Nursing Elites

1. A patient is having difficulty understanding how to properly run her glucose meter. Which of the following teaching methods would best help the patient understand how to use her instrument correctly?

• A. Give the patient an instruction booklet and encourage her to call the office if she has questions.
• B. Tell the patient to ask a healthcare provider to demonstrate how to use the instrument.
• C. Have the patient watch a video demonstrating the use of the instrument.
• D. Demonstrate the proper use of the instrument and then have the patient perform the process while still in the office.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: By using a demonstration and performance method of patient education, the patient is offered a chance to perform a task and have learning assessed while still in the office. This ensures that any questions that the patient has can be answered immediately, and any performance issues observed by the medical assistant can also be corrected promptly. Choice A is not as effective as providing a demonstration in person, as it may not address the patient's specific learning needs or allow for immediate feedback. Choice B suggests asking a healthcare provider to demonstrate, which is similar to the correct answer but may not always be readily available in the office. Choice C, watching a video, lacks the interactive component and immediate feedback that a live demonstration provides, making it less effective in this scenario.

2. The nurse is taking an initial blood pressure reading on a 72-year-old patient with documented hypertension. How should the nurse proceed?

• A. Cuff should be placed on the patient's arm and inflated 30 mm Hg above the point at which the palpated pulse disappears.
• B. Cuff should be inflated to 200 mm Hg in an attempt to obtain the most accurate systolic reading.
• C. Cuff should be inflated 30 mm Hg above the patient's pulse rate.
• D. After confirming the patient's previous blood pressure readings, the cuff should be inflated 30 mm Hg above the highest systolic reading recorded.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When measuring blood pressure, it's important to account for the possibility of an auscultatory gap, which occurs in about 5% of individuals, particularly those with hypertension due to a noncompliant arterial system. To detect an auscultatory gap, the cuff should be inflated 20 to 30 mm Hg beyond the point at which the palpated pulse disappears. This ensures an accurate measurement of blood pressure by overcoming the potential gap in sounds. Choice A is correct as it follows this guideline. Choices B and C are incorrect because inflating the cuff to 200 mm Hg or above the patient's pulse rate does not address the specific issue of an auscultatory gap. Choice D is incorrect as it focuses on the patient's previous readings rather than the current measurement technique needed to detect an auscultatory gap.

3. Which of the following diseases would require the nurse to wear an N95 respirator as part of personal protective equipment?

• A. Human immunodeficiency virus
• B. Clostridium difficile enterocolitis
• C. Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
• D. Measles

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Infections that require airborne precautions necessitate the use of an N95 respirator, a type of mask that filters particles that are 5 micrograms or smaller. Illnesses that require airborne precautions include Measles, Varicella, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and tuberculosis. Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by a virus. It can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Wearing an N95 respirator helps prevent the nurse from inhaling these infectious particles. Human immunodeficiency virus, Clostridium difficile enterocolitis, and Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus do not require the use of an N95 respirator as they are not transmitted through the air but have other modes of transmission.

4. Each small square on the EKG paper is:

• A. 0.04 seconds long and 5mm tall
• B. 0.2 seconds long and 5mm tall
• C. 0.04 seconds long and 20mm tall
• D. 0.04 seconds long and 1mm tall

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Each small square on an EKG paper represents 0.04 seconds long and 1mm tall. This standardization is essential for accurate measurements. One large square on EKG paper consists of 5 small squares in length and 5 small squares in height, which equals 0.2 seconds long and 5mm tall (0.5 mV). Choice A is incorrect because while the duration is correct, the height mentioned is not accurate. Choice B is incorrect as it provides the correct height but the duration is inaccurate. Choice C is incorrect as the height mentioned is exaggerated, and the duration is correct but the height is not. Therefore, the correct answer is 0.04 seconds long and 1mm tall.

5. The Rule of Nines is used to:

• A. determine the amount of the body surface that has been burned
• B. assess the level of oxygen saturation in a body that has been burned.
• C. determine the level of tissue damage that has occurred in a burn.
• D. None of the above.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The Rule of Nines is used to assess the amount of body surface that has been burned. Most body areas are divided out based on 9%, with the exception of the genitalia, which is only 1%.

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