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 is preparing to administer medication to a client by nasogastric tube. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Administer the medication without further assessment.
• B. Check the tube placement before administering any medication.
• C. Administer the medication in liquid form only.
• D. Administer half the dosage as a precaution.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Check the tube placement before administering any medication. Before administering medication through a nasogastric tube, the nurse must first verify the tube's correct placement to ensure the medication reaches the stomach and to prevent complications such as aspiration. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because administering medication without confirming proper tube placement can lead to serious consequences for the client.

3. The nurse is caring for a patient with an incision. Which actions will best indicate an understanding of medical and surgical asepsis for a sterile dressing change?

• A. Donning sterile gown and gloves to remove the wound dressing
• B. Utilizing clean gloves to remove the dressing and clean supplies for the new dressing
• C. Utilizing clean gloves to remove the dressing and sterile supplies for the new dressing
• D. Donning clean goggles, gown, and gloves to dress the wound

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Choice C is the correct answer. When performing a sterile dressing change, it is essential to use clean gloves to remove soiled dressings and sterile gloves and supplies for applying the new dressing. This helps maintain aseptic technique and reduce the risk of introducing pathogens to the wound. Choices A, B, and D involve incorrect use of sterile and clean supplies, which can compromise the sterility of the procedure and increase the risk of infection.

4. How can a healthcare professional help prevent pressure ulcers in an immobile patient?

• A. Ensuring proper nutrition and hydration
• B. Using moisture barriers to protect the skin
• C. Turning the patient every 2 hours to prevent pressure
• D. Providing special mattresses or padding

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Ensuring proper nutrition and hydration is crucial in preventing pressure ulcers in immobile patients. Adequate nutrition supports tissue health and repair, while hydration helps maintain skin elasticity. While turning the patient every 2 hours is important to prevent pressure injuries, it is not the primary way to address prevention. Using moisture barriers and providing special mattresses or padding are essential components of pressure ulcer prevention, but they are not as fundamental as ensuring proper nutrition and hydration.

5. A nurse suspects a colleague of diverting narcotics. What is the nurse's first course of action?

• A. Confront the colleague directly about the suspicion.
• B. Report the suspicion to the nurse manager.
• C. Ignore the situation unless there is clear evidence.
• D. Keep a record of the colleague's actions for future reference.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct first course of action for a nurse suspecting a colleague of diverting narcotics is to report the suspicion to the nurse manager. Confronting the colleague directly may not be safe and could compromise the investigation. Ignoring the situation is not appropriate as it can pose risks to patient safety. Keeping a record of the colleague's actions is not the primary action to take when drug diversion is suspected; reporting to the nurse manager is crucial for proper investigation and ensuring patient safety.

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