Nursing Elites

1. A male client with heart failure presents with shortness of breath, audible wheezing, and pink frothy sputum. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Consult with the charge nurse regarding morphine prescription.
• B. Administer the dose of morphine sulfate as prescribed.
• C. Withhold morphine until dyspnea resolves.
• D. Review the need for the prescription with the healthcare provider.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer the dose of morphine sulfate as prescribed. In heart failure, morphine helps reduce anxiety, preload, and afterload on the heart, improving oxygenation. The client's symptoms indicate acute decompensated heart failure, and morphine should be administered promptly to relieve distress. Consulting the charge nurse (Choice A) or withholding morphine (Choice C) would delay necessary treatment. Reviewing the prescription with the healthcare provider (Choice D) is not needed in this acute situation.

2. The nurse is planning to administer two medications at 0900. Which property of the drugs indicates a need to monitor the client for toxicity?

• A. Short half-life
• B. High therapeutic index
• C. Highly protein-bound
• D. Low bioavailability

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, 'Highly protein-bound.' Drugs that are highly protein-bound can displace from protein-binding sites, leading to increased free drug levels in the blood, which can result in toxicity. Monitoring the client for toxicity is crucial when administering highly protein-bound drugs. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. A short half-life does not necessarily indicate a need for monitoring toxicity; a high therapeutic index indicates a wide safety margin between the effective dose and the toxic dose, reducing the risk of toxicity; low bioavailability refers to the fraction of the drug that reaches the systemic circulation unchanged and does not directly relate to the risk of toxicity.

3. A client with a colostomy is being discharged. What teaching is most important for the nurse to provide?

• A. Change the ostomy bag daily to prevent skin irritation.
• B. Avoid foods that can cause gas, such as broccoli.
• C. Empty the ostomy pouch when it is one-third full.
• D. Use a skin barrier to protect the surrounding skin.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The most important teaching for a client with a colostomy is to empty the ostomy pouch when it is one-third full. This practice helps prevent leakage and skin irritation by maintaining the proper seal of the pouching system. Changing the ostomy bag daily (Choice A) is not necessary unless it leaks or becomes loose. Avoiding gas-producing foods (Choice B) is essential for some clients but is not the most important teaching. Using a skin barrier (Choice D) is important but not as crucial as emptying the ostomy pouch at the right time to prevent complications.

4. In assessing an adult client with a partial rebreather mask, the nurse notes that the oxygen reservoir bag does not deflate completely during inspiration and the client’s respiratory rate is 14 breaths/minute. What action should the nurse implement?

• A. Remove the mask immediately
• B. Document the assessment data
• C. Increase the oxygen flow
• D. Increase the respiratory rate setting

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to document the assessment data. In a partial rebreather mask, it is normal for the oxygen reservoir bag not to deflate completely during inspiration. Additionally, a respiratory rate of 14 breaths/minute falls within the normal range. Therefore, these findings indicate that the mask is functioning as intended. Removing the mask immediately is unnecessary as there are no signs of distress. Increasing the oxygen flow or adjusting the respiratory rate setting is not warranted based on the assessment findings, as they are within normal parameters.

5. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of supplemental oxygen over several days can cause which pathophysiological effect?

• A. Reduced cardiac output
• B. Disrupted surfactant production
• C. Hyperactivity of alveoli
• D. Increased oxygen carrying capacity

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Corrected Rationale: Prolonged exposure to high oxygen concentrations can disrupt the production of surfactant in the lungs, leading to atelectasis and other lung complications. Surfactant is essential for maintaining lung compliance and preventing alveolar collapse. Reduced cardiac output (Choice A) is not directly associated with prolonged oxygen exposure. Hyperactivity of alveoli (Choice C) is not a recognized consequence of high oxygen levels. Increased oxygen carrying capacity (Choice D) is not a pathophysiological effect of prolonged high oxygen exposure.

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