Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following is responsible for laws mandating the reporting of certain infections and diseases?

• A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• B. individual state laws
• C. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• D. Health and Human Services (HHS)

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Individual state laws mandate the reporting of infectious diseases. The list of reportable diseases varies from state to state and is overseen by state health departments. While the CDC plays a significant role in disease surveillance, reporting infectious diseases is primarily governed by individual state laws. The CDC's role is to provide support, guidance, and expertise to state health departments. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) primarily focus on biomedical and health-related research, not on mandating disease reporting. Health and Human Services (HHS) is a federal department that oversees various agencies, but the responsibility for mandating disease reporting lies with individual states.

2. What is the most effective way to prevent skin breakdown?

• A. assistive devices
• B. repositioning
• C. topical medications
• D. avoiding tape and bandages

Correct answer: V

Rationale: Repositioning is the most effective way to prevent skin breakdown. Repositioning helps relieve pressure on specific areas of the skin, reducing the risk of developing pressure ulcers. While assistive devices (Choice A) may be beneficial in some cases, they are not universally as effective as repositioning. Topical medications (Choice C) are primarily used for treating skin conditions and are not the primary focus for preventing skin breakdown. Avoiding tape and bandages (Choice D) is crucial to prevent skin irritation, but repositioning remains the most effective method to prevent skin breakdown.

3. A nurse is planning client assignments for the day. Which task should the nurse assign to the nursing assistant (unlicensed assistive personnel)?

• A. Recording the urinary output for a client with renal calculi whose urine must be strained
• B. Dressing change instructions for a client who had a mastectomy 2 days ago
• C. Reporting abnormal lab values to the health care provider for a client scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• D. Preprocedural teaching for a client scheduled for a cardiac stress test

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The nurse is legally responsible for client assignments and must assign tasks based on state nursing practice act guidelines and job descriptions provided by the employing agency. The nursing assistant is trained to measure, collect, and strain urine, making recording urinary output for a client with renal calculi a suitable task for the nursing assistant. This task falls within the nursing assistant's role description. Dressing change instructions for a client who had a mastectomy involve a higher level of skill and knowledge, beyond the scope of a nursing assistant. Reporting abnormal lab values to the health care provider for a client scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy requires interpretation and clinical judgment, which is typically not within the nursing assistant's role. Preprocedural teaching for a client scheduled for a cardiac stress test involves providing detailed information and education, which is usually the responsibility of a licensed nurse or other qualified healthcare provider.

4. A client with cirrhosis of the liver presents with ascites. The physician is to perform a paracentesis. For safety, the nurse should ask the client to:

• A. drink 1000 cc of fluid prior to the procedure to aid in fluid loss.
• B. eat foods low in fat.
• C. empty his bladder prior to the procedure.
• D. assume the prone position.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When performing a paracentesis, the client must be sitting up to allow the fluid to settle in the lower abdomen. To prevent trauma to the bladder while inserting a needle to aspirate the fluid, the bladder must be empty. Choice A is incorrect as excessive fluid intake can make the procedure more difficult due to increased abdominal distension. Choice B is unrelated to the procedure of paracentesis. Choice D is incorrect as the client should be sitting up, not in the prone position, during the procedure.

5. A nursing instructor asks a nursing student to describe accountability. Which statement(s) by the student indicate(s) an accurate description of accountability?

• A. Check the unit policy for the protocol for the care of clients who have been sexually assaulted.
• B. Ask a medical assistant.
• C. Call the nurse in charge of the day shift.
• D. Ask the police officers who brought the client to the center.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Accountability in nursing involves taking responsibility for one's actions and decisions. In this scenario, checking the unit policy for the protocol related to the care of sexually assaulted clients demonstrates accountability. Policies and protocols provide guidance on appropriate actions and responsibilities in specific situations. Asking a medical assistant, calling the day shift nurse in charge, or consulting police officers are not appropriate actions to demonstrate accountability in this context. Seeking further clarification from the agency nursing supervisor on the night shift after reviewing the policy or protocol would be a more suitable course of action.

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