Nursing Elites

1. A male client is laughing at a television program with his wife when the evening nurse enters the room. He says his foot is hurting and he would like a pain pill. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Ask him to rate his pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
• B. Encourage him to wait until bedtime so the pill can help him sleep.
• C. Attend to the acutely ill client's needs first because this client is laughing.
• D. Instruct him in the use of deep breathing exercises for pain control.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Obtaining a subjective estimate of the pain experience by asking the client to rate his pain helps the nurse determine which pain medication should be administered and also provides a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of the medication. Medicating for pain should not be delayed to use it as a sleep medication, so encouraging him to wait until bedtime is incorrect. Option C is judgmental and inappropriate as all clients deserve prompt attention. Option D should be used as an adjunct to pain medication, not instead of medication, so instructing him in deep breathing exercises alone is not the priority in this situation.

2. Identify the type of 'trigger' with the correct 'trigger' that can possibly lead to disturbed behavior.

• A. Emotional: room coldness
• B. Environmental: boredom
• C. Physical: pain
• D. Communication: silence

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Physical pain is a common trigger that can lead to disturbed behavior in individuals, especially when they are unable to communicate their pain effectively. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Room coldness falls under environmental triggers, boredom is associated with emotional triggers, and silence is a communication aspect rather than a direct trigger for disturbed behavior.

3. According to psychodynamic theory, what purpose do delusions serve?

• A. Delusions are a defense against anxiety caused by real or imagined threats.
• B. Magical thinking is a delusion that ensures desirable outcomes.
• C. Delusions are a method of dealing with and interpreting external stimuli.
• D. Subconsciously, delusions are a way to safely express anger and hostility.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: According to psychodynamic theory, delusions serve as a defense mechanism against anxiety triggered by real or perceived threats. Delusions are the individual's unconscious way of protecting themselves from overwhelming feelings of anxiety. Magical thinking, on the other hand, involves believing that one's thoughts can influence external events. This is not the same as delusions. Delusions are not a way of interpreting external stimuli but rather a defense mechanism. Expressing anger and hostility is typically associated with defense mechanisms like displacement or projection, not delusions.

4. An adolescent client comes to the clinic 3 weeks after the birth of her first baby. She tells the nurse she is concerned because she has not returned to her pre-pregnant weight. Which action should the nurse perform first?

• A. Review the client's weight pattern over the year
• B. Ask the mother to record her diet for the last 24 hours
• C. Encourage her to talk about her view of herself
• D. Give her several pamphlets on postpartum nutrition

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Encouraging the adolescent client to talk about her view of herself is the first action the nurse should take. Body image is crucial for adolescents, especially after pregnancy. By addressing the client's concerns about her weight and discussing her self-perception, the nurse can provide emotional support and open a dialogue for further assessment and teaching. Choice A, 'Review the client's weight pattern over the year,' is not the priority at this time as the client's immediate concern is her post-pregnancy weight. Choice B, 'Ask the mother to record her diet for the last 24 hours,' focuses on dietary habits rather than addressing the client's emotional concerns. Choice D, 'Give her several pamphlets on postpartum nutrition,' may be helpful but should come after addressing the client's emotional needs and concerns.

5. A staff nurse expresses frustration that a Native American patient always has several family members at the bedside. Which action by the charge nurse is most appropriate?

• A. Remind the nurse that family support is important to this family and patient.
• B. Have the nurse explain to the family that too many visitors will tire the patient.
• C. Suggest that the nurse ask family members to leave the room during patient care.
• D. Ask about the nurse's personal beliefs about family support during hospitalization.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The first step in providing culturally competent care is to understand one's own beliefs and values related to health and health care. Asking the nurse about personal beliefs will help achieve this step. Reminding the nurse that this cultural practice is important to the family and patient will not decrease the nurse's frustration. The remaining responses, such as suggesting that the nurse ask family members to leave the room or having the nurse explain to the family that too many visitors will tire the patient, are not culturally appropriate for this patient.

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