Nursing Elites

1. When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Educate the family not to push the button for the client while the client is asleep.
• B. Explain to the client that vital signs will be monitored regularly due to being on a PCA pump.
• C. Instruct the client to push the button only when pain is above a 7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
• D. Adjust the basal rate and decrease the lock-out interval time if the client's pain level is too high.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, it is essential to adjust the settings if their pain level is not adequately controlled. Increasing the basal rate and shortening the lock-out interval time can help manage the client's pain more effectively. This adjustment should be made by the healthcare provider based on the client's pain assessment and response to the current settings. It is crucial to individualize the PCA pump settings to optimize pain management for each client. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because educating the family not to push the button, explaining vital sign monitoring, and setting a specific pain level for button pushing are not direct actions the nurse should take to adjust the PCA pump settings for effective pain management.

2. What is the primary goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

• A. To reduce healthcare costs
• B. To expand access to healthcare
• C. To improve healthcare quality
• D. To increase healthcare funding

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The primary goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to expand access to healthcare. While reducing healthcare costs and improving healthcare quality are important aspects, the ACA's main focus was on increasing the number of Americans with health insurance coverage and enhancing the availability and affordability of healthcare services. Increasing healthcare funding is not the primary goal of the ACA, as its main aim was to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for a larger portion of the population.

3. How will working in a high-volume, noisy emergency room in an urban area with a high incidence of assault victims affect staff?

• A. Feelings of extreme overload.
• B. Fear of failure.
• C. A pessimistic sense about the world.
• D. Inability to separate intense work situations from personal situations.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Working in a high-volume, noisy emergency room in an urban area with a high incidence of assault victims can lead to feelings of extreme overload, a pessimistic sense about the world, and an inability to separate intense work situations from personal situations. Fear of failure is not specifically mentioned in the context of the question, so it is the correct answer. The constant noises and intense emotional situations can create tension, stress, and negative reactions among staff. Managers can help by assessing the environment, labeling situations, and debriefing with staff to make them more aware of how stressors impact their behaviors.

4. The staff in the emergency department has presented the nurse leader with a suggestion for streamlining the triage process, cutting down on wait times. Which of the following qualities does the leader specifically need to implement the suggestion?

• A. Courage
• B. Integrity
• C. Energy
• D. Initiative

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Initiative is the correct quality needed in this situation. The staff has provided a suggestion for improvement, and the leader must take the initiative to implement it. Courage, integrity, and energy are valuable qualities as well but in this context, the most essential quality is initiative to drive the change forward and improve the triage process efficiently.

5. A 27-year-old patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has a serum glucose level of 732 mg/dL and serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. Which action prescribed by the healthcare provider should the nurse take first?

• A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor
• B. Administer IV potassium supplements
• C. Obtain urine glucose and ketone levels
• D. Start an insulin infusion at 0.1 units/kg/hr

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the initial priority is to assess for any cardiac arrhythmias due to electrolyte imbalances. Since the patient has a low serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L, placing the patient on a cardiac monitor is crucial to monitor for any potential cardiac complications. Administering IV potassium supplements (Choice B) may be needed, but it is not the first action to take. Obtaining urine glucose and ketone levels (Choice C) and starting an insulin infusion (Choice D) are important interventions in managing DKA, but ensuring patient safety by monitoring for arrhythmias takes precedence.

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