Nursing Elites

1. A client with a closed chest tube drainage system accidentally disconnects the chest tube while being turned by the nurse. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Submerge the end of the chest tube in a bottle of sterile water
• B. Clamp the chest tube with a Kelly clamp
• C. Call the health care provider
• D. Instruct the client to inhale and hold his breath

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a chest tube becomes disconnected, the priority action is to immediately reattach it to the drainage system or submerge the end in a bottle of sterile water or saline solution to reestablish a water seal. This helps prevent air from entering the pleural space and causing complications. Calling the health care provider is important but not the first action in this emergency. Instructing the client to inhale and hold his breath should be avoided as it can introduce atmospheric air into the pleural space, leading to potential issues. Clamping the chest tube is generally contraindicated, especially in cases of residual air leak or pneumothorax, as it may result in a tension pneumothorax by preventing air from escaping.

2. Nurses caring for clients who have cancer and are taking opioids need to assess for all of the following except:

• A. tolerance.
• B. constipation.
• C. sedation.
• D. addiction.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When caring for clients with cancer who are taking opioids, nurses need to assess for tolerance, constipation, and sedation as these are common side effects of opioid use. Addiction, however, is not a primary concern when treating pain in terminally ill clients. Terminally ill patients are usually not at risk of developing addiction to opioids due to their short life expectancy and the focus on pain management rather than the potential for addiction. Therefore, the correct answer is 'addiction.' Choices A, B, and C are essential considerations when managing clients on opioids for pain control.

3. In an emergency situation where a client is unconscious and requires immediate surgery, what action is necessary with regard to informed consent?

• A. The healthcare team will proceed with the surgery as consent is not needed in emergencies.
• B. The healthcare team will wait until the client's family can be contacted for consent.
• C. The healthcare team will contact the hospital clergy to provide informed consent.
• D. The healthcare team will obtain consent from the client's legal guardian before proceeding.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In emergency situations where obtaining consent is not possible due to the client's condition, healthcare providers are allowed to perform life-saving procedures without informed consent. It is assumed that the client would want to receive necessary treatment to save their life. Therefore, the correct action is for the healthcare team to proceed with the surgery as consent is not needed. Waiting to contact the client's family for consent can delay life-saving treatment, risking the client's life. Contacting the hospital clergy for consent is unnecessary and can cause further delays. Obtaining consent from the client's legal guardian is not feasible in this critical situation and may lead to a delay in providing essential care.

4. To assess a client's ankle ROM, which ROM exercises should the nurse have them perform?

• A. flexion, extension, hyperextension
• B. flexion, extension, abduction, adduction
• C. external rotation, internal rotation
• D. extension, flexion, inversion, eversion

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is extension, flexion, inversion, and eversion. These exercises help assess the full range of motion of the ankles. Flexion and extension evaluate the bending and straightening movements of the ankle joint, respectively. Inversion and eversion assess the inward and outward movements of the foot at the ankle joint. Hyperextension, abduction, and adduction are not specific movements of the ankle joint, making choices A and B incorrect. External and internal rotation are movements more related to joints like the hip or shoulder, not the ankle, making choice C incorrect.

5. When observing a dressing change by a graduate nurse on a Stage III pressure ulcer to the greater trochanter by the staff nurse, a need for further teaching is indicated after the following observation by the nurse:

• A. The new graduate nurse irrigates the pressure ulcer with 50cc of NS.
• B. The new graduate irrigates the pressure ulcer with half-strength hydrogen peroxide.
• C. The new graduate packs the wound with sterile kerlix soaked in NS.
• D. The new graduate applies a Duoderm dressing over the wound after cleansing.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is that the new graduate irrigates the pressure ulcer with half-strength hydrogen peroxide. Pressure ulcers should not be cleaned with substances that are cytotoxic, such as hydrogen peroxide or betadine. This can cause further damage to the wound and delay the healing process. Choice A is incorrect because irrigating the pressure ulcer with normal saline is an appropriate practice. Choice C is incorrect because packing the wound with sterile kerlix soaked in normal saline is also an appropriate step. Choice D is incorrect because applying a Duoderm dressing after cleansing is a standard procedure in wound care.

Similar Questions