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. A public health nurse is working with a community to improve access to healthcare services. Which intervention is most likely to be effective?

• A. Setting up mobile clinics in underserved areas
• B. Distributing flyers with information about local clinics
• C. Offering transportation vouchers for medical appointments
• D. Partnering with local businesses to provide healthcare discounts

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Setting up mobile clinics in underserved areas is the most effective intervention to improve access to healthcare services. Mobile clinics directly bring healthcare services to the community, making it convenient for residents to access care without having to travel long distances. Distributing flyers may increase awareness but may not address the barriers to access. Offering transportation vouchers helps with one aspect of access but does not directly provide healthcare services. Partnering with local businesses for discounts may not address the primary issue of physical access to healthcare services in underserved areas.

3. A client with hyperthyroidism is receiving radioactive iodine therapy. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?

• A. I should avoid close contact with pregnant women and children for a few days.
• B. I may experience dry mouth and taste changes for a few days.
• C. I may experience some neck swelling.
• D. I should expect to have no side effects.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'D.' The client stating 'I should expect to have no side effects' indicates a need for further teaching as it is incorrect. With radioactive iodine therapy, side effects like dry mouth, taste changes, and neck swelling are common. Choices A and B are correct statements; the client should avoid close contact with pregnant women and children due to radiation exposure, and dry mouth and taste changes are common side effects. Choice C is also correct, making D the correct answer.

4. The nurse is designing a community health project based on a report provided by the World Health Organization that describes healthcare problems in the United States. Which healthcare issue should the nurse give the highest priority when planning the project?

• A. overuse of diagnostic technology
• B. government-based health insurance
• C. the neonatal and infant mortality rates
• D. number of people without access to healthcare

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: number of people without access to healthcare. Ensuring access to healthcare is fundamental to addressing a wide range of health issues and is a priority for improving overall community health. Option A, overuse of diagnostic technology, though important, is not the highest priority when considering basic access to healthcare. Option B, government-based health insurance, is relevant but may not directly address the issue of lack of access for all individuals. Option C, neonatal and infant mortality rates, is crucial but addressing access to healthcare for all individuals is a more immediate and foundational concern for the community health project.

5. During a home visit, the nurse observes that an elderly client has a cluttered living environment and poor lighting. What should the nurse do first?

• A. suggest that the client hires a cleaning service
• B. assist the client in organizing the living space
• C. assess the client's risk for falls
• D. provide the client with information on home safety

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse to take is to assess the client's risk for falls. A cluttered living environment and poor lighting are significant risk factors for falls in the elderly. By assessing the client's risk for falls, the nurse can identify potential hazards and implement appropriate interventions to prevent falls. Suggesting hiring a cleaning service or assisting in organizing the living space may address the symptoms but not the root cause of the fall risk. Providing information on home safety is important but should come after assessing the specific risk factors for falls in this scenario.

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