Nursing Elites

1. What is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism?

• A. Graves' disease
• B. Hashimoto's thyroiditis
• C. Thyroid nodules
• D. Pituitary adenoma

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Corrected Rationale: Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It is characterized by an overactive thyroid gland due to autoantibodies stimulating the thyroid. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is actually a cause of hypothyroidism, not hyperthyroidism. Thyroid nodules and pituitary adenoma are not common causes of hyperthyroidism.

2. What is the first action a healthcare professional should take when a patient’s nasogastric (NG) tube becomes clogged?

• A. Flush the tube with water
• B. Reposition the patient
• C. Attempt to aspirate the clog with a syringe
• D. Administer a medication to dissolve the clog

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When a patient's nasogastric (NG) tube becomes clogged, the first action to take is to attempt to aspirate the clog with a syringe. This is a standard and initial step to clear the blockage in the tube. Flushing the tube with water (Choice A) may not address the specific clog; repositioning the patient (Choice B) is not directly related to clearing the tube. Administering a medication to dissolve the clog (Choice D) should only be considered after simpler methods like aspiration have been attempted.

3. A client is post-operative day one following an open cholecystectomy. The nurse notices the client's drainage from the T-tube is dark green. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?

• A. Document the finding as normal.
• B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
• C. Decrease the suction on the T-tube.
• D. Flush the T-tube with saline to ensure patency.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Dark green drainage from a T-tube after a cholecystectomy is bile, which is an expected finding. Bile is normally dark green in color. It is important for the nurse to recognize this as a normal post-operative occurrence and document the finding. There is no need to notify the healthcare provider immediately as this finding is an anticipated part of the client's recovery. Decreasing the suction on the T-tube or flushing it with saline is unnecessary and may not be indicated based on the color of the drainage. Therefore, the most appropriate action for the nurse to take is to document the dark green drainage as a normal finding.

4. Which laboratory value is most important to monitor for a patient receiving heparin therapy?

• A. Platelet count
• B. Prothrombin time (PT)
• C. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
• D. International normalized ratio (INR)

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, Partial thromboplastin time (PTT). PTT is monitored to assess the therapeutic effect of heparin therapy. It helps ensure that the heparin levels are within the desired range to prevent either clotting or excessive bleeding. Platelet count (A) is important but does not directly assess heparin's therapeutic effect. Prothrombin time (PT) (B) and International normalized ratio (INR) (D) are used to monitor patients on warfarin, not heparin therapy.

5. An adult client is undergoing weekly external radiation treatments for breast cancer and reports increasing fatigue. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Notify the healthcare provider or charge nurse immediately
• B. Offer to reschedule the treatment for the following week
• C. Plan to monitor the client's vital signs every 30 minutes
• D. Reinforce the need for extra rest periods and plenty of sleep

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take when a client undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer reports increasing fatigue is to reinforce the need for extra rest periods and plenty of sleep. Fatigue is a common side effect of radiation therapy, and adequate rest and sleep can help manage this symptom. Notifying the healthcare provider or charge nurse immediately (choice A) is not necessary for increasing fatigue, as it is expected during radiation therapy. Offering to reschedule the treatment for the following week (choice B) is not the best initial action for managing fatigue. Planning to monitor the client's vital signs every 30 minutes (choice C) is unnecessary and not directly related to managing fatigue caused by radiation therapy.

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