Nursing Elites

1. A client had a mastectomy 6 months ago and expresses a decreased desire for sexual relations, stating “My body is so different now.” Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

• A. “Really, you look just fine to me. There’s no need to feel undesirable.”
• B. “I’m interested in finding out more about how your body feels to you.”
• C. “Consider an afternoon at a spa; a facial will make you feel more attractive.”
• D. “It’s still too soon to expect to feel normal. Give it a little more time.”

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In this situation, the appropriate response is to reflect on the client’s feelings and explore their experience. Choice A may unintentionally dismiss the client's concerns by not addressing their emotional needs. Choice C suggests a spa treatment as a solution without addressing the underlying emotional issues. Choice D implies that the client's feelings will resolve with time, which may not be helpful in addressing the client's current emotional state.

2. A client has a sodium level of 125. What findings should the nurse expect?

• A. Abdominal cramping
• B. Elevated blood pressure
• C. Decreased heart rate
• D. Increased thirst

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Low sodium levels (hyponatremia) often present with various symptoms, including abdominal cramping. Abdominal cramping is a common manifestation of hyponatremia due to the altered electrolyte balance. Option B ('Elevated blood pressure') is incorrect because low sodium levels typically lead to decreased blood pressure, not elevated. Option C ('Decreased heart rate') is incorrect as low sodium levels are more likely to cause an irregular heart rate rather than a decreased heart rate. Option D ('Increased thirst') is incorrect because excessive thirst is more commonly associated with high sodium levels (hypernatremia) rather than low sodium levels.

3. A mother of a child with a neural tube defect asks the nurse what she can do to decrease the chances of having another baby with a neural tube defect. What is the best response by the nurse?

• A. Folic acid should be taken before and after conception.
• B. Multivitamin supplements are recommended during pregnancy.
• C. A well-balanced diet promotes normal fetal development.
• D. Increased dietary iron improves the health of mother and fetus.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Folic acid should be taken before and after conception.' Folic acid supplementation before and during early pregnancy has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Choice B is incorrect because while multivitamin supplements are beneficial during pregnancy, the specific focus for preventing neural tube defects is on folic acid. Choice C is a general statement about a well-balanced diet and does not specifically address neural tube defects. Choice D is incorrect as it focuses on dietary iron, which is important for overall health but not specifically proven to prevent neural tube defects.

4. A client who is unstable and requires frequent vital signs has an electronic blood pressure machine automatically measuring his blood pressure every 15 min. However, the machine is reading the client’s blood pressure at more frequent intervals, and the readings are not similar. The nurse checks the machine settings and observes the additional readings, but the problem continues. Which of the following is the appropriate nursing action?

• A. Notify the manufacturer
• B. Disconnect the machine, and measure the blood pressure manually every 15 min
• C. Adjust the machine settings again
• D. Ignore the extra readings

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct action in this scenario is to disconnect the electronic blood pressure machine and measure the client's blood pressure manually every 15 minutes. Given that the machine is malfunctioning and providing inconsistent readings, relying on manual measurements ensures accuracy and maintains the quality of care. Notifying the manufacturer (Choice A) may be necessary in the long run, but the immediate concern is the accuracy of the vital signs. Adjusting the machine settings again (Choice C) without resolving the underlying issue would not address the problem. Ignoring the extra readings (Choice D) could lead to incorrect assessment and compromise patient care. Therefore, the best course of action is to disconnect the machine and opt for manual blood pressure measurements until the issue is resolved.

5. A client is scheduled for hip surgery in an hour. Which of the following actions is the nurse’s priority?

• A. Ensure that the client signs the consent form.
• B. Lock the client’s valuables in a secure location.
• C. Verify the client’s lab values in the medical record.
• D. Administer the prescribed preoperative sedative.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The nurse’s priority is to ensure that the client signs the consent form before the hip surgery. This is crucial as it ensures that the client has provided informed consent for the procedure. Locking valuables, verifying lab values, and administering sedatives are important tasks but ensuring consent takes precedence as it directly impacts the client’s right to make decisions about their care.

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