Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is evaluating a client receiving hemodialysis. Which of the following lab values requires immediate intervention?

• A. Sodium 135 mEq/L
• B. Potassium 6.5 mEq/L
• C. Calcium 9 mg/dL
• D. Chloride 98 mEq/L

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Potassium levels above 5.0 mEq/L can lead to cardiac issues, and a level of 6.5 mEq/L requires immediate intervention. Hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Choices A, C, and D are within normal ranges and do not require immediate intervention in the context of hemodialysis monitoring.

2. The nurse is admitting a patient with an infectious disease process. Which question will be most appropriate for a nurse to ask about the patient's susceptibility to this infectious process?

• A. Do you have any children living in your home?
• B. Do you have a spouse?
• C. Do you have a chronic disease?
• D. Do you have any religious beliefs that will influence your care?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Do you have a chronic disease?' Patients with chronic diseases are more susceptible to infections due to factors like general debilitation and nutritional impairment. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because having children in the home, having a spouse, or religious beliefs do not directly impact susceptibility to infectious diseases.

3. How should a healthcare professional respond to a patient experiencing hypoglycemia?

• A. Rechecking the blood glucose level in 15 minutes
• B. Encouraging the patient to eat a high-protein snack
• C. Administering 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates
• D. Administering glucagon if the patient is unconscious

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct response to a patient experiencing hypoglycemia is to administer 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates. This helps quickly increase the blood glucose levels in the patient, addressing the low blood sugar. Rechecking the blood glucose level in 15 minutes (Choice A) may delay necessary intervention, encouraging a high-protein snack (Choice B) is not recommended as it does not rapidly increase blood sugar levels, and administering glucagon if the patient is unconscious (Choice D) is typically done in severe cases of hypoglycemia when the patient is unable to eat or drink.

4. A nurse sees another nurse administering medication without using alcohol swabs. What is the first action the nurse should take?

• A. Ignore the situation to maintain a good working relationship.
• B. Report the behavior to the nurse manager.
• C. Ask the colleague to be more careful next time.
• D. Report the issue after speaking to other colleagues.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take when witnessing unsafe medication administration practices, such as not using alcohol swabs, is to report the behavior to the nurse manager immediately. Patient safety is the top priority, and any actions that compromise it must be addressed promptly. Ignoring the situation (Choice A) is not appropriate as it puts patients at risk. Asking the colleague to be more careful (Choice C) may not be effective in ensuring immediate correction of the unsafe practice. Reporting the issue after speaking to other colleagues (Choice D) delays necessary action and may compromise patient safety further.

5. After surgery, a patient is experiencing pain. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Administer pain medication as prescribed.
• B. Assess the patient's pain using a pain scale.
• C. Offer the patient non-pharmacological pain relief methods.
• D. Reassess the patient's pain level after 30 minutes.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the patient's pain using a pain scale. This is the priority action because it allows the nurse to obtain an objective measure of the patient's pain intensity. By accurately assessing the pain level, the nurse can determine the appropriate intervention, which may include administering pain medication as prescribed (choice A) or offering non-pharmacological pain relief methods (choice C). Reassessing the patient's pain level after 30 minutes (choice D) is important but comes after the initial assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions implemented.

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