Nursing Elites

1. A client has just started a transfusion of packed red blood cells that a physician ordered. Which of the following signs may indicate a transfusion reaction?

• A. The client suddenly complains of back pain and has chills
• B. The client develops dependent edema in the extremities
• C. The client has a seizure
• D. The client's heart rate drops to 60 bpm

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is when the client suddenly complains of back pain and has chills. Signs of a transfusion reaction include back pain, chills, dizziness, increased temperature, and blood in the urine. These signs indicate a possible adverse reaction to the blood transfusion. Dependent edema in the extremities is not typically associated with a transfusion reaction. A seizure is not a common sign of a transfusion reaction unless it is due to severe complications. A decrease in heart rate to 60 bpm is not a typical sign of a transfusion reaction, but rather bradycardia may indicate other underlying conditions or medications.

2. A patient's nursing diagnosis is Insomnia. The desired outcome is: 'Patient will sleep for a minimum of 5 hours nightly by October 31.' On November 1, a review of the sleep data shows the patient sleeps an average of 4 hours nightly and takes a 2-hour afternoon nap. Which evaluation should be documented?

• A. Consistently demonstrated
• B. Often demonstrated
• C. Sometimes demonstrated
• D. Never demonstrated

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Never demonstrated.' Despite the patient sleeping a total of 6 hours daily, it is not achieved in one uninterrupted session at night as per the desired outcome. The patient's habit of taking a 2-hour afternoon nap also affects the evaluation. Therefore, the outcome should be evaluated as 'Never demonstrated.' Choice A, 'Consistently demonstrated,' is incorrect because the desired outcome of sleeping for a minimum of 5 hours nightly in one session is not met. Choice B, 'Often demonstrated,' is incorrect as the patient's sleep pattern does not consistently align with the desired outcome. Choice C, 'Sometimes demonstrated,' is also incorrect as the patient's sleep pattern does not meet the specific criteria set in the desired outcome.

3. Your elderly patient has a temperature of 98.5 degrees. Is there anything else that a nurse should do, in addition to documenting this temperature?

• A. No, this temperature is within normal limits.
• B. No, this temperature is normally hyperthermic.
• C. Yes, this temperature is highly hyperthermic.
• D. Yes, this temperature is highly hypothermic.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: No, there is nothing else that a nurse should do. A temperature of 98.5 degrees for an elderly patient falls within normal limits. Other choices are incorrect because the temperature is not hyperthermic (abnormally high) or hypothermic (abnormally low), making choices B, C, and D inaccurate responses in this scenario.

4. During an assessment, a nurse asks a patient, "If you had fever and vomiting for 3 days, what would you do?"? Which aspect of the mental status examination is the nurse assessing?

• A. Behavior
• B. Cognition
• C. Affect and mood
• D. Perceptual disturbances

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The nurse is assessing cognition in this scenario. Cognition involves evaluating a patient's judgment and decision-making abilities. By asking the patient what they would do in a specific situation, the nurse aims to determine the patient's cognitive function. A correct response indicating intact cognition would involve a decision like 'Call my doctor.' If the patient suggests inappropriate actions like 'I would stop eating' or 'I would just wait and see what happened,' it would suggest impaired judgment. The other options, behavior, affect and mood, and perceptual disturbances, refer to different aspects of the mental status examination and are not directly assessed through this question.

5. 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.

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