Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is receiving warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

• A. International normalized ratio (INR) of 2.5
• B. Platelet count of 180,000/mm³
• C. Prothrombin time (PT) of 12 seconds
• D. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) of 30 seconds

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A prothrombin time (PT) of 12 seconds is below the therapeutic range for warfarin and indicates a need for dosage adjustment. The correct answer is C. A normal International normalized ratio (INR) for a client on warfarin therapy is usually between 2.0 to 3.0; therefore, an INR of 2.5 is within the expected range. A platelet count of 180,000/mm³ is within the normal range (150,000 to 450,000/mm³) and does not require immediate reporting. A partial thromboplastin time (PTT) of 30 seconds is also within the normal range (25-35 seconds) and does not indicate a need for urgent action.

2. A nurse is collecting data from a postpartum client who had a vaginal birth 2 days ago. Which of the following findings is the nurse's priority to report to the provider?

• A. Bright red bleeding
• B. Burning with urination
• C. Headache
• D. Heavy lochia flow

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Burning with urination.' Burning with urination can indicate a urinary tract infection postpartum, which requires immediate attention to prevent complications. Bright red bleeding and heavy lochia flow are expected findings in the early postpartum period as the uterus continues to contract and expel lochia. A headache alone is not uncommon postpartum and is often attributed to hormonal changes, dehydration, or fatigue, and can be managed with adequate rest, hydration, and pain relief. Therefore, the priority here is to address the potential infection indicated by burning with urination.

3. A client who is to undergo surgery for a hip fracture is being taught by a nurse about postoperative pain management. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

• A. I will ask for pain medication only if the pain becomes unbearable.
• B. I will ask the nurse to increase my medication if the pain doesn't subside.
• C. I will wait until the pain is severe before taking my medication.
• D. I will take my medication at regular intervals to stay ahead of the pain.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because taking pain medication at regular intervals helps maintain consistent pain control after surgery. Option A is incorrect because waiting for the pain to become unbearable can lead to inadequate pain management. Option B is incorrect as it suggests increasing medication without a schedule. Option C is incorrect because waiting for the pain to be severe before taking medication is not proactive pain management.

4. What is the first step when administering a blood transfusion?

• A. Warm the blood to body temperature
• B. Verify the client's blood type before administration
• C. Administer the blood through an IV push
• D. Administer diuretics before the transfusion

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to verify the client's blood type before administration. This step is crucial to ensure compatibility and prevent adverse reactions such as hemolytic transfusion reactions. Warming the blood to body temperature (Choice A) is not the first step and is not typically done during blood transfusions. Administering the blood through an IV push (Choice C) is incorrect as blood transfusions are usually administered as a slow infusion. Administering diuretics before the transfusion (Choice D) is unnecessary and not a standard practice when initiating a blood transfusion.

5. How should a healthcare professional assess a patient with chest pain?

• A. Assess the severity of pain and monitor ECG
• B. Administer nitroglycerin and provide oxygen
• C. Administer aspirin and provide pain relief
• D. Monitor for nausea and administer IV fluids

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When assessing a patient with chest pain, the initial step is to assess the severity of pain and monitor the electrocardiogram (ECG) to look for signs of cardiac issues. Administering nitroglycerin and oxygen (Choice B) is a treatment option for suspected cardiac chest pain but should not precede a thorough assessment. Administering aspirin and providing pain relief (Choice C) may be indicated later, but the priority is to assess the situation first. Monitoring for nausea and administering IV fluids (Choice D) is not the initial assessment for chest pain unless there are specific indications present.

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