Nursing Elites

1. The nurse belongs to a professional nursing organization that provides social, educational, and political venues for nurses. The nurse has been active in this organization for almost two years, during which time she meets and works with nurses from several different nursing agencies and health care institutions to achieve a variety of goals, including obtaining advice regarding a personal career choice. This is an example of:

• A. professional nurturing.
• B. networking.
• C. mentoring.
• D. collegiality.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Networking involves the process of developing and using contacts throughout one's professional career for information, advice, and support. In this scenario, the nurse is actively engaging with other professionals from various institutions to achieve common goals and seek career advice, which aligns with the concept of networking. Professional nurturing and mentoring focus on providing support and guidance to colleagues, while collegiality refers to the camaraderie and rapport established among individuals through shared experiences, which is not the primary focus of the nurse's interaction in the given situation.

2. In an emergency situation, the nurse determines whether a client has an airway obstruction. Which of the following does the nurse assess?

• A. ability to speak
• B. ability to hear
• C. oxygen saturation
• D. adventitious breath sounds

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In an emergency situation to assess for airway obstruction, the nurse should prioritize assessing the client's ability to speak. If a client can speak, it indicates that the airway is patent and not completely obstructed, allowing air to pass through the vocal cords for speech production. Choices B, C, and D are not the primary assessments for determining airway obstruction. Assessing the ability to hear is not directly related to an airway obstruction. While oxygen saturation and adventitious breath sounds are important in respiratory assessments, they are not the initial indicators of an airway obstruction. Oxygen saturation reflects the amount of oxygen in the blood, and adventitious breath sounds refer to abnormal lung sounds that may indicate conditions like pneumonia or bronchitis, but they do not specifically confirm airway patency.

3. A nurse who recently learned she is pregnant has just received client assignments for the day. Which client assignment should the nurse question as being inappropriate?

• A. A client with metastatic cancer who is receiving a continuous infusion of intravenous morphine sulfate
• B. A client with a solid-sealed cervical radiation implant
• C. A client with diarrhea for whom enteric precautions are in effect
• D. A client for whom contact precautions have been implemented and who requires frequent wound irrigations

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is a client with a solid-sealed cervical radiation implant. Brachytherapy involves the implantation of a sealed radiation source within the targeted tumor tissue. A client with such an implant emits radiation as long as it is in place. Pregnant nurses should not care for clients with solid-sealed radiation implants due to the potential radiation exposure risk to the fetus. Clients under enteric precautions due to diarrhea, receiving a continuous infusion of intravenous morphine sulfate for cancer pain, or requiring contact precautions and frequent wound irrigations do not pose a risk to pregnant nurses and are appropriate assignments for them. Therefore, the nurse should question the assignment involving the client with the solid-sealed cervical radiation implant as it poses a risk to the fetus.

4. A nurse on the night shift is making client rounds. When the nurse checks a client who is 97 years old and has successfully been treated for heart failure, he notes that the client is not breathing. If the client does not have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, the nurse should take which action?

• A. Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• B. Call the client's health care provider
• C. Administer oxygen to the client and call the health care provider
• D. Contact the nursing supervisor for directions

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the appropriate action when a client is not breathing and does not have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. CPR is considered an emergency treatment that can be provided without client consent in life-threatening situations. Calling the health care provider or nursing supervisor for directions, as well as administering oxygen without addressing the lack of breathing, would delay critical life-saving interventions. Therefore, administering CPR is the most urgent and necessary action to perform in this scenario.

5. In an obstetrical emergency, which of the following actions should the nurse perform first after the baby delivers?

• A. Place extra padding under the mother to absorb blood from the delivery.
• B. Cut the umbilical cord using sterile scissors.
• C. Suction the baby's mouth and nose.
• D. Wrap the baby in a clean blanket to preserve warmth.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In an obstetrical emergency, the immediate priority after the baby delivers is to clear the baby's airway by suctioning the mouth and nose to ensure effective breathing. This action helps prevent potential complications like meconium aspiration. Cutting the umbilical cord, wrapping the baby in a blanket, or placing extra padding under the mother can follow once the baby's airway is clear. Therefore, suctioning the baby's mouth and nose is the most critical and time-sensitive intervention in this scenario. Placing extra padding under the mother is not the immediate priority as ensuring the baby's airway is clear. Cutting the umbilical cord and wrapping the baby in a clean blanket are important but can wait until after ensuring the baby's breathing is not compromised.

Similar Questions