Nursing Elites

1. A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to care for a client who arrived via ambulance. The client is disoriented and has a cardiac arrhythmia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Proceed with treatment without obtaining written consent
• B. Contact the client's next of kin to obtain consent for treatment
• C. Have the client sign a consent for treatment
• D. Notify risk management before initiating treatment

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In emergency situations where a client is disoriented and has a cardiac arrhythmia, obtaining written consent may not be possible due to the urgency of the situation. The priority is to provide immediate treatment to ensure patient safety. Contacting the next of kin or having the client sign a consent form would cause unnecessary delays in providing critical care. Notifying risk management before initiating treatment is not the most appropriate action when dealing with a time-sensitive situation like a cardiac arrhythmia.

2. A nurse is supervising an assistive personnel (AP) who is feeding a client who has dysphagia. Which of the following actions by the AP should the nurse identify as correct technique?

• A. Elevating the head of the client's bed to 30 degrees during mealtime
• B. Withholding fluids until the end of the meal
• C. Providing a 10-minute rest period prior to meals
• D. Instructing the client to place her chin toward her chest when swallowing

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct technique for a client with dysphagia is to instruct them to place their chin toward their chest when swallowing. This action helps to close off the airway during swallowing, reducing the risk of aspiration. Elevating the head of the client's bed to 30 degrees during mealtime helps prevent aspiration, but this is not the responsibility of the AP. Withholding fluids until the end of the meal can lead to dehydration and is not a recommended practice. Providing a 10-minute rest period prior to meals is not specifically related to improving swallowing safety for clients with dysphagia.

3. A nurse reviews a client's laboratory report and notes that the client's serum phosphorus level is 2.0 mg/dL. Which condition most likely caused this serum phosphorus level?

• A. Alcoholism
• B. Renal insufficiency
• C. Hypoparathyroidism
• D. Tumor lysis syndrome

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Alcoholism. Alcoholism can lead to hypophosphatemia due to poor dietary intake and other factors. Excessive alcohol consumption can result in malnutrition, particularly a deficiency in phosphorus. Choices B, C, and D are unlikely to cause low serum phosphorus levels. Renal insufficiency is more likely to cause hyperphosphatemia, hypoparathyroidism is associated with hypocalcemia rather than hypophosphatemia, and tumor lysis syndrome typically presents with hyperphosphatemia due to the release of intracellular phosphate.

4. Which of the following is a benefit of the U.S. health-care system?

• A. With cost savings from technology, more Americans now have health-care insurance.
• B. Quality of care has improved in the United States.
• C. Care in the United States has shifted to a prevention focus rather than an illness focus.
• D. The use of technology is projected to decrease health-care costs and improve clinical outcomes.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the use of technology and electronic health records is projected to decrease health-care costs and improve clinical outcomes, quality, and safety. Choice A is incorrect because it states that very few Americans have no health-care insurance, which is not a benefit of the U.S. health-care system. Choice B may be true, but it does not directly address a benefit of the health-care system. Choice C is not necessarily a benefit but rather a shift in focus, so it is also incorrect.

5. You have just learned that another nurse was fired for taking photographs of patients without their permission using a cell phone and posting them on Facebook. This nurse was fired because the nurse had:

• A. Violated the law
• B. Acted in a negligent manner
• C. Not completed the proper documentation
• D. Violated an ethical principle

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Violated the law. Taking and sharing patient photographs without consent is a violation of patient privacy laws, hence the nurse was fired for breaking the law. Choice B, acting in a negligent manner, is incorrect as the nurse's actions were intentional and not due to negligence. Choice C, not completing proper documentation, is unrelated to the situation described. Choice D, violating an ethical principle, is not specific enough as the primary reason for the nurse's termination was the legal breach regarding patient privacy.

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