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. During a home visit, the nurse observes that an elderly client has numerous bruises on her arms and appears fearful of her caregiver. What should the nurse do first?

• A. report the findings to adult protective services
• B. ask the client how she got the bruises
• C. document the observations in the client's medical record
• D. discuss the observations with the caregiver

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The initial step for the nurse should be to ask the client how she got the bruises. This approach allows the nurse to directly assess the situation, gather information from the client, and potentially uncover signs of abuse. Reporting to adult protective services should come after obtaining more details from the client to ensure appropriate action. Documenting the observations is important but should follow gathering information from the client. Discussing the observations with the caregiver may not be appropriate as the caregiver could be the source of abuse, and involving them first may jeopardize the client's safety.

3. The healthcare professional is developing a program to promote healthy eating habits in a community with high rates of obesity. Which strategy is most likely to be effective?

• A. distributing educational pamphlets about nutrition
• B. offering cooking classes that focus on healthy recipes
• C. launching a social media campaign about the risks of obesity
• D. providing free health screenings at community events

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Offering cooking classes that focus on healthy recipes is the most effective strategy among the choices provided. These classes not only provide valuable knowledge about nutrition but also offer hands-on experience in preparing healthy meals. This practical approach can significantly impact participants' behavior and increase the likelihood of them adopting healthier eating habits. Distributing educational pamphlets may not have the same level of engagement and interaction as cooking classes. A social media campaign, while informative, may not result in direct behavioral changes. Providing free health screenings, though beneficial for early detection, does not directly address the promotion of healthy eating habits, unlike the hands-on approach of cooking classes.

4. When assessing the health of a community, what is the most important information for the nurse to obtain?

• A. life expectancy of community members
• B. mortality rates in the community
• C. description of health problems by community leaders
• D. expressed needs of community members

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The most important information for a nurse to obtain when assessing the health of a community is the expressed needs of community members. This information helps in tailoring health interventions to address specific concerns directly expressed by the community. Options A and B focus on statistical data rather than individual needs. Option C, while valuable, may not always capture the full spectrum of health issues faced by the community as perceived by the residents themselves.

5. The client is unable to void, and the plan of care sets an objective for the client to ingest at least 1000 mL of fluid between 7:00 am and 3:30 pm. Which client response should the nurse document to indicate a successful outcome?

• A. Drinks adequate fluids.
• B. Void without difficulty.
• C. Feels less thirsty.
• D. Drinks 240 mL of fluid five times during the shift.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Drinking 240 mL of fluid five times during the shift indicates a fluid intake of 1200 mL, which exceeds the minimum objective of at least 1000 mL. The client meeting or exceeding the fluid intake goal is a clear indicator of a successful outcome. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because simply drinking adequate fluids, voiding without difficulty, or feeling less thirsty do not directly demonstrate meeting the specific objective of fluid intake set in the care plan.

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