Nursing Elites

1. A 30-year-old woman is 22 weeks pregnant with her first child. She tells you that her rings are not fitting as loosely as they usually do and that her ankles are swollen. Her blood pressure is 150/86 mm Hg. She is MOST likely experiencing:

• A. a condition unrelated to pregnancy.
• B. gestational diabetes.
• C. a hypertensive emergency.
• D. preeclampsia.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The symptoms of swollen ankles, tight rings, and elevated blood pressure in a pregnant woman at 22 weeks gestation are concerning for preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, commonly seen with symptoms such as swelling (edema) and protein in the urine. It is crucial to monitor and manage preeclampsia promptly as it can lead to severe complications for both the mother and the baby.

2. A mother of a 6-year-old actively playing child, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus a year ago, calls a clinic nurse and reports that the child has been sick. She checked the child's urine, which was positive for ketones. What should the nurse instruct the mother to do?

• A. Administer an additional dose of regular insulin
• B. Come to the clinic immediately
• C. Encourage the child to drink liquids
• D. Hold the next dose of insulin

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Encouraging the child to drink liquids is essential in managing ketones in urine. Increased fluid intake can help prevent dehydration and aid in flushing out ketones, which is crucial in managing diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of uncontrolled diabetes.

3. The parents of a child hospitalized with asthma who is recovering and is being prepared for discharge are receiving home care instructions from the nurse. Which statement by a parent indicates a need for further instruction?

• A. Coughing spells may be triggered by dust or smoke
• B. Vomiting may occur when our child has coughing episodes
• C. We need to encourage our child to drink fluids
• D. We need to maintain droplet precautions and a quiet environment for at least 2 weeks

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The statement 'We need to maintain droplet precautions and a quiet environment for at least 2 weeks' indicates a need for further instruction. Asthma management does not typically require maintaining droplet precautions. The focus should be on environmental control, medication adherence, and monitoring symptoms rather than droplet precautions, which are more relevant for contagious respiratory infections.

4. Nana Esi is an 11-year-old girl diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). She asks her attending nurse why she can't take a pill rather than shots like her grandmother does. Which of the following would be the nurse's best reply?

• A. If your blood glucose levels are controlled, you can switch to using pills.
• B. The pills correct fat and protein metabolism, not carbohydrate metabolism.
• C. Your body does not make insulin, so the insulin injections help to replace it.
• D. The pills work on the adult pancreas; you can switch when you are 18.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The nurse's best reply to Nana Esi is option C: 'Your body does not make insulin, so the insulin injections help to replace it.' In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, individuals with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin, necessitating insulin injections for survival. Option A is incorrect as type 1 diabetes always requires insulin therapy. Option B is inaccurate as pills do not replace the function of insulin. Option D is also incorrect as there is no age restriction on using insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes.

5. After providing home care instructions to the mother of a child being discharged following cardiac surgery, which statement made by the mother indicates a need for further instructions?

• A. A balance of rest and exercise is important.
• B. I can apply lotion or powder to the incision if it is itchy.
• C. Activities in which falling could occur need to be avoided for two to four weeks.
• D. Large crowds of people need to be avoided for at least two weeks after the surgery.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. The mother stating that she can apply lotion or powder to the incision if it is itchy indicates a need for further instructions. Applying lotion or powder to the incision is not recommended as it can increase the risk of infection. The other choices are correct: A) Balancing rest and exercise is important for recovery, C) avoiding activities where falling could occur is necessary to prevent injury, and D) avoiding large crowds helps reduce the risk of infections during the initial recovery period.

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