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. You have been assigned to take an apical pulse for one of the patients on the nursing unit. How will you do this?

• A. You will place the stethoscope over the heart and listen for any irregular beats.
• B. You will place the stethoscope over the heart and count the beats per minute.
• C. You will place your fingertip over the patient's wrist and feel for any irregular beats.
• D. You will place your fingertip over the patient's wrist and count the beats per minute.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: To take an apical pulse accurately, you should place the stethoscope over the heart and count the number of beats per minute. This method provides a precise assessment of the heart rate. While listening for irregular beats is essential for assessing the heart's rhythm, the primary objective of taking an apical pulse is to determine the heart rate. Choices C and D are incorrect because the apical pulse is not taken at the wrist; instead, it is obtained by auscultating at the apex of the heart, usually at the point where the fifth intercostal space meets the midclavicular line.

3. You are taking care of a patient who has active TB. The patient has been put on airborne precautions and is in a special room. You must wear a HEPA mask when you enter the room. Now, the patient has to leave the room and go to the radiology department. How can you transport this patient to the radiology department without spreading TB throughout the hospital?

• A. Have everyone along the route to the radiology department wear a HEPA mask.
• B. Have patients along the route to the radiology department wear a HEPA mask.
• C. Have staff along the route to the radiology department wear a HEPA mask.
• D. Place a HEPA mask on the patient.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: To prevent the spread of TB throughout the hospital, it is essential to place a HEPA mask on the patient before transporting them to the radiology department. Expecting everyone along the route to wear a HEPA mask is not practical due to the high cost and the need for special fittings. Having patients or staff wear HEPA masks along the route is also not feasible and may not effectively contain the spread of TB.

4. During an examination, a nurse notices a draining ulceration on a patient's lower leg. What is the most appropriate action in this situation?

• A. Wash hands and then contact the physician.
• B. Continue to examine the ulceration and then wash hands.
• C. Wash hands, put on gloves, and continue with the examination of the ulceration.
• D. Wash hands, proceed with the rest of the physical examination, and perform the examination of the leg ulceration last.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In this scenario, the most appropriate action is to wash hands, put on gloves, and then continue examining the ulceration. Wearing gloves is crucial when there is a possibility of contact with body fluids, as in the case of a draining ulceration. Contacting the physician is not necessary at this point; the immediate focus should be on proper infection control by washing hands and wearing gloves. Changing the order of the examination is not recommended as it is important to follow a systematic approach to avoid missing any crucial assessments.

5. The patient with migraine headaches has a seizure. After the seizure, which action can you delegate to the nursing assistant?

• A. Document the seizure
• B. Perform neurologic checks
• C. Take the patient's vital signs
• D. Restrain the patient for protection

Correct answer: C

Rationale: After a patient with migraine headaches has a seizure, it is important to assess their vital signs to monitor their condition. This task can be safely delegated to a nursing assistant as it falls within their scope of practice. Documenting the seizure and performing neurologic checks require a higher level of training and should be done by a nurse or healthcare provider. Restraint should never be used as a first-line intervention after a seizure unless there is an immediate threat to the patient's safety, and it should be done following proper protocols and with appropriate training.

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