokalemia. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that works by increasing the excretion of water and electrolytes, including potassium, leading to hypokalemia. Choice A, Bradycardia, is incorrect because furosemide does not typically cause a decrease in heart rate. Choice C, Increased blood pressure, is incorrect as furosemide is actually used to lower blood pressure by reducing fluid volume. Choice D, Increased urine output, is a common effect of furosemide due to its diuretic action but is not an adverse side effect.

5. A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is planning assignments for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who has been sent from the postpartum unit due to a staffing shortage for the shift. Which of the following client assignments should the nurse delegate to the LPN?

• A. A client who is postoperative following a bowel resection with an NGT set to continuous suction.
• B. A client who has fractured a femur yesterday and is experiencing shortness of breath.
• C. A client who sustained a concussion and has unequal pupils.
• D. A client who has an Hgb of 6.3 g/dl and a prescription for packed RBCs.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the LPN can care for stable clients with complex needs, such as managing an NGT set to continuous suction. Choices B, C, and D involve clients with more acute conditions that require a higher level of assessment and intervention, making them unsuitable for delegation to an LPN. Choice B requires prompt evaluation of the shortness of breath in a client with a recent femur fracture, which is beyond the LPN's scope. Choice C involves a head injury and unequal pupils, indicating the need for neurological assessment and close monitoring. Choice D relates to a critically low hemoglobin level and the need for blood transfusion, requiring careful monitoring and potential intervention beyond the LPN's role.

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