Nursing Elites

1. As a client who is terminally ill has been receiving high doses of an opioid analgesic for the past month and becomes unresponsive to verbal stimuli as death approaches, what orders would the nurse expect from the healthcare provider?

• A. Decrease the analgesic dosage by half
• B. Discontinue the analgesic
• C. Continue the same analgesic dosage
• D. Prescribe a less potent drug

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Continuing the same dosage of analgesic is appropriate to manage pain effectively as death nears and the client becomes unresponsive. The primary goal of palliative care in end-of-life situations is to ensure comfort, regardless of the client's level of consciousness. Decreasing the analgesic dosage or discontinuing it could lead to inadequate pain relief, which goes against the principles of palliative care. Prescribing a less potent drug may also compromise pain management in this critical stage. Therefore, maintaining the same analgesic dosage is the most appropriate action to provide comfort and alleviate suffering.

2. During an initial clinic visit, the nurse is taking the history for a client who wants to confirm her pregnancy. The client's last child has a history of low-birth-weight (LBW). Which additional finding is most important for the nurse to consider?

• A. Cigarette smoking.
• B. African American ethnicity.
• C. Poor nutritional status.
• D. Limited maternal education.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for low birth weight. Smoking during pregnancy reduces the amount of oxygen available to the baby, leading to LBW. Choice B, African American ethnicity, while it may be a risk factor, is not as directly linked to LBW as cigarette smoking. Choice C, poor nutritional status, can contribute to LBW but is not as significant as cigarette smoking in this case. Choice D, limited maternal education, is an important social determinant of health but is not as directly related to LBW as cigarette smoking.

3. The Healthy People initiative is a national agenda that aims to:

• A. Provide healthcare to all citizens
• B. Reduce health disparities and improve the health of all Americans
• C. Promote medical research
• D. Develop new healthcare technologies

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The Healthy People initiative is a national agenda that focuses on reducing health disparities and improving the health of all Americans. Choice A is incorrect because the initiative is more about improving health outcomes and access rather than providing healthcare to all citizens. Choice C is not the main goal of the initiative, which is more about public health goals than medical research. Choice D is also not the primary aim of the Healthy People initiative, as it is more focused on setting objectives to improve public health.

4. A home health nurse is at the home of a client with diabetes and arthritis. The client has difficulty drawing up insulin. It would be most appropriate for the nurse to refer the client to:

• A. A social worker from the local hospital
• B. An occupational therapist from the community center
• C. A physical therapist from the rehabilitation agency
• D. Another client with diabetes mellitus who takes insulin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: An occupational therapist is the most appropriate professional to refer the client to in this situation. Occupational therapists can provide assistance with techniques and tools to help the client manage insulin administration despite arthritis. Referring the client to a social worker (Choice A) may not directly address the client's difficulty with insulin. While physical therapists (Choice C) focus on mobility and strength, they may not specialize in techniques for insulin administration. Referring the client to another client with diabetes (Choice D) is not a professional or appropriate solution to address the client's difficulty.

5. A client with a history of alcoholism is admitted to the hospital for detoxification. The nurse knows that the client's risk for withdrawal symptoms is greatest within:

• A. 2-4 hours
• B. 4-6 hours
• C. 6-12 hours
• D. 12-24 hours

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: 12-24 hours. Withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 12-24 hours after the last drink. This period is when the client is at the highest risk for experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not align with the typical timeline for alcohol withdrawal symptoms to manifest. Symptoms usually peak within the first 24 to 48 hours after the last drink, making the 12-24 hour window critical for monitoring and managing any potential withdrawal complications.

Similar Questions