Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who will be returning to a nursing unit following a percutaneous transhephatic cholangiogram. The nurse includes which intervention in the postprocedure plan of care?

• A. Place a sandbag over the insertion site.
• B. Allow the client bathroom privileges only.
• C. Encourage fluid intake.
• D. Allow the client to sit in a chair for meals.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Following this procedure, the nurse monitors the client’s vital signs closely for indications of hemorrhage and observes the needle insertion site for bleeding and bile leakage. A sandbag is placed over the insertion site to prevent bleeding. The client is maintained on bedrest, and oral intake is avoided in the immediate postprocedure period in case surgery is necessary to control hemorrhage of bile extravasation.

2. The client has been admitted with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The nurse would assess this client for pain that is:

• A. Severe and unrelenting, located in the epigastric area and radiating to the back.
• B. Severe and unrelenting, located in the left lower quadrant and radiating to the groin.
• C. Burning and aching, located in the epigastric area and radiating to the umbilicus.
• D. Burning and aching, located in the left lower quadrant and radiating to the hip.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Acute pancreatitis typically presents with severe, unrelenting pain in the epigastric area that radiates to the back. This pain is due to inflammation and autodigestion of the pancreas.

3. The nurse is caring for a client admitted to the hospital with a suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Which of the following laboratory results would the nurse expect to note if the client indeed has appendicitis?

• A. Leukopenia with a shift to the right
• B. Leukocytosis with a shift to the right
• C. Leukocytosis with a shift to the left
• D. Leukopenia with a shift to the left

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Laboratory findings do not establish the diagnosis of appendicitis, but often moderate elevation of the white blood cell count (leukocytosis) to 10,000 to 18,000 cells/mm3 occurs with a “shift to the left” (an increased number of immature white blood cells.).

4. A client is suspected of having hepatitis. Which diagnostic test results will assist in confirming this diagnosis?

• A. Decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• B. Elevated serum bilirubin
• C. Elevated hemoglobin
• D. Elevated blood urea nitrogen

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Laboratory indicators of hepatitis include elevated liver enzyme levels, elevated serum bilirubin levels, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and leucopenia. An elevated blood urea nitrogen may indicate renal dysfunction. A hemoglobin level is unrelated to this diagnosis.

5. Before administering an intermittent tube feeding through a nasogastric tube, the nurse assesses for gastric residual. The nurse understands that this procedure is important to

• A. Confirm proper nasogastric tube placement.
• B. Observe gastric contents.
• C. Assess fluid and electrolyte status.
• D. Evaluate absorption of the last feeding.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Evaluating the absorption of the last feeding is important because administration of a tube feeding to a full stomach could result in overdistention, thus predisposing the client to regurgitation and possible aspiration.

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