A client who had a left hemicolectomy is experiencing a low-grade fever on post-operative day three. What is the nurse's best action?

A. Encourage deep breathing and the use of the incentive spirometer.

B. Administer antipyretic medication as prescribed.

C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.

D. Increase the client’s fluid intake.

Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A low-grade fever on post-operative day three can be a sign of atelectasis, a common post-operative complication. Encouraging deep breathing and the use of the incentive spirometer can help prevent and treat this condition. Atelectasis is often due to shallow breathing, so option A is the best initial action to promote lung expansion. Administering antipyretic medication (option B) may help reduce the fever but does not directly address the underlying cause. Notifying the healthcare provider immediately (option C) is not necessary at this point unless other concerning symptoms are present. Increasing the client’s fluid intake (option D) is important for overall recovery but is not the priority in this scenario.

What is a priority when providing care for a patient with a newly inserted tracheostomy?

• A. Keeping the tracheostomy tube clean and dry
• B. Providing regular oral hygiene
• C. Monitoring for signs of infection and ensuring a patent airway
• D. Encouraging the patient to cough and deep breathe

Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When caring for a patient with a newly inserted tracheostomy, the priority is to monitor for signs of infection and ensure a patent airway. This is crucial to prevent complications such as airway obstruction or infection. While keeping the tracheostomy tube clean and dry is important for overall care, it is not the highest priority when compared to ensuring a patent airway. Providing regular oral hygiene is essential for the patient's comfort but takes a secondary role to maintaining airway patency. Encouraging the patient to cough and deep breathe may be beneficial but is not as critical as monitoring for infection and keeping the airway clear.

The UAP reports to the PN that an assigned client experiences SOB when the bed is lowered for bathing. Which action should the PN implement?

• A. Obtain further data about the client's activity intolerance to position changes
• B. Advise the UAP to allow the client to rest before completing the bath
• C. Direct the UAP to obtain vital signs and a pulse oximetry reading
• D. Notify the healthcare provider about the client's episode of SOB

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Advising the UAP to allow the client to rest before completing the bath is the most appropriate action to take. This helps manage the shortness of breath (SOB) experienced by the client and prevents further stress. By giving the client time to rest, the PN ensures the client's comfort and safety during care activities. The other options are not the most immediate or appropriate actions in this scenario: obtaining further data about activity intolerance (choice A) may delay addressing the current issue, obtaining vital signs and pulse oximetry (choice C) is important but not as immediate as allowing the client to rest, and notifying the healthcare provider (choice D) is premature before trying a simple intervention like allowing the client to rest.

Before administering a scheduled dose of insulin to a 10-year-old child who is learning diabetic self-care, which information is most important for the PN to ask the child?

• A. How much exercise did the child have today?
• B. Did the child perform a finger stick?
• C. When did the child last urinate?
• D. Has the child eaten recently?

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Did the child perform a finger stick?' Before administering insulin, it is crucial to check the child's blood glucose level to prevent hypoglycemia. Performing a finger stick blood glucose test provides essential information on the current blood sugar level. Choice A ('How much exercise did the child have today?') is not as critical as monitoring blood glucose levels directly. Choice C ('When did the child last urinate?') is not directly related to the immediate need for insulin administration. Choice D ('Has the child eaten recently?') is important but not as crucial as knowing the current blood glucose level.

What is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis?

• A. Gallstones
• B. Alcohol abuse
• C. Hypertriglyceridemia
• D. Infection

Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Gallstones. Gallstones are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis as they obstruct the pancreatic duct, leading to inflammation. While alcohol abuse (Choice B) can also cause pancreatitis, gallstones are more prevalent. Hypertriglyceridemia (Choice C) is a less common cause of acute pancreatitis compared to gallstones. Infection (Choice D) is not a primary cause of acute pancreatitis; gallstones are the leading etiology.