Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is making assignments for the day. Which client should be assigned to the nursing assistant?

• A. A client with Alzheimer's disease
• B. A client with pneumonia
• C. A client with appendicitis
• D. A client with thrombophlebitis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The client with Alzheimer's disease is the most stable among the clients listed and can be appropriately assigned to the nursing assistant. Nursing assistants are capable of providing care such as feeding and assisting with activities of daily living for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Clients with pneumonia, appendicitis, and thrombophlebitis are less stable and necessitate the expertise of a registered nurse for accurate assessment and interventions. Therefore, the nursing assistant can effectively care for the client with Alzheimer's disease while ensuring that the other clients receive the necessary level of care from a registered nurse.

2. Hormonal agents are used to treat some cancers. An example is:

• A. thyroxine to treat thyroid cancer.
• B. ACTH to treat adrenal carcinoma.
• C. estrogen antagonists to treat breast cancer.
• D. glucagon to treat pancreatic carcinoma.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Estrogen antagonists are commonly used to treat estrogen hormone-dependent cancers such as breast carcinoma. One well-known estrogen antagonist used in breast cancer therapy is Tamoxifen (Nolvadex). This drug, in combination with surgery and other chemotherapeutic drugs, reduces breast cancer recurrence by 30%. Estrogen antagonists can also be administered to prevent breast cancer in women who have a strong family history. Thyroxine is a thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism, not thyroid cancer. ACTH is an anterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands to release glucocorticoids; it does not treat adrenal cancer. Glucagon is a pancreatic alpha cell hormone that stimulates glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis; it does not treat pancreatic cancer.

3. When medications have an additive, synergistic, or antagonistic effect on a tissue, a ________ reaction has occurred.

• A. pharmaceutical
• B. pharmacodynamic
• C. pharmacokinetic
• D. drug incompatibility

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'pharmacodynamic.' Pharmacodynamics pertain to the effect of a drug on receptors, explaining how drugs affect tissues. Pharmaceutical reactions refer to chemical reactions between drugs before administration or absorption, not their effect on tissues. Pharmacokinetic reactions involve how the body affects the drug, not the tissue. Drug incompatibilities are essentially pharmaceutical reactions, not the specific effects on tissues seen in pharmacodynamic reactions.

4. While assessing a client who is dying for signs of impending death, what should the nurse observe for?

• A. Elevated blood pressure
• B. Cheyne-Stokes respiration
• C. Elevated pulse rate
• D. Decreased temperature

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When assessing a client for signs of impending death, the nurse should observe for Cheyne-Stokes respiration. This pattern involves rhythmic waxing and waning of respirations from very deep breathing to very shallow breathing with periods of temporary apnea. It is often associated with cardiac failure and can be a significant indicator of impending death. Elevated blood pressure and pulse rate are not typical signs of impending death; in fact, they may indicate other conditions. A decreased temperature is also not a common sign of impending death, as temperature changes can vary among individuals and may not always correlate with the dying process.

5. A 24-year-old female client is scheduled for surgery in the morning. What is the primary responsibility of the nurse?

• A. Taking the vital signs
• B. Obtaining the permit
• C. Explaining the procedure
• D. Checking the lab work

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The primary responsibility of the nurse is to take the vital signs before any surgery. This action helps assess the client's baseline condition and identify any abnormalities that need addressing before the procedure. Obtaining the permit (choice B) is typically handled by administrative staff, explaining the procedure (choice C) is usually done by the healthcare provider performing the surgery, and checking the lab work (choice D) is often part of the pre-operative assessment conducted by the healthcare provider. Therefore, in this context, these actions are not the primary responsibility of the nurse.

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