Nursing Elites

1. Which lab value should be closely monitored for a patient receiving heparin therapy?

• A. Monitor aPTT
• B. Monitor INR
• C. Monitor potassium levels
• D. Monitor sodium levels

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor aPTT. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) is crucial to monitor when a patient is receiving heparin therapy. Heparin works by potentiating antithrombin III, leading to the inhibition of thrombin and factor Xa. Monitoring aPTT helps ensure the patient is within the therapeutic range for heparin, reducing the risk of bleeding complications. Monitoring INR (Choice B) is more relevant for patients on warfarin therapy. Monitoring potassium (Choice C) and sodium levels (Choice D) is important but not specific to heparin therapy.

2. How should a healthcare professional manage a patient with non-compliance to hypertension medication?

• A. Provide education on medication
• B. Refer the patient to a specialist
• C. Discontinue the medication
• D. Reassess the patient in 6 months

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Providing education on medication is crucial when managing a patient with non-compliance to hypertension medication. By educating the patient on the importance of adherence, potential side effects, and the impact of uncontrolled hypertension, healthcare professionals can help improve the patient's understanding and compliance. Referring the patient to a specialist (Choice B) may be necessary in some cases but should not be the first step. Discontinuing the medication (Choice C) without exploring reasons for non-compliance and providing education can worsen the patient's condition. Reassessing the patient in 6 months (Choice D) is important but should be accompanied by interventions to address non-compliance in the interim.

3. What is the most important nursing assessment post-surgery?

• A. Monitor vital signs
• B. Monitor blood pressure
• C. Monitor the surgical site
• D. Monitor the incision site

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor vital signs post-surgery. Vital signs encompass various parameters like blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. Monitoring vital signs helps in early detection of complications such as hemorrhage, infection, or shock. While monitoring the surgical site and incision site are also essential post-surgery, monitoring vital signs takes precedence as it provides a broader assessment of the patient's overall condition. Monitoring blood pressure is part of vital sign assessment and is not the most comprehensive assessment post-surgery.

4. How should a healthcare provider respond to a patient with a history of hypertension who is non-compliant with medication?

• A. Encourage compliance through education
• B. Contact the healthcare provider
• C. Document the refusal
• D. Explore alternative treatment options

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Encouraging compliance through education is crucial in helping patients understand the importance of consistent medication use. By providing education, the patient can make informed decisions about their health and better manage their condition. Contacting the healthcare provider (choice B) may be necessary in some cases, but the initial approach should focus on patient education. Documenting the refusal (choice C) is important for legal and medical records but does not address the root cause of non-compliance. Exploring alternative treatment options (choice D) should come after efforts to educate and encourage compliance with the current medication regimen.

5. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a closed head injury and has an intraventricular catheter. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include to reduce the risk for infection?

• A. Keep the head of the bed elevated to 30 degrees.
• B. Administer IV antibiotics prophylactically.
• C. Change the catheter insertion site every 24 hours.
• D. Monitor the insertion site for redness.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor the insertion site for redness. This intervention helps detect signs of infection early in clients with intraventricular catheters. Keeping the head of the bed elevated to 30 degrees is important for managing intracranial pressure but does not directly reduce the risk of infection. Administering IV antibiotics prophylactically is not recommended as a routine practice due to the risk of antibiotic resistance and should only be done based on culture results. Changing the catheter insertion site every 24 hours is unnecessary and increases the risk of introducing new pathogens.

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