a nurse is assigned to care for a client with unstable blood pressure what should the nurse do first
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Nursing Elites

ATI RN

RN ATI Capstone Proctored Comprehensive Assessment A

1. A nurse is assigned to care for a client with unstable blood pressure. What should the nurse do first?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the case of a client with unstable blood pressure, the priority action for the nurse is to continuously monitor the client's vital signs. This allows for immediate detection of any fluctuations in blood pressure and timely intervention if necessary. Choice A, monitoring every two hours, may not provide real-time information needed for prompt intervention. Choices C and D suggest waiting for instructions from the healthcare provider, which could cause a delay in addressing the unstable blood pressure, potentially leading to adverse outcomes. Therefore, the most appropriate initial action is to continuously monitor the client's vital signs.

2. A client had a left hip arthroplasty. Which of the following interventions should the nurse use to prevent dislocation?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to maintain a foam wedge between the legs. This intervention helps prevent hip dislocation by maintaining proper leg alignment after surgery. Monitoring for shortening of the affected leg (choice B) is not directly related to preventing dislocation. Encouraging the use of elastic stockings (choice C) is more related to preventing deep vein thrombosis rather than dislocation. Avoiding flexing the hips more than 60 degrees (choice D) is important post-surgery, but it is not the most direct intervention to prevent dislocation.

3. A patient has an ankle restraint applied. Upon assessment, the nurse finds the toes a light blue color. Which action will the nurse take next?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to remove the restraint (Choice D). Cyanosis of the toes, indicated by a light blue color, suggests impaired circulation. The priority action is to ensure proper circulation by removing the restraint to prevent further compromise. Choices A and B are not the immediate actions needed for cyanosis related to impaired circulation. Choice C, placing a blanket over the feet, does not address the underlying issue of impaired circulation and could delay appropriate intervention.

4. When administering an IM injection into a client's deltoid muscle, which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to inject the medication at a 90-degree angle when administering an IM injection into the deltoid muscle. This angle ensures proper delivery of the medication into the muscle tissue. Choice A is incorrect because the gauge of the needle for a deltoid IM injection is usually smaller, around 23-25 gauge. Choices C and D are incorrect as the injection site for the deltoid muscle is approximately 2.54 cm (1 in) below the acromion process, not 12.7 cm (5 in).

5. A healthcare provider writes a medication order that seems excessively high for the patient's condition. What is the nurse's first step?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct first step for the nurse when encountering a medication order that appears excessively high for the patient's condition is to hold the medication and consult the provider. Administering the medication immediately (Choice A) without clarification could pose a risk to the patient's safety. Reducing the dose without consulting the provider (Choice C) is not recommended as it may lead to suboptimal treatment. Administering the medication after double-checking with another nurse (Choice D) is not sufficient; consulting the provider directly is crucial to ensure the accuracy and safety of the medication order.

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