Nursing Elites

1. 1.A nurse prepares to insert a peripheral venous catheter in an older adult client. Which action should the nurse take to protect the clients skin during this procedure?

• A. Lower the extremity below the level of the heart.
• B. Apply warm compresses to the extremity.
• C. Tap the skin lightly and avoid slapping.
• D. Place a washcloth between the skin and tourniquet

Correct answer: D

Rationale:

2. What happens first in dehydration?

• A. Intercellular fluid volume drops first.
• B. Plasma volume drops first.
• C. Interstitial fluid drops first.
• D. Neither interstitial nor intracellular fluid volume are affected.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In dehydration, the body first draws fluid from the interstitial space to maintain blood volume, leading to a decrease in interstitial fluid volume. This is why choice C is correct. Choice A is incorrect because intracellular fluid is not the first to be affected. Choice B is also incorrect as plasma volume reduction typically occurs after interstitial fluid loss. Choice D is incorrect as dehydration impacts both interstitial and intracellular fluid volumes.

3. A patient who is hospitalized with a possible electrolyte imbalance is disoriented and weak, has an irregular pulse, and takes hydrochlorothiazide. He most likely suffers from:

• A. Hypernatremia
• B. Hyponatremia
• C. Hyperkalemia
• D. Hypokalemia

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The patient is displaying symptoms of hypokalemia, including weakness, disorientation, irregular pulse, which can lead to cardiac disturbances. Hydrochlorothiazide is a potassium-wasting diuretic that can cause hypokalemia if not accompanied by potassium replacement therapy. Hypernatremia (choice A) is characterized by high sodium levels, not potassium. Hyponatremia (choice B) is low sodium levels. Hyperkalemia (choice C) is high potassium levels, which is not consistent with the symptoms described in the question.

4. A nurse in the medical-surgical unit is giving a patient with low blood pressure a hypertonic solution, which will increase the number of dissolved particles in his blood, creating pressure for fluids in the tissues to shift into the capillaries and increase the blood volume. Which of the following terms is associated with this process?

• A. Hydrostatic pressure
• B. Osmosis and osmolality
• C. Diffusion
• D. Active transport

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Osmosis is the movement of fluid from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration across a semipermeable membrane. The number of dissolved particles contained in a unit of fluid determines the osmolality of a solution, which influences the movement of fluid between the fluid compartments. Giving a patient who has low blood pressure a hypertonic solution will increase the number of dissolved particles in the blood, creating pressure for fluids in the tissues to shift into the capillaries and increase the blood volume. Option A is incorrect; hydrostatic pressure refers to changes in water or volume related to water pressure. Option C is incorrect; diffusion is the movement of solutes from an area of greater concentration to lesser concentration. The solutes in an intact vascular system are unable to move, so diffusion should not normally take place. Option D is incorrect; active transport is the movement of molecules against the concentration gradient and requires ATP as an energy source. This process typically takes place at the cellular level and is not involved in vascular volume changes.

5. A 65-year-old male patient was admitted to a medical-surgical unit 72 hours ago with pyloric stenosis; a nasogastric tube was inserted upon admission and has been on low intermittent suction since then. The nurse taking care of the patient notices that his potassium is very low and becomes concerned that the patient may be at risk for:

• A. Hypercalcemia
• B. Metabolic acidosis
• C. Metabolic alkalosis
• D. Respiratory acidosis

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, metabolic alkalosis. The patient with pyloric stenosis has been on low intermittent suction, leading to the loss of hydrogen and chloride ions. This condition causes metabolic alkalosis due to the removal of these ions. Options A (Hypercalcemia) and D (Respiratory acidosis) are incorrect as they are not directly related to the scenario described. Option B (Metabolic acidosis) is also incorrect; in this case, the patient is at risk of metabolic alkalosis due to the loss of hydrogen and chloride ions through gastric suction.

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