Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is observing the way a patient walks. What aspect is the nurse assessing?

• A. Body alignment
• B. Gait
• C. Activity tolerance
• D. Range of motion

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Gait. Gait refers to the manner in which a person walks, including aspects such as stride length, step width, and walking speed. When a nurse observes a patient's gait, they are assessing their mobility and looking for any abnormalities or issues in their walking pattern. Choice A, body alignment, focuses more on the posture and position of the body rather than the actual walking pattern. Choice C, activity tolerance, relates to the ability to withstand physical activity without experiencing excessive fatigue. Choice D, range of motion, pertains to the extent of movement at a joint and is not directly related to observing the way a patient walks.

2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is being cared for by a nurse. What is the most appropriate action to improve the patient's oxygenation?

• A. Encourage the patient to use incentive spirometry.
• B. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula as prescribed.
• C. Assist the patient with coughing and deep breathing exercises.
• D. Position the patient in a high Fowler's position.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Administering oxygen via nasal cannula as prescribed is the most appropriate action to improve the patient's oxygenation in COPD. Oxygen therapy helps maintain adequate oxygen levels in the blood, which is crucial for managing COPD. Encouraging the use of incentive spirometry, assisting with coughing and deep breathing exercises, and positioning the patient in high Fowler's position are all beneficial interventions, but administering oxygen is the priority for immediate oxygenation support in COPD.

3. The nurse is caring for a patient who is at risk for infection. Which action by the nurse indicates correct understanding about standard precautions?

• A. Teaches the patient about good nutrition.
• B. Disposes of an uncapped needle in the designated container.
• C. Wears eyewear when emptying the urinary drainage bag.
• D. Dons gloves when wearing artificial nails.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct understanding of standard precautions includes wearing appropriate personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to body fluids. Wearing eyewear when emptying the urinary drainage bag is crucial as it protects the nurse's eyes from potential splashes of body fluids. Teaching the patient about good nutrition (Choice A) is important for overall health but is not directly related to standard precautions. Disposing of an uncapped needle correctly (Choice B) is part of safe needle handling but does not specifically relate to standard precautions. Donning gloves when wearing artificial nails (Choice D) is not a correct understanding of standard precautions, as artificial nails can harbor microorganisms and increase the risk of infection transmission.

4. After surgery, a patient is experiencing pain. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Administer pain medication as prescribed.
• B. Assess the patient's pain using a pain scale.
• C. Offer the patient non-pharmacological pain relief methods.
• D. Reassess the patient's pain level after 30 minutes.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the patient's pain using a pain scale. This is the priority action because it allows the nurse to obtain an objective measure of the patient's pain intensity. By accurately assessing the pain level, the nurse can determine the appropriate intervention, which may include administering pain medication as prescribed (choice A) or offering non-pharmacological pain relief methods (choice C). Reassessing the patient's pain level after 30 minutes (choice D) is important but comes after the initial assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions implemented.

5. A nurse is talking with a client who is about to start using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to manage chronic pain. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the client needs further teaching?

• A. I wish I didn't have to attach the electrodes to my skin
• B. I will need to shave the hair off the skin where I place the electrodes
• C. I hope I don't have to take as many pain pills
• D. It's unfortunate that I have to be in the hospital for this treatment

Correct answer: D

Rationale: TENS is a portable treatment that can be done at home, so the client should not expect to remain in the hospital for this treatment.

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