Nursing Elites

1. The supervising RN asks you to bring the unit's collected lab specimens to the lab 'stat'. You should ______________.

• A. not decline this task because nurses do not handle 'stats'.
• B. run this errand as promptly as possible
• C. run this errand immediately and without delay
• D. Complete this task before the end of your shift or after your lunch.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In healthcare settings, 'stat' is commonly used to indicate that something should be done immediately and without any delay. It is a critical term used to prioritize urgent tasks. Nurses are responsible for various tasks, including handling urgent requests such as transporting lab specimens promptly. Option A is incorrect as nurses can handle urgent tasks like 'stats'. Option B is not as specific as option C, which clearly emphasizes the need for immediate action. Option D is incorrect as it suggests delaying the task until later, which goes against the urgency implied by the term 'stat'.

2. You have been assigned to take an apical pulse for one of the patients on the nursing unit. How will you do this?

• A. You will place the stethoscope over the heart and listen for any irregular beats.
• B. You will place the stethoscope over the heart and count the beats per minute.
• C. You will place your fingertip over the patient's wrist and feel for any irregular beats.
• D. You will place your fingertip over the patient's wrist and count the beats per minute.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: To take an apical pulse accurately, you should place the stethoscope over the heart and count the number of beats per minute. This method provides a precise assessment of the heart rate. While listening for irregular beats is essential for assessing the heart's rhythm, the primary objective of taking an apical pulse is to determine the heart rate. Choices C and D are incorrect because the apical pulse is not taken at the wrist; instead, it is obtained by auscultating at the apex of the heart, usually at the point where the fifth intercostal space meets the midclavicular line.

3. What does an individual who believes in the magicoreligious theory of illness and disease think is the cause of illness?

• A. Germs and viruses
• B. Supernatural forces
• C. Eating imbalanced (hot/cold) foods
• D. Imbalance within his or her spiritual nature

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Individuals who adhere to the magicoreligious theory of illness and disease attribute the cause of illness to supernatural forces. In this perspective, the world is perceived as governed by supernatural forces that influence the well-being of individuals. The belief is that these forces can bring about both good and evil outcomes. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Germs and viruses are associated with the biomedical theory of illness. Eating imbalanced hot or cold foods is linked to the yin/yang naturalist theory. Imbalance within one's spiritual nature is not a recognized cause of illness in any of the established theories of illness.

4. A child is admitted to the hospital several days after stepping on a sharp object that punctured her athletic shoe and entered the flesh of her foot. The physician is concerned about osteomyelitis and has ordered parenteral antibiotics. Which of the following actions is done immediately before the antibiotic is started?

• A. The admission orders are written.
• B. A blood culture is drawn.
• C. A complete blood count with differential is drawn.
• D. The parents arrive.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Before starting antibiotics, a blood culture should be drawn to identify the causative organism. This step is crucial as antibiotics may interfere with the identification process. Drawing a complete blood count with differential or writing admission orders are important steps in patient care but are not as critical as obtaining a blood culture to guide appropriate antibiotic therapy. The arrival of the parents is not directly related to the immediate action required before starting antibiotics in this scenario.

5. Efforts by healthcare facilities to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) include an awareness of which of the following?

• A. The CDC requires all states to report HAI rates from each hospital.
• B. Ensure that the restraints are tied to the side rails.
• C. The gastrointestinal tract is a common site for HAIs.
• D. Joint Commission considers death or serious injury from HAIs a sentinel event.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Efforts to reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) involve being aware that the Joint Commission considers death or serious injury resulting from HAIs a sentinel event, which must be reported. While more than 20 states require reporting of HAI rates to the CDC, it is not a nationwide CDC requirement. The gastrointestinal tract is not a specific common site for HAIs; rather, bacteria are the primary cause. Ensuring restraints are properly secured is important for patient safety but not directly related to reducing HAIs.

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