Nursing Elites

1. A healthcare professional realizes after a patient has left the office that they forgot to document the patient's complaint of a sore throat. Which of the following choices would BEST correct the error?

• A. Pull out that page of the chart and rewrite it with the correct information.
• B. Put one line through the original Chief Complaint, write 'ERROR,' your initials, and today's date. Make the correction by rewriting the Chief Complaint with the correct information.
• C. Go to the next available line of the SOAP notes. Write the current date, then write 'Late Entry.' Place the date and time when the patient stated they had a sore throat. Sign and date the entry.
• D. All of the above are incorrect.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When adding information to a patient's chart after the encounter, using the term 'Late Entry' is essential. This clearly indicates that the information was added after the fact and helps to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the medical record. Option A is incorrect because removing a page from the chart and rewriting it can lead to inaccuracies and is not a recommended practice for correcting errors. Option B suggests marking the original Chief Complaint as an error, which may not be clear to future readers of the chart and could lead to confusion. Option D is incorrect as it dismisses the correct approach outlined in Option C, which is the best way to handle the situation of missed documentation during a patient encounter.

2. You are ready to give your resident a complete bed bath. The temperature of this bath water should be which of the following?

• A. Cooler than a tub bath.
• B. Hotter than a tub bath.
• C. About 106 degrees.
• D. Over 120 degrees.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct temperature for a bed bath water should be about 106 degrees. This temperature is considered safe and comfortable for residents. Using a bath thermometer is essential to ensure the water is not too hot, as hot water can cause burns. On the other hand, water that is too cool can lead to discomfort, shivering, and chilling. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because cooler water may cause discomfort and shivering, hotter water can lead to burns, and water over 120 degrees is considered too hot and risky for a resident's skin.

3. The instructor is teaching a class on basic assessment skills. Which of the following statements is true regarding the stethoscope and its use?

• A. Slope of the earpieces should point forward toward the examiner's nose.
• B. It blocks out extraneous room noise but does not magnify sound.
• C. The tubing length should be 14 to 18 inches to prevent sound distortion.
• D. Both fit and quality of the stethoscope are important.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The stethoscope does not magnify sound but effectively blocks out extraneous room noises. The correct orientation of the earpieces is with the slope pointing forward toward the examiner's nose, not posteriorly. The tubing length of a stethoscope should ideally be between 14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 cm) to avoid sound distortion. Using tubing longer than this range can distort sound. Both the fit and quality of the stethoscope are crucial for accurate auscultation and assessment, highlighting their significance in clinical practice. Therefore, the correct answer is that the stethoscope blocks out extraneous room noise but does not magnify sound.

4. A client is complaining of pain that starts in the shoulder and travels down the length of his arm. This type of pain is referred to as:

• A. Referred pain
• B. Superficial pain
• C. Radiating pain
• D. Precipitating pain

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Radiating pain is the correct term for pain that originates in one part of the body and extends to other related areas. In this scenario, the pain starting in the shoulder and traveling down the arm describes radiating pain. Referred pain (Choice A) is pain felt at a site different from the actual origin of the pain. Superficial pain (Choice B) is pain that arises from the skin or tissues just beneath it. Precipitating pain (Choice D) refers to pain that is triggered by specific actions or events, not the characteristic described in the question.

5. The nurse is teaching a student nurse about the different types of thermometers. When teaching the student about the advantages of the tympanic membrane thermometer (TMT), which statement would the nurse include?

• A. "Measuring temperature using the TMT is cost-effective."?
• B. "The rapid measurement of the TMT is beneficial for uncooperative younger children."?
• C. "TMT is not recommended for measuring core body temperature in newborn infants."?
• D. "TMT is not the preferred method for measuring body temperature in patients with otitis media."?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is "The rapid measurement of the TMT is beneficial for uncooperative younger children." TMT is ideal for young children who may not cooperate for oral temperatures or fear rectal temperatures. However, using TMT for newborn infants is not recommended due to inconsistencies in results. Measuring temperature with TMT is not necessarily cost-effective. The most accurate method for measuring core temperature is through rectal temperatures. TMT may not be the preferred method for patients with otitis media due to potential inaccuracies caused by fluid behind the tympanic membrane.

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