Nursing Elites

1. A client with heart failure expresses feelings of burden and thoughts of death to a nurse. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Would you like to talk more about this?
• B. You are lucky to have such a devoted daughter.
• C. It is normal to feel as though you are a burden.
• D. Would you like to meet with the chaplain?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Depression can occur in clients with heart failure, especially in older adults. When a client expresses thoughts of being a burden and death, it is crucial for the nurse to address these concerns. Offering to talk more about the client's feelings provides an opportunity for open communication and a deeper understanding of the client's emotions. Open-ended questions like the one in choice A encourage the client to express themselves freely, leading to better assessment and client-centered care. Choices B and C fail to address the client's emotional distress directly, and choice D diverts the focus without addressing the client's immediate concerns.

2. A client with a tracheostomy experienced a coughing spell during a meal that was being fed by an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). What action by the nurse takes priority?

• A. Assess the client's lung sounds.
• B. Assign a different UAP to the client.
• C. Report the UAP to the manager.
• D. Request thicker liquids for meals.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The priority action for the nurse is to assess the client's lung sounds to check for signs of aspiration, which can compromise the client's oxygenation. This is crucial to ensure the client's immediate safety and respiratory status. Once the client has been assessed, the nurse can then consider consulting with the registered dietitian regarding appropriate thickened liquids for future meals. Assigning a different UAP or reporting the UAP to the manager may be necessary steps but not the immediate priority in this situation.

3. A client has burns to his face, ears, and eyelids. What is the priority finding for the nurse to report to the provider?

• A. Urinary output of 25 mL/hr
• B. Difficulty swallowing
• C. Heart rate of 122/min
• D. Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a client has burns involving the face, ears, and eyelids, the priority finding to report to the provider is difficulty swallowing. This symptom could indicate potential airway compromise or swelling in the throat, which can lead to serious complications. Monitoring and addressing this issue promptly is crucial to ensure the client's airway remains patent and secure.

4. During an assessment, a client with a long history of smoking and suspected laryngeal cancer will most likely report which early manifestation?

• A. Dysphagia
• B. Hoarseness
• C. Dyspnea
• D. Weight loss

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In clients with laryngeal cancer, hoarseness is often one of the earliest manifestations due to vocal cord involvement. The irritation and inflammation caused by the tumor affect the vocal cords, leading to changes in voice quality. Dysphagia (choice A) typically occurs later as the tumor grows and interferes with swallowing. Dyspnea (choice C) and weight loss (choice D) may occur as the cancer progresses, but hoarseness is usually among the first signs to manifest in laryngeal cancer.

5. A nurse is assessing a client with a history of seizures. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?

• A. The client is experiencing an aura.
• B. The client's antiseizure medication level is within the therapeutic range.
• C. The client has been seizure-free for 2 years.
• D. The client's seizure activity lasts longer than 5 minutes.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Seizure activity lasting longer than 5 minutes requires immediate intervention as it can lead to status epilepticus, a medical emergency.

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