Nursing Elites

1. A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI). Which diagnostic test is most likely to be ordered to confirm this diagnosis?

• A. Echocardiogram
• B. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• C. Chest X-ray
• D. Complete blood count (CBC)

Correct answer: B

Rationale: An Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the primary diagnostic tool used to confirm a myocardial infarction. An ECG provides immediate information on cardiac function and can show characteristic changes indicative of a myocardial infarction, such as ST-segment elevation or depression. An echocardiogram (Choice A) is useful for assessing heart structure and function but is not typically used as the primary test for confirming an acute myocardial infarction. Chest X-ray (Choice C) may show certain changes in heart size or pulmonary congestion but is not the primary diagnostic test for MI. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) (Choice D) provides information about the cellular components of blood and is not specific to confirming a myocardial infarction.

2. A client with known coronary artery disease (CAD) begins to experience chest pain while getting out of bed. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Obtain a prescription for pain medication.
• B. Have the client stop and lie back down in bed.
• C. Report the complaint to the healthcare provider.
• D. Instruct the client to continue getting out of bed and into a chair.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a client with CAD experiences chest pain, it indicates myocardial ischemia. The nurse should have the client stop the activity and lie back down in bed to reduce the heart's oxygen demand, decrease myocardial workload, and prevent further ischemia. This action helps in improving blood flow to the heart and can potentially alleviate the chest pain. Option A is incorrect as pain medication should not be the initial action for chest pain in CAD. Option C is incorrect because the nurse should first intervene directly to address the chest pain. Option D is incorrect as continuing the activity can worsen the myocardial ischemia and chest pain.

3. A client with peripheral arterial disease complains of leg pain while walking. The nurse should reinforce which teaching point with the client?

• A. Wear compression stockings daily.
• B. Increase daily walking distance gradually.
• C. Elevate legs above heart level when resting.
• D. Use a heating pad to soothe leg muscles.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: For clients with peripheral arterial disease experiencing leg pain while walking, the priority teaching point is to gradually increase daily walking distance. This approach helps improve circulation, build tolerance, and reduce symptoms over time. While compression stockings can be beneficial for circulation, they are not the priority teaching point in this scenario. Elevating legs above heart level when resting is more appropriate for clients with venous insufficiency, not peripheral arterial disease. Using a heating pad is not recommended as it can potentially cause burns or skin damage in clients with compromised circulation.

4. When preparing to administer medication to a client, what action should the nurse take first?

• A. Verify the client's identity.
• B. Check the medication expiration date.
• C. Review the client's medical history.
• D. Obtain the client's vital signs.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Verifying the client's identity is the initial and most critical step in medication administration. It is crucial to confirm that the right medication is being given to the correct patient. Checking the client's identity helps prevent medication errors and ensures patient safety. Checking the medication expiration date (choice B) is important but should come after verifying the client's identity. Reviewing the client's medical history (choice C) is valuable but not the first step in medication administration. Obtaining the client's vital signs (choice D) is essential in some situations but is usually not the first action needed before administering medication.

5. A client has a new prescription for captopril. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Take the medication with food.
• B. Monitor for signs of hypokalemia.
• C. Take the medication at bedtime.
• D. Monitor for a dry cough.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor for a dry cough. Captopril is known to cause a persistent dry cough as a common side effect. If a dry cough develops, it should be reported to the healthcare provider promptly, as it may necessitate discontinuation of the medication. Choice A is incorrect because captopril is usually taken on an empty stomach. Choice B is incorrect as hypokalemia is not a common side effect of captopril. Choice C is incorrect as captopril is typically taken during the day and not specifically at bedtime.

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