what is the priority action if a patient experiences hypoglycemia after an insulin dose

ATI RN

ATI Capstone Medical Surgical Assessment 2 Quizlet

1. What is the priority action if a patient experiences hypoglycemia after an insulin dose?

A. Check the patient's blood glucose level
B. Administer IV dextrose
C. Document the incident
D. Continue monitoring the patient

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The priority action when a patient experiences hypoglycemia after an insulin dose is to check the patient's blood glucose level. This is crucial to confirm hypoglycemia before initiating any treatment. While administering IV dextrose may be necessary if the patient's blood glucose level is critically low, confirming hypoglycemia is essential to guide appropriate interventions. Documenting the incident is important for documentation purposes but is not the immediate priority when the patient's safety is at risk. Continuing to monitor the patient is essential, but it should follow the confirmation and initial management of hypoglycemia.

2. What is the first action a healthcare provider should take for a patient with possible acute coronary syndrome?

A. Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
B. Get IV access
C. Auscultate heart sounds
D. Obtain cardiac enzymes

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering sublingual nitroglycerin is the initial priority action for a patient with possible acute coronary syndrome. Nitroglycerin helps dilate blood vessels, reduce chest pain, and improve blood flow to the heart muscle. This helps in relieving symptoms and preventing further damage to the heart. Establishing IV access, auscultating heart sounds, and obtaining cardiac enzymes are important steps in the assessment and management of acute coronary syndrome but are not the first actions to be taken. IV access may be needed for administering medications or fluids, auscultating heart sounds helps in assessing the heart's function, and obtaining cardiac enzymes aids in diagnosing a heart attack.

3. What is the priority lab value for monitoring a patient with HIV?

A. CD4 T-cell count below 180 cells/mm3
B. Serum albumin levels
C. White blood cell count
D. Hemoglobin levels

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: CD4 T-cell count below 180 cells/mm3. Monitoring the CD4 T-cell count is crucial in patients with HIV as it serves as a key indicator of immune function. A count below 180 cells/mm3 indicates severe immunocompromise and an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Choice B, serum albumin levels, though important for assessing nutritional status, is not the priority lab value for HIV monitoring. Choice C, white blood cell count, is a nonspecific measure of immune function and may not accurately reflect the status of the immune system in HIV patients. Choice D, hemoglobin levels, are essential for evaluating anemia but are not the primary lab value for monitoring HIV.

4. What is the preferred electrical intervention for a patient with ventricular tachycardia with a pulse?

A. Defibrillation
B. Synchronized cardioversion
C. Pacing
D. Medication administration

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Synchronized cardioversion is the preferred electrical intervention for ventricular tachycardia with a pulse. In this scenario, the heart still has an organized rhythm, so synchronized cardioversion is used to deliver a shock at a specific point in the cardiac cycle, aiming to restore a normal rhythm. Defibrillation (Choice A) is used for pulseless ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Pacing (Choice C) may be used for bradycardias or certain types of heart blocks. Medication administration (Choice D) can be considered for stable ventricular tachycardia, but synchronized cardioversion is the primary intervention for ventricular tachycardia with a pulse.

5. What are the expected signs in a patient with compartment syndrome?

A. Unrelieved pain, pallor, and pulselessness
B. Fever and infection
C. Localized redness and swelling
D. Loss of sensation in the affected area

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a patient with compartment syndrome, the classic signs include unrelieved pain, pallor, and pulselessness. These signs indicate compromised circulation and neurovascular function in the affected compartment. Fever and infection (Choice B) are not typical signs of compartment syndrome. Localized redness and swelling (Choice C) can be seen in other conditions like cellulitis but are not specific to compartment syndrome. Loss of sensation in the affected area (Choice D) may occur in some cases but is not as specific or consistent as unrelieved pain, pallor, and pulselessness in diagnosing compartment syndrome.