Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is assessing an 18-year-old female who has recently suffered a TBI. The nurse notes a slower pulse and impaired respiration. The nurse should report these findings immediately to the physician due to the possibility the patient is experiencing which of the following conditions?

• A. Increased intracranial pressure
• B. Increased function of cranial nerve X
• C. Sympathetic response to activity
• D. Meningitis

Correct answer: Increased intracranial pressure

Rationale: The nurse should report the slower pulse and impaired respiration to the physician immediately as they are indicative of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These signs suggest that there may be a rise in pressure within the skull, which can be a life-threatening condition requiring urgent intervention. Options B and C are unlikely in this scenario as they do not correlate with the symptoms presented. Meningitis (Option D) typically presents with different signs and symptoms, such as fever, headache, and neck stiffness, which are not described in the patient's case.

2. Which of the following nursing diagnoses is most appropriate for the client experiencing acute pancreatitis?

• A. Confusion
• B. Latex Allergy
• C. Acute Pain
• D. Constipation

Correct answer: Acute Pain

Rationale: Acute Pain is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for a client experiencing acute pancreatitis because it is a common symptom associated with this condition. Pancreatitis often presents with severe abdominal pain that may radiate to the back. Confusion, Latex Allergy, and Constipation are not typically associated with acute pancreatitis. Confusion may occur in severe cases of pancreatitis with complications, but acute pain is the priority nursing diagnosis due to its prevalence and impact on the client's well-being.

3. A nurse is instructing a patient on the order of sensations with the application of an ice water bath for a swollen right ankle. Which of the following is the correct order of sensations experienced with an ice water bath?

• A. cold, burning, aching, and numbness
• B. burning, aching, cold, and numbness
• C. aching, cold, burning, and numbness
• D. cold, aching, burning, and numbness

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct order of sensations experienced with an ice water bath is cold, burning, aching, and numbness, as stated by the acronym CBAN (cold, burn, ache, numbness). Option A is the correct sequence. Choice B is incorrect as it starts with burning, which typically follows the cold sensation. Choice C is incorrect as aching is usually felt after the burning sensation. Choice D is incorrect as aching usually occurs after the burning sensation.

4. A client arrives in the emergency department after severely lacerating the left hand with a knife. HR 96, BP 150/88, R36. The client is extremely anxious and crying uncontrollably. Based on this assessment, the nurse anticipates that this client would be in which acid-base imbalance?

• A. Respiratory acidosis
• B. Respiratory alkalosis
• C. Metabolic acidosis
• D. Metabolic alkalosis

Correct answer: Respiratory alkalosis

Rationale: The correct answer is respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation due to anxiety, pain, shock, severe infection, fever, or liver failure can lead to respiratory alkalosis. In this scenario, the client is extremely anxious and crying uncontrollably, indicating an increased respiratory rate and CO2 loss. Respiratory acidosis (choice A) is incorrect as it is characterized by an increase in CO2 levels, not a loss. Metabolic acidosis (choice C) involves a decrease in blood pH due to an accumulation of acids or loss of bicarbonate, which is not the case here. Metabolic alkalosis (choice D) results from excess bicarbonate or a loss of acids, not from increased CO2 loss due to hyperventilation.

5. During a home health visit, a nurse consults with a male patient diagnosed with CAD and COPD who is taking Ventolin, Azmacort, Aspirin, and Theophylline and complains of upset stomach, nausea, and discomfort. What should the nurse do?

• A. Contact the patient’s physician immediately
• B. Recommend the patient lie on his right side
• C. Advise the patient to schedule a doctor’s visit the next day
• D. Suggest holding the drug Azmacort

Correct answer: Contact the patient’s physician immediately

Rationale: The correct answer is to contact the patient’s physician immediately. The patient's symptoms of upset stomach, nausea, and discomfort could indicate theophylline toxicity, a potentially serious condition. It is crucial to consult the physician promptly to address this issue. Option B, recommending the patient lie on his right side, is incorrect as it does not address the potential theophylline toxicity and is not a priority. Option C, advising the patient to schedule a doctor’s visit the next day, is inappropriate as the symptoms may indicate an urgent concern. Option D, suggesting holding the drug Azmacort, is incorrect as it does not address the potential theophylline toxicity and should not be done without consulting the physician first.

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