Nursing Elites

1. A healthcare professional is planning to assess the abdomen of a client who reports feeling bloated for several weeks. Which of the following methods of assessment should the healthcare professional use first?

• A. Inspection
• B. Palpation
• C. Auscultation
• D. Percussion

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Inspection is the initial step in abdominal assessment as it allows the healthcare professional to visually observe any abnormalities or signs of bloating. Palpation, auscultation, and percussion are subsequent assessment techniques that follow inspection. Palpation involves feeling for tenderness, masses, or organ enlargement; auscultation is listening for bowel sounds; and percussion is used to assess the density of underlying tissues or detect the presence of fluid or air in the abdomen. In the context of a client reporting bloating, the first step should be visual inspection to gather initial information. Palpation, auscultation, and percussion come after inspection to provide a more comprehensive assessment.

2. The healthcare provider is caring for a patient with a spinal cord injury and notices that the patient's hips have a tendency to rotate externally when the patient is supine. Which device will the healthcare provider use to help prevent injury secondary to this rotation?

• A. Hand rolls
• B. A trapeze bar
• C. A trochanter roll
• D. Hand-wrist splints

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A trochanter roll is the correct choice as it is used to prevent external rotation of the hips when the patient is in a supine position. Hand rolls (Choice A) are incorrect because they are used to prevent contractures of the fingers, wrist, and hand. A trapeze bar (Choice B) is not the correct option as it helps patients change positions in bed and aids with movement, not specifically for hip rotation. Hand-wrist splints (Choice D) are also incorrect as they are used to maintain the functional position of the wrist and hand, not to address hip rotation.

3. A client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery has an eviscerated wound. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Cover the incision with a moist sterile dressing.
• B. Notify the surgeon immediately.
• C. Assess the client's vital signs.
• D. Place the client in a supine position with knees bent.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The initial action the nurse should take after discovering a client's eviscerated wound is to cover the incision with a moist sterile dressing. This step is crucial to protect the exposed tissue, prevent infection, and create a conducive environment for healing. While notifying the surgeon is important, addressing the wound immediately takes precedence. Assessing vital signs is essential but should follow the immediate intervention of covering the wound. Placing the client in a supine position with knees bent is not the priority in managing an eviscerated wound; the first step is to cover the wound to protect the exposed tissue.

4. A client has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent infection?

• A. Ensure the catheter tubing is free of kinks.
• B. Clean the perineal area with antiseptic solution daily.
• C. Irrigate the catheter with normal saline every shift.
• D. Secure the catheter to the client's leg.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Cleaning the perineal area with antiseptic solution daily is essential to prevent infection when caring for a client with an indwelling urinary catheter. This practice helps reduce the risk of introducing pathogens into the urinary tract. Ensuring the catheter tubing is free of kinks (Choice A) is important for maintaining proper urine flow but is not directly related to preventing infection. Irrigating the catheter with normal saline every shift (Choice C) is not a routine practice and can increase the risk of introducing pathogens. Securing the catheter to the client's leg (Choice D) is important for stability but does not directly prevent infection.

5. When providing postmortem care to a client diagnosed with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) who has passed away, what type of precautions is appropriate to use?

• A. Airborne precautions
• B. Droplet precautions
• C. Contact precautions
• D. Compromised host precautions

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Contact precautions are the appropriate type to use when performing postmortem care for a client with MRSA. MRSA is primarily spread through direct contact, so using contact precautions helps prevent the transmission of the infection. Airborne precautions are not necessary for MRSA, as it is not transmitted through the air like tuberculosis or measles. Droplet precautions are used for diseases transmitted through respiratory droplets like influenza. Compromised host precautions are not a standard precaution type and are not specific to managing MRSA infection.

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