Nursing Elites

1. When a woman is receiving postpartum epidural morphine, the nurse should plan to observe for which of the following side effects to occur within the first 3 hours?

• A. nausea and vomiting
• B. itching
• C. urinary retention
• D. somnolence

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A side effect of postpartum epidural morphine is the onset of itching within 3 hours of injection and lasting up to 10 hours. Nausea and vomiting might occur 4-7 hours after injection. While urinary retention is a side effect of postpartum epidural morphine, it is not typically assessed within the first 3 hours. Somnolence is a rare side effect and not commonly observed within the first 3 hours. Therefore, itching is the most likely side effect to be observed within the initial 3 hours after administering postpartum epidural morphine.

2. When reviewing a client's medical notes to confirm pregnancy, a nurse should look for which finding to determine that pregnancy is confirmed?

• A. Amenorrhea
• B. Thinning of the cervix
• C. Palpable fetal movement
• D. Positive result on a home urine test for pregnancy

Correct answer: C

Rationale: To confirm pregnancy, the presence of palpable fetal movement is a positive indicator. Palpable fetal movement is a certain sign of pregnancy, known as a fetal movement felt by the examiner. Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign of pregnancy as it is reported by the woman but is not confirmatory. Thinning of the cervix (Hegar sign) is a probable sign of pregnancy, which is not confirmatory. A positive result on a home urine test for pregnancy is also a probable indicator. However, a positive pregnancy test result can sometimes yield false-positive results due to various factors like medication, recent pregnancy, or errors in reading.

3. A mother has come to the pediatric clinic concerned about the recent outbreak of West Nile Virus. The ages of her children are 5, 7, and 10. The mother has asked the nurse what she can do to prevent her children from contracting this illness. Which piece of information is best to provide the mother with?

• A. The children should wear long sleeves and long pants while outside.
• B. Apply insect repellent containing DEET when the children are outside.
• C. Remove standing water from the property.
• D. All of the above.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The best advice to provide to the mother is 'All of the above.' It is recommended that the children wear insect repellent containing DEET and long-sleeved shirts and long pants when they are outside. This helps in preventing mosquito bites, which can transmit the West Nile Virus. Additionally, removing standing water from areas where the children play can help decrease the number of breeding mosquitoes, reducing the risk of contracting the virus. These methods work in combination to provide effective prevention against the West Nile Virus, making 'All of the above' the correct choice. Choices A, B, and C individually address important prevention measures, but a combination of all three strategies is the most comprehensive approach to protect the children from contracting the illness.

4. The school nurse is conducting health screenings on schoolchildren. During the screening, she identifies a child with the behavioral characteristics of attention deficit disorder. Which of the following behaviors is consistent with this disorder?

• A. slow speech development
• B. overreaction to stimuli from the surroundings
• C. inability to carry on a conversation
• D. concrete thinking

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'overreaction to stimuli from the surroundings.' Children with attention deficit disorder often exhibit hypersensitivity to stimuli, leading to overreactions. Slow speech development is not a hallmark of attention deficit disorder; it is more associated with other learning disabilities. While children with this disorder may have difficulty focusing, they can usually carry on a conversation. Concrete thinking is not a common characteristic of attention deficit disorder, as individuals with this disorder may struggle with abstract thinking and impulsivity.

5. An LPN is tasked with checking the narcotic count on a medical-surgical unit. Which statement by the LPN requires further investigation?

• A. "I need a witness when I waste the leftover narcotics in the client's PCA pump."?
• B. "I am going to check the facility's policy for how to dispose of this controlled substance."?
• C. "I left the narcotics box unlocked after confirming the beginning of shift count was correct."?
• D. "The end of shift narcotics count is incorrect and needs to be reported."?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The LPN's statement about leaving the narcotics box unlocked after confirming the beginning of shift count was correct requires further investigation. Narcotics should be locked and kept in a secure place during the shift to prevent unauthorized access and ensure patient safety. This statement raises concerns about medication security, which is critical in preventing diversion and ensuring patient safety. The other statements demonstrate appropriate actions: A) The LPN acknowledges the need for a witness when wasting leftover narcotics, ensuring proper documentation and accountability during medication waste. B) Checking the facility's policy for proper disposal of controlled substances shows awareness of regulatory compliance regarding controlled substances. D) Recognizing an incorrect end-of-shift narcotics count and planning to report it reflects the LPN's responsibility in maintaining accurate records and addressing discrepancies, which is essential for medication safety and accountability.

Similar Questions