Nursing Elites

1. While receiving normal saline infusions to treat a GI bleed, the nurse notes that the patient's lower legs have become edematous and auscultates crackles in the lungs. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Stop the saline infusion immediately
• B. Notify the physician
• C. Elevate the patient's legs
• D. Continue the infusion, as these findings are normal

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to stop the saline infusion immediately. The patient is showing signs of fluid volume overload due to rapid fluid replacement, indicated by lower leg edema and lung crackles. Continuing the infusion could worsen the overload and potentially lead to complications. Notifying the physician is important but should come after stopping the infusion to address the immediate issue. Elevating the patient's legs may help with edema but is not the priority in this situation. Continuing the infusion when the patient is already showing signs of fluid overload is contraindicated and can be harmful.

2. The nurse administers prescribed therapies for a patient with cor pulmonale and right-sided heart failure. Which assessment would best evaluate the effectiveness of the therapies?

• A. Observe for distended neck veins.
• B. Auscultate for crackles in the lungs.
• C. Palpate for heaves or thrills over the heart.
• D. Review hemoglobin and hematocrit values.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapies for cor pulmonale and right-sided heart failure, observing for distended neck veins would be the most appropriate assessment. Cor pulmonale is characterized by right ventricular failure due to pulmonary hypertension, leading to clinical manifestations such as peripheral edema, jugular venous distention, and right upper-quadrant abdominal tenderness. These signs indicate increased central venous pressure and right heart strain, which can be assessed by observing for distended neck veins. Auscultating for crackles in the lungs is more indicative of left-sided heart failure rather than right-sided heart failure. Heaves or thrills over the heart are not typically associated with cor pulmonale. Reviewing hemoglobin and hematocrit values may show elevations due to chronic hypoxemia and polycythemia in cor pulmonale, but these values alone do not directly evaluate the immediate effectiveness of the prescribed therapies on the patient's condition.

3. Which interventions should the nurse include when creating a care plan for a child with hepatitis? Select one that doesn't apply.

• A. Providing a low-fat, well-balanced diet.
• B. Teaching the child effective hand-washing techniques.
• C. Notifying the primary health care provider (PHCP) if jaundice is present.
• D. Instructing the parents to avoid administering medications unless prescribed.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is instructing the parents to avoid administering medications unless prescribed. This choice is not directly related to the care of a child with hepatitis. It is essential for the nurse to educate the child and family about providing a low-fat, well-balanced diet to support the liver, teaching effective hand-washing techniques to prevent the spread of infection, and notifying the primary health care provider if jaundice is present to monitor the progression of the disease and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. Avoiding unnecessary medications is crucial, but it should be done under healthcare provider guidance, so the statement should be revised to reflect this aspect. Therefore, the other options are appropriate for the care of a child with hepatitis.

4. A home care nurse instructs the mother of a 5-year-old child with lactose intolerance about dietary measures for her child. The nurse should tell the mother that it is necessary to provide which dietary supplement in the child's diet?

• A. Fats
• B. Zinc
• C. Protein
• D. Calcium

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In lactose intolerance, the inability to digest lactose, the sugar in dairy products, can lead to calcium deficiency if dairy products are removed from the diet. Calcium is crucial for bone health and other bodily functions, so alternative calcium sources like fortified non-dairy milks or leafy greens must be included to prevent deficiency. While fats and proteins are important nutrients, they are not typically deficient in lactose intolerance. Zinc, although an essential mineral, is not the primary concern in this case.

5. The nurse is collecting data on a child recently diagnosed with glomerulonephritis. Which question to the mother should elicit data associated with the cause of this disease?

• A. ''Has your child had any nausea or diarrhea?''
• B. ''Have you noticed any rashes on your child?''
• C. ''Did your child recently complain of a sore throat?''
• D. ''Did your child sustain any injuries to the kidney area?''

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Did your child recently complain of a sore throat?' Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection is a known cause of glomerulonephritis. In this condition, the child typically becomes ill with streptococcal infection of the upper respiratory tract, and then after 1 to 2 weeks, symptoms of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis can develop. This question aims to gather crucial information related to a potential trigger for glomerulonephritis. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not pertain to a common cause or associated symptom of glomerulonephritis.

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