Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is preparing to administer an intermittent enteral feeding to a client who has a gastrostomy tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water after feeding
• B. Flush the tube with 10 mL of sterile water before feeding
• C. Place the client in a left lateral position
• D. Place the feeding bag 61 cm (24 in) above the client's abdomen

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Administering an intermittent enteral feeding through a gastrostomy tube requires flushing the tube with 10 mL of sterile water before feeding. This action helps ensure patency and prevents clogging. Choice A is incorrect because flushing after feeding does not address the need for pre-feeding tube flushing. Choice C is unrelated to tube feeding administration. Choice D is incorrect as the height of the feeding bag above the abdomen is typically regulated by healthcare facility policies and is not a universal standard.

2. What is the best initial nursing intervention for a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism?

• A. Administer oxygen
• B. Administer anticoagulants
• C. Reposition the patient
• D. Check oxygen saturation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering oxygen is the best initial nursing intervention for a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism because it helps address hypoxia, a common complication of this condition. Oxygen therapy can improve oxygenation and support vital organ function. Administering anticoagulants (Choice B) is a treatment option for confirmed pulmonary embolism but not the initial intervention. Repositioning the patient (Choice C) and checking oxygen saturation (Choice D) are important assessments but do not address the immediate need to improve oxygenation in a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism.

3. Which lab value is most critical to monitor in a patient receiving digoxin?

• A. Monitor potassium levels
• B. Monitor sodium levels
• C. Monitor calcium levels
• D. Monitor magnesium levels

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor potassium levels in a patient receiving digoxin. Hypokalemia can potentiate the toxic effects of digoxin, leading to serious cardiac arrhythmias. Monitoring potassium levels helps prevent toxicity. Monitoring sodium levels (Choice B), calcium levels (Choice C), and magnesium levels (Choice D) are also important aspects of patient care, but potassium levels are most critical in patients on digoxin therapy.

4. A client has a new prescription for levothyroxine. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?

• A. Take this medication with food to prevent nausea.
• B. Take this medication in the morning to prevent insomnia.
• C. You should store this medication in the refrigerator.
• D. Take this medication with a full glass of water before breakfast.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct statement the nurse should include is to take levothyroxine with a full glass of water before breakfast. This helps improve absorption and prevents gastrointestinal side effects. Choice A is incorrect because levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach. Choice B is incorrect as insomnia is not a common side effect of levothyroxine. Choice C is also incorrect as levothyroxine does not need to be refrigerated.

5. What is the primary nursing intervention for a patient experiencing hypoglycemia?

• A. Administer IV fluids
• B. Check blood sugar levels
• C. Provide oral glucose
• D. Recheck blood sugar levels in 15 minutes

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to recheck blood sugar levels in 15 minutes. This intervention is crucial to ensure that the hypoglycemia has been effectively corrected after the initial treatment. Administering IV fluids may be necessary in cases of severe dehydration but is not the primary intervention for hypoglycemia. Checking blood sugar levels is important, but the primary intervention should focus on treating the low blood sugar levels first, which is done by providing oral glucose. However, the most critical step after providing initial treatment is to recheck blood sugar levels to confirm that they have improved to safe levels.

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