Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric tube to continuous suction. Which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse monitor for?

• A. Hypercalcemia.
• B. Hypokalemia.
• C. Hyponatremia.
• D. Hypomagnesemia.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hypokalemia. When a client has a nasogastric tube to continuous suction, potassium loss through gastric fluids can lead to hypokalemia. Hypercalcemia (Choice A) is not typically associated with continuous suction. Hyponatremia (Choice C) involves sodium imbalance and is not directly related to nasogastric suction. Hypomagnesemia (Choice D) is not the primary concern in this situation, as potassium loss is more significant with gastric suction.

2. The wife of an older adult man who has had diabetes mellitus for the past 10 years reports to the home health nurse that her husband fell yesterday while taking his daily walk in the neighborhood. He has a bruised hand and a small abrasion on his left knee. The nurse assesses that his neurologic vital signs are stable. To reduce the risk for future falls, which assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain?

• A. current blood sugar level
• B. degree of paresthesia in feet
• C. wound healing of knee abrasion
• D. A1c glycosylated hemoglobin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Assessing for paresthesia (numbness or tingling) in the feet is crucial in this scenario as it can help determine if the client has a loss of sensation, which increases the risk of falls. Paresthesia is a common complication of diabetes that can lead to decreased sensation and proprioception in the feet, contributing to balance issues and an increased risk of falls. Monitoring for paresthesia allows the nurse to assess the extent of sensory impairment and implement appropriate interventions to prevent future falls. While monitoring blood sugar levels (choice A) and A1c levels (choice D) are important in managing diabetes, in this case, assessing paresthesia takes precedence due to its direct impact on fall risk. Similarly, while monitoring the wound healing of the knee abrasion (choice C) is important for overall wound care, it is not directly related to reducing the risk of future falls in this situation.

3. During a 2-week postoperative follow-up home visit, a female client who had gastric bypass surgery exhibits abdominal tenderness, shoulder pain, and describes feelings of malaise. Her vital signs are: T 101.8, BP 100/50, HR 104, and RR 18. Which action should the RN take?

• A. have the client transported via ambulance to the hospital
• B. recheck the client's vital signs in 30 minutes
• C. instruct the client to drive to the hospital for admission
• D. assess the client's current symptoms

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The client is presenting with signs of a potential postoperative complication, such as fever, low blood pressure, and tachycardia, which could indicate sepsis or another serious issue. These symptoms require immediate hospital evaluation and management. Option B of rechecking vital signs in 30 minutes could delay crucial intervention in a potentially life-threatening situation. Option C is unsafe as the client should not drive herself due to her condition. Option D is vague and does not address the urgency of the situation.

4. A school nurse is organizing a vaccination clinic for middle school students. Which vaccine is most important for the nurse to include?

• A. hepatitis B
• B. tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
• C. varicella
• D. measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most important vaccine for the school nurse to include in the vaccination clinic for middle school students is the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Tdap is recommended for preteens as part of the routine vaccination schedule to protect against these serious diseases. Hepatitis B, varicella, and MMR vaccines are also important but for this specific age group, Tdap takes precedence to ensure protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

5. A public health nurse is planning a smoking cessation program for a local community. Which component is most important to include in the program?

• A. information on the health risks of smoking
• B. strategies for coping with withdrawal symptoms
• C. testimonials from former smokers
• D. distribution of nicotine replacement therapy

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most important component to include in a smoking cessation program is strategies for coping with withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are a significant barrier to quitting smoking, and providing effective coping strategies can greatly increase the program's success. Choice A, providing information on the health risks of smoking, may be important but addressing withdrawal symptoms is more crucial. Testimonials from former smokers (Choice C) and distribution of nicotine replacement therapy (Choice D) are helpful but not as essential as addressing withdrawal symptoms directly.

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