ATI RN
Medical Surgical ATI Proctored Exam
1. When preparing a client for transfer to the ICU for placement of a pulmonary artery catheter, the nurse should explain that this catheter is used to monitor which of the following conditions?
- A. Intracranial pressure
- B. Spinal cord perfusion
- C. Renal function
- D. Hemodynamic status
Correct answer: D
Rationale: A pulmonary artery catheter is primarily used to monitor hemodynamic status. It provides essential information on cardiac output, preload, afterload, and overall cardiovascular function. This data helps healthcare providers manage the client's fluid status, cardiac function, and guide treatment interventions in critically ill patients. Monitoring intracranial pressure, spinal cord perfusion, or renal function would require different monitoring devices and techniques, not a pulmonary artery catheter.
2. A home health nurse visits a client who has COPD and receives oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. The client reports difficulty breathing. Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?
- A. Increase the oxygen flow to 3 L/min.
- B. Assess the client's respiratory status.
- C. Call emergency services for the client.
- D. Have the client cough and expectorate secretions.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When a client with COPD on oxygen therapy reports difficulty breathing, the priority action for the nurse is to assess the client's respiratory status. This involves evaluating the client's oxygen saturation levels, respiratory rate, effort of breathing, lung sounds, and overall respiratory distress. By assessing the client's respiratory status, the nurse can determine the severity of the situation and make appropriate decisions regarding further interventions, such as adjusting oxygen flow rate, providing respiratory treatments, or seeking emergency assistance if necessary.
3. While assessing a client with pulmonary tuberculosis, which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
- A. Lethargy
- B. High-grade fever
- C. Weight gain
- D. Dry cough
Correct answer: A
Rationale: When assessing a client with pulmonary tuberculosis, the nurse should expect lethargy as a common finding. Tuberculosis can cause fatigue and weakness due to the body's efforts to fight the infection. High-grade fever is another common symptom of tuberculosis, not weight gain or dry cough. Weight loss is more typical in tuberculosis due to decreased appetite and systemic effects of the infection. A persistent productive cough with sputum is more characteristic of tuberculosis rather than a dry cough.
4. A client is planning to perform nasotracheal suction for a client who has COPD and an artificial airway. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Perform suctioning for up to four passes.
- B. Apply suction to the catheter when advancing it into the trachea.
- C. Preoxygenate the client with 100% oxygen for up to 3 min.
- D. Limit each suction pass to 25 seconds.
Correct answer: C
Rationale:
5. A client reports a headache and vertigo after turning on his furnace for the first time this season. The nurse should suspect which of the following conditions?
- A. Carbon monoxide poisoning
- B. Heat stroke
- C. Hypersensitivity reaction
- D. Oxygen toxicity
Correct answer: A
Rationale: When a client reports headache and vertigo after turning on the furnace for the first time, it suggests carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be released by malfunctioning heating systems. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, and confusion. It is crucial for the nurse to suspect this condition promptly to ensure the client's safety and well-being.
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