Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. What is the most important action to ensure patient safety?

• A. Check the patient's vital signs every 15 minutes during the transfusion.
• B. Verify the patient's identity with two identifiers before starting the transfusion.
• C. Ensure the blood product is administered within 4 hours of removal from the blood bank.
• D. Ensure the patient has signed the informed consent form.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most important action to ensure patient safety when administering a blood transfusion is to verify the patient's identity with two identifiers before starting the transfusion. This step is crucial to prevent transfusion errors, such as giving the blood to the wrong patient. Checking vital signs, ensuring timely administration, and confirming informed consent are also important aspects of blood transfusion safety but verifying the patient's identity is the highest priority to prevent errors.

2. While providing care to a group of patients, which patient should the nurse see first?

• A. A patient after knee surgery who needs range of motion exercises
• B. A patient on bed rest who has renal calculi and needs to go to the bathroom
• C. A bedridden patient who has a reddened area on the buttocks who needs to be turned
• D. A patient with a hip replacement on prolonged bed rest reporting chest pain and dyspnea

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The nurse should see the patient with a hip replacement experiencing chest pain and dyspnea first because these symptoms could indicate a pulmonary embolism, which is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate attention. The other patients also need care, but urgent assessment and intervention are crucial in the case of potential pulmonary embolism to prevent serious complications or death.

3. A nurse observes a colleague ignoring proper hand hygiene protocols. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Speak to the colleague directly.
• B. Ignore the situation, as it doesn't involve direct patient care.
• C. Report the colleague to the nursing manager.
• D. File an incident report immediately.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse to take in this situation is to file an incident report immediately. By doing so, the nurse ensures that the unsafe practice is documented for further investigation and corrective action. Speaking to the colleague directly may not address the root cause of the issue and could lead to potential conflicts. Ignoring the situation is not an appropriate response as it compromises patient safety. Reporting the colleague to the nursing manager should be done after filing an incident report to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to prevent future occurrences of non-compliance with hand hygiene protocols.

4. A client with a history of falls is being admitted to the unit. What intervention should the nurse implement first?

• A. Increase the client's medication to ensure they don't fall.
• B. Use bed alarms to monitor the client's movements.
• C. Encourage the client to use a walker for mobility.
• D. Assign the client to a nursing assistant for supervision.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Use bed alarms to monitor the client's movements.' When a client with a history of falls is admitted, the nurse's initial intervention should focus on fall prevention measures. Using bed alarms to monitor the client's movements can help alert the healthcare team if the client attempts to get out of bed and reduce the risk of falls. Choice A is incorrect because increasing medication should not be the first intervention as it may not address the underlying causes of falls and can have adverse effects. Choice C may be appropriate but is not the priority over implementing safety measures like bed alarms. Choice D is incorrect as assigning the client to a nursing assistant for supervision alone may not be as effective as utilizing bed alarms for continuous monitoring.

5. A client just had a flexible bronchoscopy. Which of the following nursing actions is appropriate?

• A. Irrigate the client's throat every 4 hours
• B. Withhold food and liquids until the client's gag reflex returns
• C. Suction the client's oropharynx frequently
• D. Have the client refrain from talking for 24 hours

Correct answer: B

Rationale: After a flexible bronchoscopy, it is essential to withhold food and liquids until the client's gag reflex returns. This precaution helps prevent aspiration, as the gag reflex protects the airway from foreign material. Irrigating the client's throat every 4 hours (Choice A) is unnecessary and may increase the risk of aspiration. Suctioning the client's oropharynx frequently (Choice C) can cause trauma and is not indicated unless there is a specific medical reason for it. Having the client refrain from talking for 24 hours (Choice D) is not necessary after a flexible bronchoscopy.

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