Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is assessing a client who is 48 hours postoperative following abdominal surgery. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

• A. Serosanguineous drainage on the surgical dressing.
• B. Temperature of 37.8°C (100°F).
• C. Urine output of 75 mL in the past 4 hours.
• D. WBC count of 15,000/mm³.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. An elevated WBC count can indicate a potential infection, especially in a postoperative client. This finding should be reported to the provider for further evaluation and management. Choices A, B, and C are common occurrences in postoperative clients and may not necessarily indicate a severe issue. Serosanguineous drainage on the surgical dressing is a normal finding in the immediate postoperative period. A temperature of 37.8°C (100°F) can be a mild fever, which is common postoperatively due to the body's response to tissue injury. Urine output of 75 mL in the past 4 hours may be within normal limits for a postoperative client, especially if they are still recovering from anesthesia.

2. A client sustained a major burn over 20% of the body. What intervention should the nurse implement to meet the client's nutritional needs?

• A. Keep track of calorie intake for food and beverages.
• B. Provide a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet.
• C. Schedule meals at 6-hour intervals.
• D. Provide a high-protein, high-calorie diet.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to provide a high-protein, high-calorie diet for a client with major burns. This type of diet is essential to support healing and recovery. High-protein intake is crucial as it helps in tissue repair and wound healing, while high-calorie intake is necessary to meet the increased metabolic demands of the body during the healing process. Keeping track of calorie intake (Choice A) is important but doesn't address the specific needs of a burn patient. Providing a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet (Choice B) is not suitable for burn patients as they require adequate protein for wound healing. Scheduling meals at 6-hour intervals (Choice C) may be helpful for maintaining a consistent eating schedule, but it is not as crucial as providing the correct high-protein, high-calorie diet.

3. A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about ergonomic principles. Which of the following actions by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching?

• A. Stands with feet together when lifting a client up in bed.
• B. Raises the client's head of bed before pulling the client up.
• C. Uses a mechanical lift to move a client from bed to chair.
• D. Places a gait belt around the client's upper chest before assisting the client to stand.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because using a mechanical lift is an ergonomic practice that ensures safe body mechanics and prevents injuries. Choice A is incorrect as standing with feet together when lifting a client does not promote proper body mechanics. Choice B is incorrect as raising the client's head of bed before pulling the client up is not directly related to ergonomic principles. Choice D is incorrect as placing a gait belt around the client's upper chest is a safety measure for assisting with standing but does not address ergonomic principles.

4. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has had a stroke. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Avoid taking anticoagulant medication.
• B. Limit fluid intake to 1,000 mL per day.
• C. Avoid isometric exercises during recovery.
• D. Perform range-of-motion exercises daily.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Perform range-of-motion exercises daily. After a stroke, performing range-of-motion exercises can help prevent complications such as joint stiffness and contractures. Options A, B, and C are incorrect. Anticoagulant medications are often prescribed to prevent blood clots after a stroke, fluid intake should be adequate unless indicated otherwise, and isometric exercises can be beneficial during recovery.

5. What is the most important assessment for a patient post-surgery?

• A. Monitor vital signs
• B. Check surgical site for bleeding
• C. Check for abnormal breath sounds
• D. Check skin color

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor vital signs post-surgery. Vital signs provide crucial information about a patient's physiological status, helping detect early signs of complications such as shock, bleeding, or infection. Checking the surgical site for bleeding is important but falls secondary to monitoring vital signs, which give a broader overview of the patient's condition. Checking for abnormal breath sounds and skin color are also important assessments, but they are not as immediate and general as monitoring vital signs in detecting various post-surgical complications.

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