Nursing Elites

1. A patient reports feeling dizzy when standing up. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention?

• A. Encourage the patient to take deep breaths.
• B. Assist the patient to sit down slowly.
• C. Instruct the patient to use a walker for support.
• D. Teach the patient how to change positions safely.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to assist the patient to sit down slowly. This intervention is appropriate for a patient experiencing dizziness when standing up, as it helps prevent falls due to orthostatic hypotension. Encouraging deep breaths (Choice A) may not address the underlying cause of dizziness, which is related to postural changes. Instructing the patient to use a walker for support (Choice C) or teaching the patient how to change positions safely (Choice D) are not the most immediate and direct interventions to address the immediate risk of falling when feeling dizzy upon standing.

2. A nurse is caring for a patient with an infection. Which laboratory result is most important to monitor?

• A. White blood cell count (WBC)
• B. C-reactive protein (CRP)
• C. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• D. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: White blood cell count (WBC). Monitoring the white blood cell count is crucial when caring for a patient with an infection as it helps assess the body's response to the infection. An elevated white blood cell count often indicates an active infection or inflammation, while a decreasing count may signal improvement or potential complications. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are nonspecific markers of inflammation and not as specific to monitoring infection progression as the white blood cell count. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are important for assessing oxygen-carrying capacity and blood volume, but they are not the primary indicators for monitoring infection.

3. What is the most appropriate action for handling hazardous drugs?

• A. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling.
• B. Store the drugs according to manufacturer instructions.
• C. Discard unused drugs in regular trash.
• D. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling hazardous drugs.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The most appropriate action when handling hazardous drugs is to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect oneself from exposure to the harmful substances. Gloves and handwashing are important but may not provide sufficient protection from hazardous drugs. Storing drugs correctly and disposing of unused drugs properly are also essential, but the primary focus should be on using PPE to prevent exposure.

4. After surgery, a patient is experiencing pain. What is the nurse's priority action?

• A. Administer pain medication as prescribed.
• B. Assess the patient's pain using a pain scale.
• C. Offer the patient non-pharmacological pain relief methods.
• D. Reassess the patient's pain level after 30 minutes.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the patient's pain using a pain scale. This is the priority action because it allows the nurse to obtain an objective measure of the patient's pain intensity. By accurately assessing the pain level, the nurse can determine the appropriate intervention, which may include administering pain medication as prescribed (choice A) or offering non-pharmacological pain relief methods (choice C). Reassessing the patient's pain level after 30 minutes (choice D) is important but comes after the initial assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions implemented.

5. The nurse is caring for a patient who is at risk for infection. Which action by the nurse indicates correct understanding about standard precautions?

• A. Teaches the patient about good nutrition.
• B. Disposes of an uncapped needle in the designated container.
• C. Wears eyewear when emptying the urinary drainage bag.
• D. Dons gloves when wearing artificial nails.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct understanding of standard precautions includes wearing appropriate personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to body fluids. Wearing eyewear when emptying the urinary drainage bag is crucial as it protects the nurse's eyes from potential splashes of body fluids. Teaching the patient about good nutrition (Choice A) is important for overall health but is not directly related to standard precautions. Disposing of an uncapped needle correctly (Choice B) is part of safe needle handling but does not specifically relate to standard precautions. Donning gloves when wearing artificial nails (Choice D) is not a correct understanding of standard precautions, as artificial nails can harbor microorganisms and increase the risk of infection transmission.

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