Nursing Elites

1. A county public health nurse is developing a list of interventions to address the three core functions of public health. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include as part of the assurance function?

• A. Use surveillance to investigate outbreaks of foodborne illness
• B. Monitor the incidence rates of varicella every 2 months
• C. Organize an immunization clinic for at-risk members of the community
• D. Educate the community about the health risks of alcohol use

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Organize an immunization clinic for at-risk members of the community.' This intervention is part of the assurance function in public health, as it ensures that the community has access to preventive health services. Choice A is related to the assessment function as it involves surveillance to investigate outbreaks. Choice B is also related to the assessment function since it involves monitoring incidence rates. Choice D is associated with the policy development function as it involves educating the community about health risks.

2. A client complains of pain in the leg while in skeletal traction. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Increase the pain medication immediately
• B. Check for signs of infection
• C. Reposition the client's leg for comfort
• D. Notify the physician of the client's complaints

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Check for signs of infection. In skeletal traction, the priority action for the nurse when a client complains of pain in the leg is to first assess for signs of infection. Pain in skeletal traction can be a symptom of infection or other complications, so checking for signs of infection is crucial before considering other interventions. Increasing pain medication immediately (Choice A) may mask the symptoms of an underlying infection. Repositioning the client's leg for comfort (Choice C) may provide temporary relief but does not address the potential underlying issue. Notifying the physician of the client's complaints (Choice D) is important but assessing for infection should come first to ensure timely and appropriate intervention.

3. Which action by the nurse will help reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a postoperative patient?

• A. Encourage early ambulation and leg exercises.
• B. Apply compression stockings to the patient's legs.
• C. Administer anticoagulants as prescribed.
• D. Elevate the patient's legs to promote circulation.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to encourage early ambulation and leg exercises. By promoting early ambulation and leg exercises, blood flow is enhanced, reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in postoperative patients. Choice B, applying compression stockings, helps prevent VTE but is not as effective as early ambulation and exercises. Choice C, administering anticoagulants, is important in VTE prevention but does not directly address improving circulation through physical activity. Choice D, elevating the patient's legs, may be beneficial for circulation in specific cases but is not as effective in preventing VTE as early ambulation and leg exercises.

4. How is the effectiveness of a diuretic in a patient with heart failure evaluated?

• A. Checking daily weights and lung sounds for improvement
• B. Assessing the patient's blood pressure and urine output
• C. Monitoring for weight loss and reduction in edema
• D. Measuring the patient's heart rate and lung sounds

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct way to evaluate the effectiveness of a diuretic in a patient with heart failure is by checking daily weights and lung sounds for improvement. Daily weights help to assess fluid retention changes, while improvement in lung sounds indicates reduced pulmonary congestion. Assessing blood pressure and urine output (Choice B) is important but does not directly evaluate the effectiveness of the diuretic. Monitoring for weight loss and reduction in edema (Choice C) are valid indicators of diuretic effectiveness, but direct observation of daily weights and lung sounds is more specific. Measuring heart rate and lung sounds (Choice D) is relevant but does not directly assess the impact of the diuretic on fluid balance and pulmonary status.

5. How does a healthcare professional assess a patient's fluid balance, and what signs indicate fluid overload?

• A. Checking lung sounds for crackles
• B. Checking for signs of orthopnea
• C. Monitoring intake and output, and checking for edema
• D. Measuring daily weight

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is monitoring intake and output and checking for edema. Monitoring intake and output provides information about fluid balance in the body, while checking for edema helps assess for fluid overload. Lung sounds and signs of orthopnea are more indicative of respiratory issues rather than fluid balance. Daily weight measurement is useful to assess fluid status, but it alone may not provide a comprehensive evaluation of fluid balance.

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