Nursing Elites

1. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is struggling to breathe. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Increase the oxygen flow rate according to the prescription
• B. Encourage the client to perform pursed-lip breathing
• C. Prepare for emergency intubation
• D. Assess the client's oxygen saturation and breath sounds

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct first action for a nurse when a client with COPD is struggling to breathe is to assess the client's oxygen saturation and breath sounds. This initial assessment is crucial in determining the severity of the client's condition and the appropriate intervention. Increasing the oxygen flow rate without proper assessment can potentially be harmful, as COPD clients have a risk of retaining carbon dioxide. Encouraging pursed-lip breathing can be beneficial but should come after assessing the client's current status. Emergency intubation is a drastic measure and should only be considered after a comprehensive assessment indicates the need for it.

2. A client with type 1 diabetes mellitus is learning to administer insulin. What is the best site for the nurse to recommend for insulin injection?

• A. Abdomen
• B. Thigh
• C. Upper arm
• D. Buttock

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is the abdomen. The abdomen is the recommended site for insulin injection due to its faster absorption rate compared to other sites. Insulin injected into the abdomen is absorbed more quickly, leading to better glycemic control. The thigh and upper arm are also common sites for insulin injection, but they have slower absorption rates than the abdomen. The buttock is not a preferred site for insulin injection due to inconsistent absorption and potential risk of injecting into muscle instead of fatty tissue.

3. During a home visit, a nurse finds that an elderly client is having trouble remembering to take their medications. What is the best intervention?

• A. Set up a pill organizer
• B. Involve family members in care
• C. Arrange for a home health aide
• D. Implement all of the above

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The best intervention when an elderly client is having trouble remembering to take their medications is to implement all of the above options. Setting up a pill organizer helps in organizing and remembering medication schedules. Involving family members in care ensures additional support and reminders. Arranging for a home health aide can provide direct assistance and supervision. Implementing all these strategies together can significantly improve medication adherence, especially in clients with memory issues. Each option plays a crucial role in addressing different aspects of the problem, making 'Implement all of the above' the most comprehensive and effective choice.

4. A client is receiving morphine for pain management. What is the most important assessment for the nurse to perform?

• A. Check the client's respiratory rate
• B. Assess the client's pain level
• C. Monitor the client's blood pressure
• D. Evaluate the client's level of consciousness

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to check the client's respiratory rate. Morphine can lead to respiratory depression, which makes it crucial for the nurse to monitor the client's breathing closely. Assessing the respiratory rate helps in early detection of potential respiratory depression and allows prompt intervention. While assessing pain level (choice B) is important, monitoring the respiratory status takes precedence due to the risk of respiratory depression with morphine. Monitoring blood pressure (choice C) is relevant but not as crucial as assessing respiratory status in a client receiving morphine. Evaluating the level of consciousness (choice D) is also important but does not directly address the immediate risk associated with morphine administration.

5. A client with a diagnosis of chronic heart failure is receiving digoxin. What is the most important instruction the nurse should provide?

• A. Take the medication with a high-fiber meal
• B. Monitor pulse rate daily before taking the medication
• C. Avoid dairy products while on this medication
• D. Discontinue the medication if blurred vision is experienced

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most important instruction the nurse should provide is to monitor pulse rate daily before taking the medication. Digoxin can lead to bradycardia, so it is crucial to assess the pulse rate before administering the medication. This practice helps ensure that the heart rate is not too low for the safe use of digoxin. Choice A is incorrect as there is no specific requirement to take digoxin with a high-fiber meal. Choice C is also incorrect because there is no need to avoid dairy products while on digoxin. Choice D is incorrect since blurred vision is not a common side effect of digoxin; hence, it is not the most critical instruction to provide.

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