Nursing Elites

1. A client with a history of hypertension is admitted with a blood pressure of 180/110 mm Hg. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?

• A. Atenolol (Tenormin)
• B. Nifedipine (Procardia)
• C. Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)
• D. Clonidine (Catapres)

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In this scenario of severe hypertension (180/110 mm Hg), the nurse should prepare to administer Clonidine (Catapres), which is an antihypertensive medication commonly used to rapidly lower blood pressure in acute situations. Atenolol and Nifedipine are also antihypertensive medications, but Clonidine is more appropriate for immediate blood pressure reduction in this critical situation. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic often used for long-term management of hypertension, not for rapid lowering of severely elevated blood pressure.

2. During a repeat home visit to see an 84-year-old widow, the nurse discovers that the client is unkempt, smells of stale urine, and does not recognize her neighbors or the nurse. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Call the pharmacy to determine what medications she is taking
• B. Seek the family's assistance in taking care of the client
• C. Complete a physical and mental exam on the client
• D. Call the adult protective services to obtain emergency nursing home placement

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse should prioritize completing a physical and mental exam on the client. This action is crucial to assess the client's health status comprehensively and identify any underlying issues contributing to her unkempt appearance, odor of stale urine, and confusion. Calling the pharmacy to determine medications (Choice A) may be important but is not the immediate priority. Seeking family assistance (Choice B) can be helpful, but the client's condition requires a thorough assessment first. While adult protective services (Choice D) may be necessary in the future, the immediate action should be to assess the client's physical and mental health status.

3. The healthcare professional is developing a community health program to address the high rates of childhood asthma in a neighborhood. Which intervention should the healthcare professional prioritize?

• A. conducting home visits to identify asthma triggers
• B. distributing asthma education materials at schools
• C. holding workshops on asthma management for parents
• D. partnering with local healthcare providers to offer free asthma screenings

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The healthcare professional should prioritize conducting home visits to identify asthma triggers as it is crucial for reducing asthma attacks in children. By identifying triggers in the home environment, interventions can be implemented to create a safer living space for children with asthma. This approach directly addresses the root cause of asthma exacerbations. Distributing asthma education materials at schools is beneficial for raising awareness but may not address individual triggers. Holding workshops on asthma management for parents is valuable for education but does not directly tackle trigger identification. Partnering with local healthcare providers to offer free asthma screenings focuses on detection rather than prevention through trigger identification.

4. While screening all children in the third grade for head lice, the school nurse observes that one girl has a brownish thickening on her neck. Which action should the nurse take in response to this finding?

• A. review the child's medical folder for a list of allergies
• B. instruct the child's parents to begin treatment
• C. advise the child's parents to obtain a medical evaluation of the child
• D. none of the above

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to advise the child's parents to obtain a medical evaluation of the child. This is important because a medical professional needs to properly diagnose and treat the brownish thickening observed on the child's neck. Reviewing the child's medical folder for allergies (Choice A) is not appropriate in this situation as it does not address the specific concern. Instructing the child's parents to begin treatment (Choice B) without a proper diagnosis can be harmful and ineffective. Choosing 'none of the above' (Choice D) is not the best option when a potential health issue is identified; seeking a medical evaluation is the most appropriate course of action.

5. The public health nurse is creating a plan to increase state funding for a local health clinic. Which strategy is likely to be most effective in obtaining funding for the clinic?

• A. Run the health clinic economically and promote the services the clinic provides.
• B. Organize concerned citizens to write letters and call state representatives.
• C. Highlight to the media the valuable services offered by the community clinic.
• D. Hire a professional lobbyist to convince Congress of the local clinic's value.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Organizing concerned citizens to contact state representatives is likely the most effective strategy to secure state funding for the local health clinic. By mobilizing a group of citizens who are directly impacted by the clinic's services, the public health nurse can create a strong advocacy group that can influence decision-makers. Option A, running the health clinic economically and promoting its services, may be necessary but does not directly address the funding aspect. Option C, highlighting services to the media, may raise awareness but does not guarantee funding. Option D, hiring a professional lobbyist, may be costly and may not have the same grassroots impact as organizing citizens.

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