Nursing Elites

1. A nurse preparing to start an IV on a newly admitted patient teaches the patient about the procedure and begins to prepare the site. The nurse should always start by:

• A. Leaving one hand ungloved to assess the site
• B. Preparing the skin with an iodine solution
• C. Asking the patient if they are allergic to latex or iodine
• D. Removing excessive hair at the selected site

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Before preparing the skin, the nurse should ask the patient if they are allergic to latex or iodine, which are commonly used in IV therapy setup. This is crucial to prevent potential allergic reactions at the IV site or even life-threatening anaphylaxis. Leaving one hand ungloved (choice A) is not a recommended practice as both hands should be gloved for infection control. While preparing the skin with an iodine solution (choice B) is a step in the process, ensuring the patient's safety by checking for allergies comes first. Removing excessive hair at the selected site (choice D) is not necessary and can lead to skin irritation.

2. What is the most important regulator of the amount of sodium in the body?

• A. Kidneys
• B. Small intestine
• C. Large intestine
• D. Skin

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Kidneys. The kidneys play a crucial role in regulating the amount of sodium in the body. They achieve this by filtering blood and controlling the excretion or reabsorption of sodium. The small intestine is primarily responsible for nutrient absorption, not sodium regulation. The large intestine is mainly involved in water absorption and waste elimination, not sodium balance. The skin helps regulate body temperature through sweating and does not directly regulate sodium levels.

3. You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma patient. Your patient has the following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L. How would you interpret these results?

• A. Respiratory acidosis with no compensation
• B. Metabolic alkalosis with a compensatory alkalosis
• C. Metabolic acidosis with no compensation
• D. Metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: A low pH indicates acidosis (normal pH is 7.35 to 7.45). The PaCO2 is also low, which causes alkalosis. The bicarbonate is low, which causes acidosis. The pH bicarbonate more closely corresponds with a decrease in pH, making the metabolic component the primary problem. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the arterial blood gas results is metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the primary acid-base disturbance and the compensatory response seen in the given results.

4. A nurse is caring for a client who is having a subclavian central venous catheter inserted. The client begins to report chest pain and difficulty breathing. After administering oxygen, which action should the nurse take next?

• A. Administer a sublingual nitroglycerin tablet
• B. Prepare to assist with chest tube insertion.
• C. . Place a sterile dressing over the IV site
• D. Re-position the client into the Trendelenburg position.

Correct answer: B

Rationale:

5. You are called to your patients room by a family member who voices concern about the patients status. On assessment, you find the patient tachypnic, lethargic, weak, and exhibiting a diminished cognitive ability. You also find 3+ pitting edema. What electrolyte imbalance is the most plausible cause of this patients signs and symptoms?

• A. Hypocalcemia
• B. Hyponatremia
• C. Hyperchloremia
• D. Hypophosphatemia

Correct answer: C

Rationale:

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