Nursing Elites

1. Which intervention will best help a patient with chronic pain maintain mobility?

• A. Provide the patient with opioids to control pain.
• B. Encourage stretching exercises to improve flexibility.
• C. Teach the patient to use assistive devices like a cane.
• D. Recommend complete bed rest until the pain subsides.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Encouraging stretching exercises is the most appropriate nursing intervention to help a patient with chronic pain maintain mobility. Stretching exercises can improve flexibility, prevent stiffness, and promote better range of motion in patients with chronic pain. Providing opioids (Choice A) may help control pain but does not directly address mobility. Teaching the patient to use assistive devices (Choice C) may be beneficial but does not focus on improving mobility directly. Recommending complete bed rest (Choice D) can lead to deconditioning and further loss of mobility, which is not recommended for chronic pain management.

2. The healthcare provider is assessing how a patient's pain is affecting mobility. Which assessment question is most appropriate?

• A. What activities, if any, has your pain prevented you from doing?
• B. When does your pain medication typically take effect on your pain?
• C. Would you please rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10 for me?
• D. Have you considered working with a physical therapist?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The most appropriate assessment question in this scenario is asking the patient, 'What activities, if any, has your pain prevented you from doing?' This question helps the healthcare provider understand how pain is impacting the patient's daily activities and mobility, providing valuable insight into the limitations caused by the pain. Choice B focuses on pain medication effectiveness, which is not directly related to mobility assessment. Choice C aims at pain intensity assessment but does not directly address mobility issues. Choice D suggests a solution rather than gathering information about the current impact of pain on mobility.

3. A patient has difficulty ambulating after surgery. Which action should the nurse take first?

• A. Encourage deep breathing exercises.
• B. Assist the patient in ambulating a short distance.
• C. Call for assistance with ambulation.
• D. Assess the patient's pain level before ambulation.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse to take when a patient has difficulty ambulating after surgery is to call for assistance with ambulation. This is essential to ensure the safety of the patient and prevent any potential falls or injuries. Encouraging deep breathing exercises (Choice A) may be beneficial but should not be the first priority when the patient is having difficulty walking. Assisting the patient in ambulating a short distance (Choice B) may put both the patient and the nurse at risk if the patient is struggling. Assessing the patient's pain level before ambulation (Choice D) is important but should come after ensuring that the patient can safely ambulate with assistance.

4. Which action by the nurse represents the ethical principle of beneficence?

• A. Ensuring all clients are treated fairly
• B. Preventing harm by providing accurate information
• C. Allowing the client to refuse treatment
• D. Ensuring the client's family agrees with the treatment

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good or acting in the best interest of the client. Preventing harm by providing accurate information and necessary care aligns with the principle of beneficence, as it focuses on promoting the well-being and safety of the client. Choices A, C, and D do not directly reflect the concept of beneficence. Ensuring all clients are treated fairly relates more to justice, allowing the client to refuse treatment pertains to autonomy, and ensuring the client's family agrees with the treatment involves collaboration and communication but not specifically beneficence.

5. A nurse is caring for a patient postoperatively after a thyroidectomy. Which of the following findings should be reported immediately?

• A. Hoarseness
• B. Difficulty swallowing
• C. Numbness in the fingers
• D. Tingling around the mouth

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Tingling around the mouth should be reported immediately as it may indicate hypocalcemia, a serious complication resulting from accidental removal or damage to the parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy. Hoarseness and difficulty swallowing are common post-thyroidectomy symptoms related to the surgery itself and the manipulation of the vocal cords and nearby structures. Numbness in the fingers is not typically associated with immediate serious complications of a thyroidectomy.

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