Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication through a nasogastric (NG) tube. What action should the nurse take first?

• A. Flush the NG tube with 60 mL of water
• B. Verify tube placement
• C. Crush the medications and dissolve them in water
• D. Administer all medications together

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Verifying tube placement is the priority before administering any medications through a nasogastric tube. This step ensures that the tube is correctly positioned in the stomach to prevent complications such as aspiration. Flushing the tube with water, crushing medications, or administering them together should only be done after confirming the correct placement of the NG tube. Therefore, option B is the correct first action to take in this scenario.

2. A healthcare professional is performing a focused assessment on a client who has a history of COPD and is experiencing dyspnea. What finding should the healthcare professional expect?

• A. Decreased respiratory rate
• B. Flushing of the skin
• C. Flaring of the nostrils
• D. Productive cough

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Flaring of the nostrils is a sign of increased respiratory effort, which is common in clients with COPD experiencing dyspnea. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. A decreased respiratory rate is not expected in a client with COPD experiencing dyspnea, as they often have an increased respiratory rate. Flushing of the skin is not a typical finding associated with COPD or dyspnea. While a productive cough can be seen in COPD, it is not specifically related to the increased respiratory effort seen with dyspnea.

3. A client scheduled for cataract surgery tells the nurse, 'I see just fine and have decided to cancel my surgery.' What should the nurse do?

• A. Proceed with the surgery as planned
• B. Document the refusal and inform the surgeon
• C. Explain the benefits of the surgery
• D. Respect the client's decision

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse should explain the benefits of the surgery to the client. By providing more information, the client may reconsider their decision after understanding the positive impact the surgery could have on their vision. Proceeding with the surgery against the client's wishes (Choice A) is not ethical and goes against the principle of autonomy. While documenting the refusal and informing the surgeon (Choice B) is important for the client's medical record, it is crucial to first try to educate the client about the benefits. Simply respecting the client's decision (Choice D) without attempting to provide more information may not be in the client's best interest.

4. A client at risk for pressure injuries is being cared for by a nurse. What intervention should the nurse implement?

• A. Keep the client in one position
• B. Use a special mattress for the client
• C. Turn the client every 4 hours
• D. Provide extra pillows for positioning

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct intervention for a client at risk for pressure injuries is to use a special mattress. Special mattresses help reduce the risk of pressure injuries by redistributing pressure on bony areas, thus preventing tissue damage. Keeping the client in one position (choice A) can actually increase the risk of pressure injuries due to prolonged pressure on specific areas. Turning the client every 4 hours (choice C) is important for preventing pressure injuries, but using a special mattress is a more effective intervention. Providing extra pillows for positioning (choice D) may offer some comfort but does not address the primary intervention of pressure redistribution that a special mattress provides.

5. A nurse receives a report from an assistive personnel that a client's BP is 160/95. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Administer antihypertensive medication
• B. Notify the healthcare provider
• C. Recheck the blood pressure
• D. Document the blood pressure in the chart

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse in this scenario is to recheck the blood pressure. This step is crucial to confirm the accuracy of the initial reading. Administering antihypertensive medication without verifying the blood pressure could lead to inappropriate treatment. Notifying the healthcare provider can be done after ensuring the accuracy of the reading. Simply documenting the blood pressure without validation may result in acting on potentially incorrect information. Therefore, the priority is to recheck the blood pressure.

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