Nursing Elites

1. A patient is bleeding profusely from an injury near her wrist. Which of the following first aid procedures would be MOST appropriate?

• A. Place a tourniquet on her arm above the injury.
• B. Place pressure on her brachial artery.
• C. Place pressure on her radial nerve.
• D. Cover the bleeding area with wet towels.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most appropriate first aid procedure for a patient bleeding profusely from an injury near the wrist is to place pressure on her brachial artery. Applying pressure to the brachial pulse point will help slow down the bleeding. Placing a tourniquet on her arm above the injury is not recommended as it could potentially inhibit blood flow, leading to tissue necrosis. Pressing on the radial nerve or covering the bleeding area with wet towels are not effective in controlling bleeding and may not address the underlying cause.

2. The nurse is planning care for a patient with a wrist restraint. How often should a restraint be removed, the area massaged, and the joints moved through their full range?

• A. Once a shift
• B. Once an hour
• C. Every 2 hours
• D. Every 4 hours

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Restraints should be removed every 2 hours to prevent complications. Moving the joints through their full range of motion helps prevent muscle shortening and contractures. Massaging the area promotes circulation and reduces the risk of pressure injuries. Removing restraints less frequently could lead to complications like decreased circulation and skin breakdown. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not align with the standard practice of removing restraints every 2 hours to ensure patient safety and well-being.

3. A patient is asked to abduct her arms. Which of the following accurately describes her arm movement?

• A. She moves her arms away from her trunk
• B. She moves her arms toward her trunk
• C. She rotates her arms at the wrists while holding them away from her body
• D. She crosses her arms over her abdomen

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Abduction refers to moving a body part away from the midline of the body. In this case, when the patient abducts her arms, she is moving them away from her trunk. Choice A is correct. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Choice B describes adduction, which is the movement of a body part toward the midline. Choice C describes wrist rotation, not arm abduction. Choice D describes crossing the arms over the abdomen, which is not the movement associated with abduction.

4. When caring for a single client during one shift, it is appropriate for the nurse to reuse only which of the following personal protective equipment?

• A. Goggles
• B. Gown
• C. Surgical mask
• D. Clean gloves

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Goggles may be reused unless they are overly contaminated by material that has splashed in the nurse's face and cannot be effectively rinsed off. Gowns are at high risk for contamination and should be used only once and then discarded or washed. Surgical masks and gloves should never be washed or reused. Goggles provide eye protection from splashes and should be cleaned and disinfected after each use to ensure proper protection.

5. When assessing the pulse of a 6-year-old patient, the nurse notices that the heart rate varies with the respiratory cycle, speeding up at the peak of inspiration and slowing to normal with expiration. What action would the nurse take next?

• A. Notify the physician.
• B. Record this finding as normal.
• C. Check the child's blood pressure and note any variation with respiration.
• D. Document that this child has bradycardia and continue with the assessment.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take next is to record this finding as normal. Sinus dysrhythmia, characterized by heart rate variation with the respiratory cycle, is commonly found in children and young adults. The heart rate speeds up at the peak of inspiration and slows to normal with expiration. This phenomenon is a normal variant and does not require any intervention. There is no need to notify the physician as this finding is within the expected range for this age group. Checking the child's blood pressure for variations with respiration or documenting the child as having bradycardia would not be appropriate in this case, as sinus dysrhythmia is a normal physiological response.

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