Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is planning care for a client who has cirrhosis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?

• A. Limit the client's sodium intake to 4 grams per day.
• B. Measure the client's abdominal girth daily.
• C. Monitor the client's urine specific gravity every 12 hours.
• D. Encourage the client to drink 3 liters of fluid per day.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to measure the client's abdominal girth daily. Measuring abdominal girth helps monitor for ascites, a common complication of cirrhosis. Limiting sodium intake is important in cirrhosis but there is no specific value given, making choice A less precise. Monitoring urine specific gravity is not directly related to cirrhosis management, making choice C incorrect. Encouraging the client to drink 3 liters of fluid per day may not be suitable for all patients with cirrhosis, especially those with fluid restrictions, so choice D is not the most appropriate intervention.

2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 hour postoperative following a thoracentesis. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

• A. Oxygen saturation of 96%
• B. Tracheal deviation
• C. Pain level of 4 on a scale of 0 to 10
• D. Temperature of 37.4°C (99.3°F)

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Tracheal deviation is the correct finding to report to the provider. It can indicate a pneumothorax, which is a serious complication following a thoracentesis that requires immediate attention. Oxygen saturation of 96% is within the normal range and does not indicate an immediate issue. A pain level of 4 on a scale of 0 to 10 is subjective and may not be related to a serious complication. A temperature of 37.4°C (99.3°F) is slightly elevated but not a priority over tracheal deviation in this context.

3. A client has a new diagnosis of hypertension and is being taught about lifestyle changes by a nurse. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Increase your sodium intake to 3,000 mg per day.
• B. Exercise for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.
• C. Sleep for at least 10 hours each night.
• D. Limit your fluid intake to 1 liter per day.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: "Exercise for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week." Regular exercise helps promote cardiovascular health and manage hypertension. Choice A is incorrect because increasing sodium intake is not recommended for hypertension. Choice C is incorrect because while sleep is important, excessive sleep duration is not typically part of hypertension management. Choice D is incorrect because fluid intake should be adequate unless advised otherwise by a healthcare provider.

4. A nurse is preparing to administer an IM injection to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Massage the injection site after administering the medication.
• B. Insert the needle at a 45° angle.
• C. Use a Z-track technique to administer the injection.
• D. Aspirate for blood before injecting the medication.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Use a Z-track technique to administer the injection.' When administering IM injections, using a Z-track technique helps prevent medication from leaking into subcutaneous tissues. This technique involves pulling the skin laterally, injecting the medication deeply into the muscle, and then releasing the skin. Choice A is incorrect because massaging the injection site after administering the medication can lead to increased blood flow and potential leakage of the medication. Choice B is incorrect as the needle should typically be inserted at a 90° angle for IM injections to ensure proper delivery into the muscle. Choice D is incorrect as aspirating for blood before injecting the medication is not routinely recommended for IM injections.

5. A client receiving morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) should have naloxone administered if their respiratory rate is below 10/min. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Monitor the client's blood pressure every 4 hours.
• B. Ask the client to rate their pain every 2 hours.
• C. Administer naloxone if the client's respiratory rate is below 10/min.
• D. Evaluate the client's use of the PCA every 4 hours.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to administer naloxone if the client's respiratory rate falls below 10/min. Naloxone is used to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression, which is a life-threatening situation. Monitoring the client's blood pressure every 4 hours (Choice A) is not the priority in this scenario as respiratory depression requires immediate attention. Asking the client to rate their pain every 2 hours (Choice B) is important for pain management but addressing respiratory depression takes precedence. Evaluating the client's use of the PCA every 4 hours (Choice D) is a routine nursing intervention but does not directly address the urgent need to reverse respiratory depression in this case.

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