Nursing Elites

1. A man is receiving heparin subcutaneously. The patient has dementia and lives at home with a part-time caretaker. The nurse is most concerned about which side effect of heparin?

• A. Back Pain
• B. Fever and Chills
• C. Risk for Bleeding
• D. Dizziness

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Risk for Bleeding.' A patient with dementia may have impaired judgment and may be prone to falls or injuries, increasing the risk of bleeding while on heparin therapy. Monitoring for signs of bleeding is crucial in this situation. Choice A, 'Back Pain,' is not a common side effect of heparin. Choice B, 'Fever and Chills,' is not a typical side effect of heparin but may indicate other underlying conditions. Choice D, 'Dizziness,' is not a common side effect of heparin and is not the primary concern in this scenario.

2. The nurse is caring for a patient in the ICU who has had a spinal cord injury. She observes that his last blood pressure was 100/55, and his pulse is 48. These have both trended downwards from the baseline. What should the nurse expect to be the next course of action ordered by the physician?

• A. Assess the patient for decreased level of consciousness
• B. Administer Normal Saline
• C. Insert an NG Tube
• D. Connect and read an EKG

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The patient is entering neurogenic shock due to the spinal cord injury, leading to hypotension and bradycardia. Administering Normal Saline is essential to replace fluid volume, which can help in treating the hypotension and bradycardia symptomatically. This intervention aims to stabilize the patient's cardiovascular status. Assessing for decreased level of consciousness (Choice A) may be important but addressing the hemodynamic instability takes precedence. Inserting an NG Tube (Choice C) and connecting and reading an EKG (Choice D) are not the immediate actions required for the presenting symptoms of hypotension and bradycardia.

3. In which of the following conditions would a healthcare provider not administer erythromycin?

• A. Campylobacteriosis infection
• B. Legionnaires disease
• C. Pneumonia
• D. Multiple Sclerosis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Erythromycin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, involving the brain and spinal cord. Since MS is not caused by bacteria, administering erythromycin would not be appropriate. Campylobacteriosis infection, Legionnaires disease, and pneumonia are bacterial infections that can be treated with erythromycin, making them incorrect choices for conditions where erythromycin would not be administered.

4. A client with a new colostomy is being taught how to care for the colostomy bag. Which statement from the client indicates the need for more education?

• A. I can clean the skin around the ostomy site with soap and water when I change the bag.
• B. I should irrigate the stoma regularly to avoid buildup of gas and odor.
• C. I need to wait 30 minutes after I irrigate to replace the colostomy bag.
• D. I should change the bag when it is one-third to one-fourth full.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A client with a new colostomy requires education on proper colostomy care. Waiting 30 minutes after irrigating to replace the colostomy bag is unnecessary. The client may reapply the bag once the skin is dry. Cleaning the skin around the ostomy site with soap and water, irrigating the stoma regularly to prevent gas and odor buildup, and changing the bag when it is one-third to one-fourth full are appropriate actions. Therefore, the statement indicating the need for more education is the one suggesting a specific time interval for bag replacement after irrigation.

5. The nurse is reviewing the record of a child diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome. The nurse should expect to note which finding documented in the child's record?

• A. Polyuria
• B. Weight gain
• C. Hypotension
• D. Grossly bloody urine

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In nephrotic syndrome, a key finding documented in the child's record is weight gain due to massive edema. While urine may appear dark, foamy, and frothy, grossly bloody urine is not expected as only microscopic hematuria is present. Additionally, urine output is decreased, and hypertension is likely to be present. Therefore, the correct answer is weight gain as it aligns with the characteristic presentation of nephrotic syndrome.

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