Nursing Elites

1. A nurse on an acute med-surgical unit is performing assessments on a group of clients. Which is the highest priority?

• A. Client with surgical hypoparathyroidism and positive Trousseau's sign
• B. Client with Clostridium difficile and acute diarrhea
• C. Client with acute kidney injury and low urine specific gravity
• D. Client with oral cancer and reports a sore on his gums

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. A positive Trousseau's sign indicates hypocalcemia, which can lead to life-threatening complications like tetany or laryngospasm, making it the highest priority. Choices B, C, and D, while important, do not pose immediate life-threatening risks compared to the potential complications of severe hypocalcemia seen in a client with surgical hypoparathyroidism and a positive Trousseau's sign.

2. A client has a prescription for sertraline to treat depression. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the medication treatment plan?

• A. I will start feeling better immediately after starting the medication
• B. I can expect to urinate frequently while on this medication
• C. I understand I may experience difficulty sleeping on this medication
• D. I should decrease my sodium intake while on this medication

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Difficulty sleeping is a common side effect of sertraline, an SSRI used to treat depression. Clients should be educated to expect this, especially during the early stages of treatment. Choice A is incorrect because sertraline may take a few weeks to show its full effect. Choice B is incorrect as increased urination is not a common side effect of sertraline. Choice D is unrelated to the side effects or management of sertraline.

3. A nurse should teach which of the following clients requiring crutches about how to use a three-point gait?

• A. A client who is able to bear full weight on both lower extremities.
• B. A client who has bilateral leg braces due to paralysis of the lower extremities.
• C. A client who has a right femur fracture with no weight bearing on the affected leg.
• D. A client who has bilateral knee replacements with partial weight bearing on both legs.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because a three-point gait is used when the client can bear full weight on one foot and uses crutches and the uninvolved leg to ambulate. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not meet the criteria for using a three-point gait. Choice A states that the client can bear full weight on both lower extremities, which does not require a three-point gait. Choice B mentions bilateral leg braces due to paralysis, which would not involve using a three-point gait. Choice D describes a client with bilateral knee replacements with partial weight bearing, which also does not align with the use of a three-point gait.

4. While caring for a client in active labor, a nurse notes late decelerations in the FHR on the external fetal monitor. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

• A. Change the client's position
• B. Palpate the uterus to assess for tachysystole
• C. Increase the client's IV infusion rate
• D. Administer oxygen at 10 L/min via nonrebreather mask

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct initial action for the nurse to take is to change the client's position. This intervention can alleviate pressure on the umbilical cord, potentially improving fetal oxygenation and addressing the underlying cause of late decelerations. Palpating the uterus to assess for tachysystole or increasing the IV infusion rate are not the first-line interventions for addressing late decelerations. Administering oxygen at a high flow rate via a nonrebreather mask may be necessary but is not the priority action in this situation.

5. A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has GERD. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse expect to find?

• A. Shortness of breath
• B. Rebound tenderness
• C. Atypical chest pain
• D. Vomiting blood

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Atypical chest pain. GERD often presents with atypical chest pain due to acid reflux, which can mimic the symptoms of cardiac conditions but is related to the esophagus. Shortness of breath (choice A) is not a typical assessment finding in GERD. Rebound tenderness (choice B) is associated with peritoneal inflammation, not GERD. Vomiting blood (choice D) is a severe symptom that may indicate esophageal damage but is not a common assessment finding in GERD.

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