Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is to start taking digoxin. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

• A. I should take this medication with food.
• B. I will contact my provider if my heart rate is below 60 beats per minute.
• C. I should take an antacid with this medication to prevent gastrointestinal upset.
• D. I will need to take this medication for 14 days.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The client should contact their provider if their heart rate drops below 60 beats per minute, as this could indicate digoxin toxicity.

2. A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube post-surgery. What is the most important assessment?

• A. Ensure the chest tube is clamped periodically
• B. Check for air leaks and ensure proper chest tube function
• C. Encourage deep breathing and coughing every 2 hours
• D. Ensure the client is positioned in a high Fowler's position

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Check for air leaks and ensure proper chest tube function.' This is the most important assessment for a client with a chest tube post-surgery because it ensures that the chest tube is functioning properly. Checking for air leaks helps prevent complications such as pneumothorax or hemothorax. Choice A is incorrect because clamping the chest tube periodically can lead to serious complications and should not be done unless specifically ordered by a healthcare provider. Choice C is important for promoting lung expansion but is not the most critical assessment related to the chest tube. Choice D is also important for respiratory function but is not the priority when assessing a chest tube post-surgery.

3. Which intervention is essential when caring for a client with heart failure on fluid restriction?

• A. Encourage the client to drink water throughout the day
• B. Monitor the client's weight daily to assess fluid balance
• C. Limit fluid intake during meals
• D. Weigh the client once a week to assess fluid balance

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Monitor the client's weight daily to assess fluid balance.' When caring for a client with heart failure on fluid restriction, it is essential to monitor their weight daily to evaluate fluid balance accurately. This helps healthcare providers assess if the client is retaining excess fluid, a common issue in heart failure. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Encouraging the client to drink water throughout the day contradicts fluid restriction. Limiting fluid intake during meals may not provide a comprehensive assessment of fluid balance, and weighing the client once a week is not frequent enough to detect rapid changes in fluid status that could worsen heart failure symptoms.

4. Which of the following is an early indicator that a client with a tracheostomy may require suctioning?

• A. Decreased respiratory rate
• B. Irritability
• C. Bradycardia
• D. Decreased oxygen saturation

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Irritability is an early indicator that suctioning is necessary for a client with a tracheostomy. Irritability can signal discomfort or difficulty breathing, which may be due to the need for suctioning to clear the airway. Decreased respiratory rate, bradycardia, and decreased oxygen saturation are not typically early indicators that suctioning is needed in a client with a tracheostomy. These symptoms may occur later if the airway is not cleared promptly.

5. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement for a client with hyperkalemia?

• A. Administer calcium gluconate
• B. Increase fluid intake to promote potassium excretion
• C. Administer a diuretic
• D. Administer sodium bicarbonate

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct intervention for a client with hyperkalemia is to administer calcium gluconate. Calcium gluconate helps counteract the effects of hyperkalemia by stabilizing the cardiac cell membrane. Increasing fluid intake (Choice B) may not effectively lower potassium levels. Administering a diuretic (Choice C) or sodium bicarbonate (Choice D) is not the primary treatment for hyperkalemia and may not address the immediate need to lower potassium levels.

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