Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is preparing to screen a client's vision with the use of a Snellen chart. The nurse uses which technique?

• A. Tests the right eye, then tests the left eye, and finally tests both eyes together
• B. Assesses both eyes together, then assesses the right and left eyes separately
• C. Asks the client to stand 40 feet from the chart and read the largest line on the chart
• D. Asks the client to stand 40 feet from the chart and read the line that can be read 200 feet away by someone with unimpaired vision

Correct answer: A

Rationale: To test visual acuity with the use of a Snellen chart, the nurse places the chart in a well-lit spot at the client's eye level, with the client positioned exactly 20 feet from the chart. The client shields one eye at a time with an opaque card during the test. After testing each eye separately, both eyes are assessed together. The client is asked to read the smallest line of letters visible and encouraged to read the next smallest line as well. Therefore, option A is correct as it describes the correct technique of testing one eye at a time before assessing both eyes together. Option B is incorrect as it assesses both eyes together first, which is not the standard procedure. Options C and D are incorrect as they suggest standing 40 feet from the chart, which contradicts the standard distance of 20 feet for a Snellen chart test.

2. The physician orders the antibiotics ampicillin (Omnipen) and gentamicin (Garamycin) for a newly admitted client with an infection. The nurse should:

• A. administer both medications simultaneously
• B. give the medications sequentially, and flush well between them
• C. ask the physician or pharmacy which medication to give first and how long to wait before giving the other drug
• D. start one medication now and begin the other medication in 2-4 hours

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to give the medications sequentially and flush well between them. Ampicillin has a pH of 8-10, while gentamicin has a pH of 3-5.5, making them incompatible when given together. Flushing well between drugs is necessary to prevent any potential interactions. Option A is incorrect because administering both medications simultaneously can lead to incompatibility issues. Option C is incorrect because the nurse should already be aware of the correct administration sequence and not need to consult the physician or pharmacy each time. Option D is incorrect because delaying the second medication by several hours can slow down the treatment of the client's infection, which is not ideal in this scenario.

3. A nurse in the healthcare provider's office is checking the Babinski reflex in a 3-month-old infant. The nurse determines that the infant's response is normal if which finding is noted?

• A. The fingers curl tightly, and the toes curl forward.
• B. The toes flare, and the big toe is dorsiflexed.
• C. There is extension of the extremities on the side to which the head is turned, with flexion on the opposite side.
• D. The infant turns to the side that is touched.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: To elicit the Babinski reflex, the nurse strokes the lateral sole of the foot from the heel to across the base of the toes. In the expected response, the toes flare, and the big toe dorsiflexes. The Babinski reflex disappears at 12 months of age. Turning to the side that is touched is the expected response when the rooting reflex is elicited. Tight curling of the fingers and forward curling of the toes is the expected response when the grasp reflex (palmar and plantar) is elicited. Extension of the extremities on the side to which the head is turned with flexion on the opposite side is the expected response when the tonic neck reflex is elicited.

4. Client self-determination is the primary focus of:

• A. malpractice insurance.
• B. nursing's advocacy for clients.
• C. confidentiality.
• D. health care.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Client self-determination is the primary focus of nursing's advocacy for clients. Nurses advocate for their clients' right to autonomy and self-determination, ensuring that the clients' preferences and choices are respected. Confidentiality, on the other hand, involves maintaining the privacy of the client and their information. Health care is a broad term encompassing various aspects of medical services. Malpractice insurance is a type of insurance that provides coverage for professionals in case of negligence or malpractice, not directly related to client self-determination.

5. A nurse is interviewing an older adult while assisting with data collection. Which client comment regarding vision requires immediate discussion with the health care provider?

• A. "If I go from a very bright room to a very dark room, I have some trouble adjusting."
• B. "I have to hold my newspaper farther and farther away from me when I read."
• C. "I have a little trouble telling if my same-colored shirts and blouses actually match; the colors seem the same to me."
• D. "It looks like I have a blank spot in the middle of what I'm trying to see."

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is "It looks like I have a blank spot in the middle of what I'm trying to see." Seeing blank spots in the middle of an object is a sign of central vision loss, which is a symptom of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is a serious condition that requires immediate discussion with a healthcare provider to prevent further vision loss. Choice A, mentioning difficulty adjusting between bright and dark rooms, is a common issue related to changes in lighting and not a cause for immediate concern. Choice B, having to hold objects farther away when reading, is indicative of presbyopia, a normal age-related change in vision. Choice C, experiencing slight changes in color perception, is also a common age-related change and not an urgent issue that necessitates immediate discussion with a healthcare provider.

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