Nursing Elites

1. A client has applied a cold pack to their arm to help decrease swelling and inflammation after an injury. Which of the following signs indicates that the cold pack should be removed?

• A. The skin on the arm appears mottled
• B. The cold pack has been in place for 10 minutes
• C. The client complains of feeling nauseated
• D. The capillary refill in the area distal to the arm is 2 seconds

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When using a cold pack for therapeutic purposes, it is essential to monitor the site to prevent tissue damage. Prolonged use of cold therapy can lead to pale, mottled skin with a bluish appearance. This change in skin color indicates poor circulation, and the cold pack should be removed immediately to prevent tissue injury. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the duration of cold pack application, client complaints of nausea, and capillary refill time do not specifically indicate the need for the cold pack to be removed due to potential tissue damage.

2. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to reduce environmental stimuli that may cause discomfort for a client?

• A. Loosen pressure dressings on wounds
• B. Use assistance to lift a client in bed
• C. Check temperature of water used in a sponge bath
• D. Position the client in a prone position

Correct answer: C

Rationale: To reduce environmental stimuli that may cause discomfort for a client, nurses can implement various interventions. Checking the temperature of the water used in a sponge bath is crucial to prevent burns from water that is too hot or discomfort from water that is too cold. This intervention addresses a common source of discomfort for clients during personal care. Loosening pressure dressings on wounds, although important for wound care, does not directly address environmental stimuli. Using assistance to lift a client in bed is about proper positioning and preventing injury rather than reducing environmental stimuli. Positioning the client prone is not a suitable intervention for reducing discomfort caused by environmental stimuli.

3. The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient. What would the nurse do next?

• A. Auscultate over the area with a fetoscope.
• B. Use a goniometer to measure the pulsations.
• C. Use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area.
• D. Check for the presence of pulsations with a stethoscope.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When a nurse is unable to palpate a radial pulse, the next step is to use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area. Doppler devices are specifically designed to augment pulse or blood pressure measurements. Auscultating with a fetoscope is used to listen to fetal heart tones and is not relevant in this scenario. Goniometers are used to measure joint range of motion and are not used to assess pulses. Stethoscopes are primarily used to auscultate breath, bowel, and heart sounds, not to check for pulsations in peripheral pulses. Therefore, the correct course of action when unable to palpate a pulse is to utilize a Doppler device to assess for pulsations in the radial pulse area.

4. Which technique of assessment will the healthcare provider use to determine the presence of crepitus, swelling, and pulsations?

• A. Palpation
• B. Inspection
• C. Percussion
• D. Auscultation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Palpation involves using the sense of touch to assess various characteristics such as texture, temperature, moisture, organ location and size, as well as detecting swelling, pulsations, vibrations, rigidity, crepitus, lumps, masses, and tenderness or pain. In this scenario, the healthcare provider would utilize palpation to physically feel for crepitus, swelling, and pulsations. Inspection primarily relies on visual assessment, percussion involves assessing through palpable vibrations and audible sounds, and auscultation uses the sense of hearing. Therefore, the correct answer is palpation for assessing the presence of crepitus, swelling, and pulsations.

5. Rales and rhonchi are frequently noted during an examination of lung sounds. What is the difference between the two?

• A. Rales are louder.
• B. Rhonchi are noted only in infants.
• C. Rales occur on inspiration, rhonchi on expiration.
• D. Rales are noted only in infants.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is that rales occur on inspiration, while rhonchi occur on expiration. Rales are typically heard during inhalation when there is fluid in the alveoli or air passages. Rhonchi, on the other hand, are caused by air passing through obstructed airways during exhalation due to secretions in the respiratory tract. Choice A is incorrect because the loudness of the sounds is not the primary distinguishing factor between rales and rhonchi. Choice B is incorrect as rhonchi can be heard in individuals beyond infancy. Choice D is incorrect as rales can be present in patients of various age groups, not just infants.

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