Nursing Elites

1. A nurse cares for a female client who has a family history of cystic fibrosis. The client asks, Will my children have cystic fibrosis? How should the nurse respond?

• A. Since many of your family members are carriers, your children will also be carriers of the gene.
• B. Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder. If you are a carrier, your children will have the disorder.
• C. Since you have a family history of cystic fibrosis, I would encourage you & your partner to be tested.
• D. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a protein that controls the movement of chloride. Adjusting your diet will decrease the spread of this disorder.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder in which both gene alleles must be mutated for the disorder to be expressed. The nurse should encourage both the client & partner to be tested for the abnormal gene. The other statements are not true.

2. When interviewing a client recently diagnosed with lung cancer and having a 60-pack-year smoking history, what is the most important action for the nurse to take?

• A. Educate the client about the importance of quitting smoking to halt cancer progression.
• B. Encourage the client to disclose both tobacco and marijuana use openly.
• C. Maintain a nonjudgmental attitude to promote honest communication with the client.
• D. Provide realistic information about cancer treatment and prognosis without giving false hope.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude during the interview is crucial to create a safe environment where the client feels comfortable and open about disclosing their smoking history and other relevant information. This approach helps establish trust and facilitates an honest conversation which is essential for providing appropriate care and support to the client.

3. A client is 12 hours postoperative following colon resection. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan to reduce respiratory complications?

• A. Use incentive spirometer every 4 hours while awake.
• B. Initiate ambulation after discontinuing the NG tube.
• C. Maintain a supine position with an abdominal binder.
• D. Splint the incision to support coughing every 2 hours.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Following a colon resection surgery, it is essential to support the incision site to reduce the risk of respiratory complications. Splinting the incision helps to minimize pain during coughing, aiding in effective clearing of secretions and preventing respiratory problems. This intervention supports the client's respiratory function postoperatively, promoting optimal recovery.

4. A nurse in the PACU is assessing a client who has an endotracheal tube (ET) in place and observes the absence of left-sided chest wall expansion upon respiration. Which of the following complications should the nurse suspect?

• A. Blockage of the ET tube by the client's tongue
• B. Passage of the ET tube into the esophagus
• C. Movement of the ET tube into the right main bronchus
• D. Infection of the vocal cords

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When the nurse observes the absence of left-sided chest wall expansion upon respiration, it indicates that the endotracheal tube (ET) may have migrated into the right main bronchus, leading to uneven chest expansion. This can result in inadequate ventilation to the left lung, causing respiratory compromise. The other options, such as blockage of the ET tube by the client's tongue, passage of the ET tube into the esophagus, and infection of the vocal cords, do not directly explain the observed chest wall asymmetry and respiratory distress.

5. A client has a pulmonary embolism & is started on oxygen. The student nurse asks why the client's oxygen saturation has not significantly improved. What response by the nurse is best?

• A. Breathing so rapidly interferes with oxygenation.
• B. Maybe the client has respiratory distress syndrome.
• C. The blood clot interferes with perfusion in the lungs.
• D. The client needs immediate intubation & mechanical ventilation.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A large blood clot in the lungs will significantly impair gas exchange & oxygenation. Unless the clot is dissolved, this process will continue unabated.

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