Nursing Elites

1. 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.

2. The nurse is assessing a client with a suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which finding supports this diagnosis?

• A. Positive Homan's sign.
• B. Unilateral leg swelling.
• C. Bilateral calf pain.
• D. Redness and warmth in the affected leg.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Redness and warmth in the affected leg. These are classic signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and support the diagnosis. Choice A, Positive Homan's sign, is an outdated and unreliable test for DVT, so it is not the best choice. Choice B, Unilateral leg swelling, can be seen in DVT but is less specific compared to redness and warmth. Choice C, Bilateral calf pain, is not a typical finding in DVT, as the pain in DVT is usually unilateral.

3. In conducting a health assessment for a family with a history of cardiovascular disease, which family member should be prioritized for further evaluation and intervention?

• A. a 45-year-old father who smokes and has high cholesterol
• B. a 17-year-old daughter who is overweight and inactive
• C. a 50-year-old mother with a history of hypertension
• D. a 12-year-old son who has a normal weight and is active

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The 45-year-old father who smokes and has high cholesterol is at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease due to multiple risk factors. Smoking and high cholesterol are significant contributors to the development of cardiovascular issues. Prioritizing his evaluation and intervention is crucial to address these modifiable risk factors. The other family members, though they may have risk factors as well, do not present with the same level of immediate risk based on the information provided.

4. A public health nurse is implementing a program to improve vaccination rates among children in the community. Which intervention is most likely to be effective?

• A. Offering vaccinations at convenient locations and times
• B. Distributing educational materials about vaccines
• C. Providing incentives for getting vaccinated
• D. Hosting informational sessions for parents

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Offering vaccinations at convenient locations and times is the most effective intervention as it reduces barriers to access and makes it easier for parents to get their children vaccinated. This strategy directly addresses the issue of convenience and accessibility, which are common reasons for low vaccination rates. Distributing educational materials about vaccines (Choice B) can be helpful but may not directly address access issues. Providing incentives for getting vaccinated (Choice C) may be controversial and not sustainable in the long term. Hosting informational sessions for parents (Choice D) can be beneficial for education but may not directly improve vaccination rates as much as increasing access.

5. A client with a history of myocardial infarction is prescribed aspirin therapy. Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's teaching plan?

• A. Take aspirin with food.
• B. Take aspirin at the same time every day.
• C. Avoid taking aspirin with alcohol.
• D. Discontinue aspirin if you experience ringing in your ears.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct instruction for the nurse to include in the client's teaching plan is to avoid taking aspirin with alcohol. Combining aspirin with alcohol can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and other complications. Taking aspirin with food helps reduce stomach upset, but it is not the most crucial instruction in this scenario. While taking aspirin at the same time every day can help with consistency, it is not as critical as avoiding alcohol. Discontinuing aspirin if experiencing ringing in the ears is important to address potential side effects, but it is not directly related to preventing complications when combining with alcohol.

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