Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is preparing to administer a high dose of morphine to a patient with terminal cancer. What is the nurse's primary consideration before administration?

• A. Ensure the family is aware of the dosage to be administered.
• B. Monitor the patient for respiratory depression.
• C. Administer the morphine in divided doses.
• D. Delay administration until the next assessment.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Monitor the patient for respiratory depression. When administering a high dose of morphine, the nurse's primary consideration should be to monitor the patient for respiratory depression, as morphine can slow down breathing, especially in higher doses. Option A is incorrect because the primary focus should be on the patient's well-being and safety rather than family awareness at this point. Option C is not the best approach as the immediate concern is monitoring the patient closely for any adverse effects. Option D is not advisable as delaying administration without a valid reason can compromise pain management in a terminal cancer patient.

2. 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.

3. A nurse manager notices a discrepancy in a nurse's narcotics record. What is the appropriate action?

• A. Ask the nurse for clarification about the record.
• B. Report the discrepancy to the pharmacy.
• C. Report the issue to the nurse manager immediately.
• D. Ignore the discrepancy as a clerical error.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The appropriate action when a nurse manager notices a discrepancy in a nurse's narcotics record is to report the discrepancy to the pharmacy. Reporting such discrepancies is crucial to ensure accountability and patient safety. Choice A is incorrect because the nurse manager should not confront the nurse directly without proper investigation. Choice C is incorrect because reporting to the nurse manager may not address the issue effectively. Choice D is incorrect because ignoring the discrepancy can compromise patient safety and violates protocols.

4. A nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy. What is the nurse's responsibility regarding stoma care?

• A. Educate the client on how to care for the stoma independently.
• B. Contact the stoma nurse to assist the client with care.
• C. Delegate the care of the stoma to a nursing assistant.
• D. Wait until the next shift to address the stoma care.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to contact the stoma nurse to assist the client with care. Stoma nurses are specially trained to provide guidance on stoma care, especially for clients with new ostomies. Instructing the client to care for the stoma independently (Choice A) may not be appropriate initially as they may need professional guidance. Delegating the care of the stoma to a nursing assistant (Choice C) is not recommended as specialized care is required. Waiting until the next shift (Choice D) is not ideal as stoma care should not be delayed.

5. A patient reports nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Administer an antiemetic as prescribed.
• B. Encourage the patient to eat small, frequent meals.
• C. Provide the patient with anti-nausea wristbands.
• D. Encourage the patient to rest after eating.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to administer an antiemetic as prescribed. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can be distressing for patients. Administering an antiemetic helps alleviate these symptoms effectively. Choice B, encouraging the patient to eat small, frequent meals, may be helpful for other gastrointestinal issues but is not the priority when the patient is experiencing nausea and vomiting. Choice C, providing anti-nausea wristbands, may offer some relief but is not as direct and immediate as administering an antiemetic. Choice D, encouraging the patient to rest after eating, is not the priority in this situation where the focus should be on managing the nausea and vomiting.

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