Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following actions is a means of maintaining medical asepsis to reduce and prevent the spread of microorganisms?

• A. Sterilizing contaminated items
• B. Routinely cleaning the hospital environment
• C. Reapplying a sterile dressing
• D. Applying a sterile gown and gloves

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Sterilizing contaminated items. Maintaining medical asepsis involves ensuring that items are free of microorganisms to prevent infections. Sterilizing contaminated items is a crucial step in this process as it eliminates all microorganisms, including spores. Choices B, C, and D do not directly address the process of reducing and preventing the spread of microorganisms. While routinely cleaning the hospital environment is important for cleanliness, it does not guarantee the elimination of all microorganisms. Reapplying a sterile dressing and applying a sterile gown and gloves are specific actions related to personal protective equipment and wound care, not the general maintenance of medical asepsis.

2. A nurse is assessing a client who is being admitted from the PACU following an abdominal hysterectomy. Which of the following assessments is the nurse's priority?

• A. Urinary output
• B. Pain level
• C. Oxygen saturation
• D. Abdominal dressing

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Oxygen saturation. Following abdominal surgery, the priority assessment is to ensure adequate oxygenation. Monitoring oxygen saturation is crucial as the client may be at risk of respiratory complications due to the effects of anesthesia, pain medications, and the surgical procedure itself. Assessing urinary output is important for monitoring kidney function but is not the priority immediately postoperatively. Pain level assessment is essential for the client's comfort but does not take precedence over ensuring oxygen saturation. Checking the abdominal dressing is important for wound assessment, but ensuring adequate oxygenation is the priority in the immediate postoperative period.

3. A nurse manager assigns a new nurse to care for a client with unstable blood pressure. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Ask the charge nurse for assistance.
• B. Recheck the blood pressure before calling for help.
• C. Monitor the client's blood pressure closely.
• D. Administer antihypertensive medication immediately.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to recheck the blood pressure before calling for help. When caring for a client with unstable blood pressure, the nurse's priority is to ensure an accurate assessment. Rechecking the blood pressure will confirm the instability and guide further actions. Asking the charge nurse for assistance (Choice A) is important but should come after assessing the situation. Monitoring the client's blood pressure closely (Choice C) is essential, but the immediate action should be to recheck and confirm the current status. Administering antihypertensive medication immediately (Choice D) without a confirmed assessment can be dangerous and is not the initial priority.

4. A healthcare provider writes a medication order that seems excessively high for the patient's condition. What is the nurse's first step?

• A. Administer the medication immediately.
• B. Hold the medication and consult the provider.
• C. Reduce the dose without consulting the provider.
• D. Administer the medication after double-checking with another nurse.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct first step for the nurse when encountering a medication order that appears excessively high for the patient's condition is to hold the medication and consult the provider. Administering the medication immediately (Choice A) without clarification could pose a risk to the patient's safety. Reducing the dose without consulting the provider (Choice C) is not recommended as it may lead to suboptimal treatment. Administering the medication after double-checking with another nurse (Choice D) is not sufficient; consulting the provider directly is crucial to ensure the accuracy and safety of the medication order.

5. A nurse in the PACU is caring for a client who has received general anesthesia and has a manifestation of malignant hyperthermia. The nurse should expect to administer which of the following medications?

• A. Acetaminophen
• B. Ibuprofen
• C. Dantrolene
• D. Diazepam

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Corrected Rationale: Dantrolene is the medication of choice to treat malignant hyperthermia, a life-threatening reaction to general anesthesia. It works by inhibiting the release of calcium ions in skeletal muscle cells, preventing muscle contracture and hypermetabolism. Acetaminophen (Choice A) and ibuprofen (Choice B) are not indicated for treating malignant hyperthermia. Diazepam (Choice D) may be used to control muscle spasms but is not the first-line treatment for malignant hyperthermia.

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