Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is assessing the vital signs of a 20-year-old marathon runner and documents the following vital signs: temperature"?36�C; pulse"?48 beats per minute; respirations"?14 breaths per minute; blood pressure"?104/68 mm Hg. Which statement is true concerning these results?

• A. The patient is experiencing bradycardia.
• B. These are normal vital signs for a healthy, athletic adult.
• C. The patient's pulse rate is not normal"?no action is required.
• D. The patient's next clinic visit should occur as scheduled.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is, 'These are normal vital signs for a healthy, athletic adult.' A pulse rate of 48 beats per minute is considered bradycardia in adults, but it is not a concern in well-trained athletes like marathon runners. Bradycardia is a normal physiological response to aerobic conditioning. Tachycardia, on the other hand, is defined as a pulse rate above 100 beats per minute, which is not the case here. The low pulse rate in this scenario is a reflection of the athlete's cardiovascular fitness. Therefore, there is no need to notify the physician or schedule a follow-up visit based on these findings.

2. What technique would the nurse use to accurately assess a rectal temperature in an adult?

• A. Use a lubricated blunt tip thermometer.
• B. Insert the thermometer 2 to 3 inches into the rectum.
• C. Leave the thermometer in place for up to 8 minutes if the patient is febrile.
• D. Wait 2 to 3 minutes if the patient has recently smoked a cigarette.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: To accurately assess a rectal temperature in an adult, a nurse should use a lubricated rectal thermometer with a short, blunt tip. The thermometer is inserted only 2 to 3 cm (1 inch) into the rectum and left in place for 2 minutes. Choice B is incorrect as inserting the thermometer 2 to 3 inches would be too deep and inaccurate. Choice C is incorrect as leaving the thermometer in place for up to 8 minutes is unnecessary and can cause discomfort. Choice D is incorrect as smoking a cigarette does not impact rectal temperatures.

3. Rales and rhonchi are frequently noted during an examination of lung sounds. What is the difference between the two?

• A. Rales are louder.
• B. Rhonchi are noted only in infants.
• C. Rales occur on inspiration, rhonchi on expiration.
• D. Rales are noted only in infants.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is that rales occur on inspiration, while rhonchi occur on expiration. Rales are typically heard during inhalation when there is fluid in the alveoli or air passages. Rhonchi, on the other hand, are caused by air passing through obstructed airways during exhalation due to secretions in the respiratory tract. Choice A is incorrect because the loudness of the sounds is not the primary distinguishing factor between rales and rhonchi. Choice B is incorrect as rhonchi can be heard in individuals beyond infancy. Choice D is incorrect as rales can be present in patients of various age groups, not just infants.

4. The client starting an exercise program will progress to walking a 20-minute mile in one month.

• A. Client will walk quickly three times a day
• B. Client will be able to walk a mile
• C. Client will have no alteration in breathing during the walk
• D. Client will progress to walking a 20-minute mile in one month

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Outcome statements must be written in behavioral terms and identify specific, measurable client behaviors. They are stated in terms of the client with an action verb that, under identified conditions, will achieve the desired behavior. Choice A lacks specificity and does not mention a target time or goal. Choice B is vague and does not provide a specific target for improvement. Choice C focuses on a negative outcome (no alteration) rather than a positive goal. The correct answer, Choice D, is specific, measurable, and time-bound, making it a suitable outcome statement for a client starting an exercise program.

5. In addition to standard precautions, the nurse caring for a patient with rubella would plan to implement what type of precautions?

• A. Droplet precautions
• B. Airborne precautions
• C. Contact precautions
• D. Universal precautions

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Rubella is an illness transmitted by large-particle droplets, so the nurse should implement droplet precautions in addition to standard precautions. Airborne precautions are used for diseases spread through small particles in the air, such as tuberculosis, varicella, and rubeola. Contact precautions are utilized for diseases transmitted by direct contact with the patient or their environment. Universal precautions and body substance isolations are part of the CDC's standard precautions recommendations, but do not specifically address the transmission route of rubella.

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