a nurse in the pacu is caring for a client who reports nausea which of the following actions should the nurse take first
Logo

Nursing Elites

ATI RN

ATI Exit Exam

1. A nurse in the PACU is caring for a client who reports nausea. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct action the nurse should take first when a client reports nausea in the PACU is to turn the client on their side. This action helps prevent aspiration in a client with nausea, reducing the risk of choking or inhaling vomitus. Administering an analgesic (Choice B) is not the priority in this situation unless pain is the primary cause of nausea. While administering an antiemetic (Choice C) can help relieve nausea, it is not the initial action to prevent aspiration. Monitoring the client's vital signs (Choice D) is important but should come after ensuring the client's safety by turning them on their side.

2. What is the best way to manage a patient's pain postoperatively?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer analgesics regularly. Postoperative pain management often requires a scheduled, around-the-clock administration of analgesics to maintain a consistent level of pain relief and minimize the risk of breakthrough pain. Choice B, administering pain medication PRN (as needed), may lead to inadequate pain control as the medication is not given preemptively. Choice C, encouraging deep breathing exercises, can be beneficial for pain management but should be used as an adjunct to analgesic therapy. Choice D, providing distraction techniques, may help some patients cope with pain but should not be the primary method of pain management postoperatively.

3. A client has a new prescription for enoxaparin. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because enoxaparin should be injected into the abdomen to ensure proper absorption. Choice A is incorrect as enoxaparin should not be taken with food. Choice B is incorrect as enoxaparin should be injected subcutaneously, not into the muscle. Choice C is incorrect as massaging the injection site after administering enoxaparin is not recommended.

4. A client who has a new prescription for spironolactone is being taught by a nurse. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because clients taking spironolactone should have their potassium levels checked regularly. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it helps the body retain potassium and can lead to hyperkalemia if levels become too high. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because avoiding foods high in potassium, sodium, or monitoring blood pressure are not specific to the teaching related to spironolactone.

5. What is the best intervention for a patient experiencing respiratory distress?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering oxygen is the best intervention for a patient experiencing respiratory distress because it helps improve oxygenation. Oxygen therapy is the initial and priority intervention to ensure an adequate oxygen supply to the body tissues. Administering bronchodilators (Choice B) may be appropriate for specific respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD but is not the first-line intervention in all cases of respiratory distress. Administering IV fluids (Choice C) is not a standard intervention for respiratory distress unless there is an underlying cause like dehydration. Repositioning the patient (Choice D) can aid in optimizing ventilation but is not the primary intervention for respiratory distress.

Similar Questions

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous enteral feeding through a nasogastric tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent aspiration?
A nurse is caring for an infant who has coarctation of the aorta. Which of the following should the nurse identify as an expected finding?
A healthcare professional is assessing a client who has chronic kidney disease. Which of the following findings should the healthcare professional report to the provider?
A nurse is caring for a client who has deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and is receiving heparin therapy. Which of the following laboratory values indicates that the client's heparin therapy is effective?
A client with heart failure is being assessed by a nurse. Which of the following findings indicates the client is experiencing fluid overload?

Access More Features

ATI RN Basic
$69.99/ 30 days

  • 5,000 Questions with answers
  • All ATI courses Coverage
  • 30 days access

ATI RN Premium
$149.99/ 90 days

  • 5,000 Questions with answers
  • All ATI courses Coverage
  • 30 days access

Other Courses