Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is preparing to auscultate for the presence of bowel sounds in a client who has just undergone surgery. The nurse places the stethoscope in which abdominal quadrant first?

• A. Left upper quadrant
• B. Left lower quadrant
• C. Right upper quadrant
• D. Right lower quadrant

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is the right lower quadrant. The nurse starts auscultating in this quadrant at the ileocecal valve as bowel sounds are normally always present there. Then, the nurse proceeds to listen for bowel sounds in the other quadrants. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as the initial placement of the stethoscope should be in the right lower quadrant to assess bowel sounds post-surgery.

2. A nurse assisting with data collection uses the back of the hand to feel the client's skin on both arms and notes that the skin is warm. The nurse makes which determination?

• A. The client has a fever.
• B. The skin temperature is normal.
• C. The client needs to drink additional fluids.
• D. The client needs to have the blanket removed.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: To assess skin temperature, the nurse would first note the temperature of their own hands. Then, using the backs of the hands to palpate the client's skin bilaterally, warmth suggests normal circulatory status if the skin is warm and the temperature is equal bilaterally. The hands and feet may feel slightly cooler in a cool environment. Options A, C, and D are incorrect responses. A warm skin temperature does not indicate a fever, the need for additional fluids, or the need to have the blanket removed.

3. Which of the following statements, if made by the parents of a newborn, does not indicate a need for further teaching about cord care?

• A. "I should not put alcohol on my baby's cord 3-4 times a day."?
• B. "I should not put the baby's diaper on so that it covers the cord."?
• C. "I should call the physician if the cord becomes dark."?
• D. "I should wash my hands before and after I take care of the cord."?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Parents should be taught not to cover the cord with a diaper to allow for air exposure and drying, preventing infection. The statement 'I should put alcohol on my baby's cord 3-4 times a day' indicates a need for further teaching as current recommendations do not include using alcohol on the cord, which can interfere with natural healing. While it is normal for the cord to turn dark as it dries, so the statement 'I should call the physician if the cord becomes dark' is accurate, it is not the best answer for this question. Washing hands before and after caring for the cord is important to prevent the transfer of pathogens, so this statement does not require further teaching.

4. How often should the intravenous tubing on total parenteral nutrition solutions be changed?

• A. every 24 hours
• B. every 36 hours
• C. every 48 hours
• D. every 72 hours

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to change the intravenous tubing on total parenteral nutrition solutions every 24 hours. This frequency is necessary due to the high risk of bacterial growth associated with TPN solutions. Changing the tubing every 24 hours helps prevent contamination and bloodstream infections. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because waiting longer intervals increases the risk of introducing harmful bacteria into the patient's system, leading to potentially severe complications.

5. When inspecting the client's eyelids for ptosis, the nurse is checking for which abnormality?

• A. Drooping
• B. Pupil dilation
• C. Pupil constriction
• D. Deviation of ocular movements

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a nurse inspects a client's eyelids for ptosis, they are checking for drooping. Ptosis is a condition characterized by the drooping of the eyelids and can be associated with various disorders such as myasthenia gravis, dysfunction of cranial nerve III, and Bell's palsy. Pupil dilation and constriction are assessed using a flashlight to check pupillary response. Deviation of ocular movements is evaluated by leading the client's eyes through the six cardinal positions of gaze. Therefore, in this scenario, the correct answer is 'Drooping' as it specifically relates to the abnormality associated with ptosis.

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