Nursing Elites

1. A 65-year-old client who attends an adult daycare program and is wheelchair-mobile has redness in the sacral area. Which instruction is most important for the nurse to provide?

• A. Take a vitamin supplement tablet once a day.
• B. Change positions in the chair at least every hour.
• C. Increase daily intake of water or other oral fluids.
• D. Purchase a newer model wheelchair.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most important instruction for the nurse to provide to the client is to change positions in the chair at least every hour. This is crucial to prevent pressure ulcers, as prolonged pressure on the skin can lead to tissue damage. Repositioning helps relieve pressure on vulnerable areas like the sacrum. Increasing fluid intake can also aid in preventing skin breakdown by maintaining skin hydration. While a vitamin supplement may support overall health, it is not as critical as repositioning to prevent pressure ulcers. Purchasing a new wheelchair is an expensive intervention and should be considered a last resort after implementing less costly preventive measures.

2. The nurse is teaching an obese client, newly diagnosed with arteriosclerosis, about reducing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Which health promotion brochure is most important for the nurse to provide to this client?

• A. Monitoring Your Blood Pressure at Home
• B. Smoking Cessation as a Lifelong Commitment
• C. Decreasing Cholesterol Levels Through Diet
• D. Stress Management for a Healthier You

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The most important health promotion brochure to provide to an obese client newly diagnosed with arteriosclerosis is one focused on decreasing cholesterol levels through diet. Arteriosclerosis is significantly influenced by excess dietary fat, especially saturated fat and cholesterol. Monitoring blood pressure at home, while important, does not directly address the underlying cause of arteriosclerosis. Smoking cessation and stress management are crucial for overall cardiovascular health, but lowering cholesterol through diet takes precedence in this scenario.

3. A hospitalized client has had difficulty falling asleep for two nights and is becoming irritable and restless. Which action by the nurse is best?

• A. Determine the client's usual bedtime routine and include these rituals in the plan of care as safety allows.
• B. Instruct the UAP not to wake the client under any circumstances during the night.
• C. Place a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door and change assessments from every 4 to every 8 hours.
• D. Encourage the client to avoid pain medication during the day, which might increase daytime napping.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: By determining the client's usual bedtime routine and incorporating these rituals into the care plan, the nurse can help the client fall asleep faster and improve the quality of care without compromising safety. This approach respects the client's individual needs and preferences. In contrast, options B, C, and D do not address the client's sleep issue effectively and may even compromise the client's safety or standard of care. Option B fails to address the underlying problem of the client's sleep disturbance, while option C reduces the frequency of assessments, which can impact the timely identification of changes in the client's condition. Option D focuses on pain medication and daytime napping, which are not directly related to the client's current sleep difficulties.

4. For which condition would electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) be used?

• A. Severe clinical depression
• B. Substance abuse disorders
• C. Antisocial personality disorder
• D. Psychosis occurring in schizophrenia

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for severe clinical depression, especially in cases where clients do not respond well to psychotropic medications or require immediate intervention due to the severity of their depression. ECT is not typically used as a primary treatment for substance abuse disorders, antisocial personality disorder, or psychosis occurring in schizophrenia. While ECT is an effective intervention for severe depression, it is important to consider individual client needs and response to other treatment options before resorting to ECT.

5. Which of the following is an appropriate tension-reduction intervention for a patient who may be escalating toward aggressive behavior?

• A. Asking to speak to someone
• B. Asking to be alone
• C. Listening to music
• D. All of the above

Correct answer: D

Rationale: All of the above interventions are appropriate tension-reduction techniques for a patient in the ICU. When a patient is escalating toward aggressive behavior, it is crucial to have a range of strategies to help de-escalate the situation. Asking to speak to someone can provide emotional support and an outlet for communication. Asking to be alone can help the patient have space and time to calm down. Listening to music can be soothing and distracting. These interventions, along with additional ones like walking the hallway, watching television, writing in a journal, or requesting a PRN medication, can be helpful. It is essential to involve the patient in developing the care plan to identify triggers and effective tension-reduction techniques. Patients in escalation may not always recognize the need for intervention, so staff must be observant and offer personalized techniques to address the situation effectively.

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