Nursing Elites

1. What is a predisposing factor for cancer of the tongue?

• A. tobacco use
• B. obesity
• C. sun exposure
• D. eating sweets

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Tobacco use is a well-established predisposing factor for cancer of the tongue. Smoking or chewing tobacco can lead to the development of oral cancers, including those affecting the tongue. Obesity, sun exposure, and eating sweets are not directly linked to an increased risk of tongue cancer. Obesity may be associated with other types of cancer, sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, and eating sweets is not a known risk factor for tongue cancer. Therefore, the correct answer is tobacco use, as it has a strong association with the development of tongue cancer, making it a significant predisposing factor.

2. A nurse calls a health care provider to report that a client with congestive heart failure (CHF) is exhibiting dyspnea and worsening of wheezing. The health care provider, who is in a hurry because of a situation in the emergency department, gives the nurse a telephone prescription for furosemide (Lasix) but does not specify the route of administration. What is the appropriate action on the part of the nurse?

• A. Calling the health care provider who gave the telephone prescription to clarify the prescription
• B. Administering the medication orally and clarifying the prescription once the health care provider has finished caring for the client in the emergency department
• C. Calling the nursing supervisor for assistance in determining the route of administration
• D. Administering the medication intravenously because this route is generally used for clients with CHF

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Telephone prescriptions involve a health care provider dictating a prescribed therapy over the telephone to the nurse. The nurse must clarify the prescription by repeating it clearly and precisely to the health care provider. The nurse then writes the prescription on the health care provider's prescription sheet or enters it into the electronic medical record. It is crucial not to interpret an unclear prescription or administer a medication by a route that has not been expressly prescribed. In this case, the nurse should call the health care provider who gave the telephone prescription to clarify the prescription, ensuring the correct route of administration is specified. Options B, C, and D are incorrect because administering the medication without clarification, seeking assistance from the nursing supervisor, or choosing an arbitrary route of administration can compromise patient safety and violate medication administration protocols.

3. A nurse monitoring a client with a chest tube notes that there is no tidaling of fluid in the water seal chamber. After further assessment, the nurse suspects that the client's lung has reexpanded and notifies the healthcare provider. The healthcare provider verifies with the use of a chest x-ray that the lung has reexpanded, then calls the nurse to ask that the chest tube be removed. Which action should the nurse take first?

• A. Explain the procedure to the client, then remove the chest tube.
• B. Call the nursing supervisor.
• C. Inform the healthcare provider that removal of a chest tube is not a nursing procedure.
• D. Obtain petrolatum-impregnated gauze and ask another nurse to assist in removing the chest tube.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take first is to inform the healthcare provider that removal of a chest tube is not a nursing procedure. Actual removal of a chest tube is the duty of a healthcare provider. If the healthcare provider insists that the nurse remove the tube, the nurse must contact the nursing supervisor. Some agencies' policies and procedures may permit an advanced practice nurse to remove a chest tube, but there is no information in the question to indicate that the nurse is an advanced practice nurse. Choice A is incorrect because the nurse should not proceed with removing the chest tube without proper authorization. Choice B is incorrect as calling the nursing supervisor should come after clarifying with the healthcare provider. Choice D is incorrect as the nurse should not begin the process of removing the chest tube without proper guidance and authorization.

4. A nurse and a nursing assistant enter a client's room to provide care and find the client lying on the floor. Which action should the nurse take first?

• A. Ask the nursing assistant to complete an incident report
• B. Check the client's level of consciousness and vital signs
• C. Contact the unit secretary on the intercom and ask that the client's health care provider be called
• D. Ask the nursing assistant to assist in getting the client back to bed

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a client sustains a fall, the nurse must first assess the client. The nurse should check the client's level of consciousness and vital signs to determine the severity of the situation and provide appropriate care promptly. This immediate assessment is crucial in ensuring the client's immediate needs are addressed. Asking the nursing assistant to complete an incident report (choice A) is not the priority as the client's condition needs immediate attention. Contacting the unit secretary to call the client's health care provider (choice C) can be done after the initial assessment has been completed. Asking the nursing assistant to assist in getting the client back to bed (choice D) should only be considered after ensuring the client is stable and safe to move.

5. Ethics committees typically do not handle which of the following issues?

• A. Nonpayment of bills.
• B. Euthanasia.
• C. Starting or stopping treatment.
• D. Use of feeding tubes.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Ethics committees primarily focus on addressing ethical dilemmas in healthcare. Issues like euthanasia, decisions regarding starting or stopping treatment, and the use of feeding tubes for nutritional support involve complex ethical considerations related to patient care and end-of-life decisions, which are commonly deliberated by ethics committees. However, nonpayment of bills is a financial matter and falls outside the typical scope of ethics committees' functions.

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