Nursing Elites

1. Which nursing action is best when managing a client with severe anxiety?

• A. Maintain a calm manner
• B. Help the client identify thoughts prior to the anxiety
• C. Administer anti-anxiety medication
• D. Initiate seclusion if anxiety escalates

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to maintain a calm manner. When managing a client with severe anxiety, the nurse's calm presence can help the client feel more secure and reduce their anxiety levels. It is essential to create a safe and supportive environment. Helping the client identify thoughts prior to anxiety (choice B) may be beneficial in cognitive-behavioral interventions but may not be the initial best action for severe anxiety. Administering anti-anxiety medication (choice C) should be done by a healthcare provider's order and is not the first-line intervention for managing severe anxiety. Initiating seclusion (choice D) should only be considered as a last resort if the client is at risk of harm to themselves or others, as it can further escalate anxiety and should not be the initial action.

2. A nurse is caring for a client who has coronary artery disease (CAD) and is receiving aspirin therapy. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

• A. History of gastrointestinal bleeding
• B. Prothrombin time of 12 seconds
• C. Platelet count of 180,000/mm³
• D. Creatinine level of 1.0 mg/dL

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: History of gastrointestinal bleeding. Aspirin therapy is contraindicated in clients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding because aspirin can further increase the risk of bleeding. Option B, prothrombin time of 12 seconds, is within the normal range and does not indicate a concern related to aspirin therapy. Option C, platelet count of 180,000/mm³, is also within the normal range and does not suggest a need for reporting to the provider in the context of aspirin therapy. Option D, creatinine level of 1.0 mg/dL, is within the normal range and is not directly related to aspirin therapy in this scenario.

3. What is an important consideration when administering a blood transfusion?

• A. Ensure the blood is compatible with the recipient's blood type
• B. Warm the blood to body temperature before administration
• C. Check the blood for clots before administration
• D. Ensure the recipient eats before the transfusion

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to ensure the blood is compatible with the recipient's blood type. This is crucial to prevent transfusion reactions, which can be life-threatening. Choice B is incorrect because warming blood to body temperature is not a standard practice and may lead to hemolysis. Choice C is incorrect as blood products are carefully screened for clots before distribution. Choice D is incorrect because it is not necessary for the recipient to eat before a blood transfusion.

4. What is the primary intervention for a patient with a pneumothorax?

• A. Insert a chest tube
• B. Administer oxygen
• C. Monitor respiratory rate
• D. Administer analgesics

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to insert a chest tube. This intervention is considered the definitive treatment for a pneumothorax as it helps remove air or fluid from the pleural space, re-expanding the lung. Administering oxygen (Choice B) can be supportive but is not the primary intervention to treat a pneumothorax. Monitoring respiratory rate (Choice C) is important but does not address the underlying issue of air in the pleural space. Administering analgesics (Choice D) may help manage pain but does not treat the pneumothorax itself.

5. When caring for a client with a wound infection, what should the nurse prioritize?

• A. Change the dressing daily
• B. Cleanse the wound with an antiseptic solution
• C. Apply a wet-to-dry dressing to the wound
• D. Perform a wound culture before administering antibiotics

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The nurse should prioritize performing a wound culture before administering antibiotics to ensure appropriate treatment. This step helps identify the specific infecting organism and its susceptibility to different antibiotics, guiding effective antibiotic therapy. Changing the dressing daily (Choice A) is important but comes after assessing the infection and initiating appropriate treatment. Cleansing the wound with an antiseptic solution (Choice B) and applying a wet-to-dry dressing (Choice C) are interventions that may be necessary but are secondary to determining the most suitable antibiotic therapy based on the wound culture results.

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