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. The LPN is about to give 100 mg Lopressor (metoprolol) to a client. Before administering the drug, they take the patient's vitals, which are as follows: Pulse: 58 Blood Pressure: 90/62 Respirations: 18/minute What action should the LPN take?

• A. Give the client half the prescribed dose and report the findings to the RN on duty.
• B. Give the client double the dose and report the findings to the RN on duty.
• C. Administer the drug and report the findings to the RN on duty.
• D. Hold the drug and report the findings to the RN on duty.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Lopressor is given to treat hypertension, and a pulse of 58 and a blood pressure of 90/62 are considered low. To prevent the client from bottoming out, the drug should be held, and the findings reported to the RN, who should consult with the attending physician. LPNs should never adjust client dosing, as that is outside of their scope of practice. It is crucial to follow facility guidelines, which often recommend holding blood pressure medication at 60 bpm and a systolic pressure of 90 or less. By holding the drug and notifying the RN, the LPN ensures the client's safety and allows for appropriate assessment and decision-making by the healthcare team. Giving half the dose or double the dose without proper authorization can lead to serious complications and is considered unsafe practice.

3. When preparing a client for surgery, the graduate nurse realizes the operative permit has not been signed. The client tells the nurse he understands the procedure but received his preoperative medication approximately 10 minutes prior. The appropriate action would be:

• A. Have the client sign the permit, as he verbalizes understanding.
• B. Witness the form after having the client sign it.
• C. Have his wife sign the form as she witnessed him saying he wants the surgery.
• D. Call the surgical area and explain the surgery will have to be cancelled.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct action in this scenario is to call the surgical area and explain that the surgery will have to be cancelled. The client must sign the operative permit or any other legal document before receiving preoperative medication. Without the signed permit, the surgery cannot proceed to ensure the client's safety and legal compliance. Having the client sign the permit, witnessing the form after the client signs it, or having someone else sign the form are all inappropriate actions and do not address the legal requirement of the client's signature before receiving preoperative medication.

4. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of an older client with presbycusis. Which finding would the nurse expect to note in the client's record?

• A. Difficulty hearing whispered words in the voice test
• B. Improved hearing ability during conversational speech
• C. Unilateral conductive hearing loss
• D. Difficulty hearing low-pitched tones

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Presbycusis, a sensorineural hearing loss, is the most common form of hearing loss in older adults. Typically, the loss is bilateral, resulting in difficulty hearing high-pitched tones. The condition is revealed when the client has difficulty hearing whispered words in the voice test and consonants during conversational speech. Choice A is correct because it reflects the expected finding in presbycusis. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because presbycusis does not result in improved hearing ability during conversational speech, unilateral conductive hearing loss, or difficulty hearing low-pitched tones.

5. A nurse is caring for an older client who has a bronchopulmonary infection. The nurse monitors the client's ability to maintain a patent airway because of which factor involved in the normal aging process?

• A. Increased respiratory system compliance
• B. Decreased number of alveoli and increased function of those remaining
• C. Decreased older client's ability to clear secretions
• D. Increased production of surfactant

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Decreased older client's ability to clear secretions.' Respiratory changes related to the normal aging process decrease an older adult's ability to clear secretions and protect the airway. In healthy older adults, the number of alveoli does not change significantly; their structure, however, is altered. Respiratory system compliance decreases with advancing age because of a progressive loss of elastic recoil of the lung parenchyma and conducting airways, and reduced elastic recoil of the lung and opposing forces of the chest wall. Production of surfactant in the lung does not usually decrease with aging, nor does it increase. However, the production of alveolar cells responsible for surfactant production is diminished. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Choice A is incorrect because respiratory system compliance decreases with aging. Choice B is incorrect as the number of alveoli does not significantly decrease in healthy older adults. Choice D is incorrect as the production of surfactant does not usually decrease with aging.

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