Nursing Elites

1. A patient's serum potassium level is 2.2 mEq/L. Which nursing action is the highest priority for this patient?

• A. Start oxygen at 2 L/min
• B. Initiate cardiac monitoring
• C. Initiate seizure precautions
• D. Keep the patient on bed rest

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to initiate cardiac monitoring. Severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias, making cardiac monitoring the priority to detect and manage any cardiac complications. Starting oxygen, seizure precautions, or bed rest are not the immediate priority actions for severe hypokalemia.

2. The nurse is planning care for a patient with acute hypernatremia. What should the nurse include in this patient's plan of care? (select one that does not apply)

• A. Reduce IV access
• B. Limit length of visits
• C. Restrict fluids to 1500 mL per day
• D. Conduct frequent neurologic checks

Correct answer: D

Rationale: For a patient with acute hypernatremia, the nurse should include interventions like reducing free water losses, correcting sodium levels slowly, monitoring neurologic status, and ensuring adequate fluid intake. Conducting frequent neurologic checks is essential in assessing the patient's neurological status and detecting any changes promptly. Therefore, this action should not be excluded from the plan of care. Choices A, B, and C are not directly related to managing acute hypernatremia and can be safely excluded from the plan of care. Reducing IV access, limiting length of visits, and restricting fluids to 1500 mL per day are not appropriate actions for managing acute hypernatremia.

3. A nurse is caring for a client who wanders through the halls yelling obscenities at staff, other clients, and visitors. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Keep the client in their room with the door closed
• B. Contact a family member to come and sit with the client
• C. Place the client in a wheelchair with a lap tray
• D. Administer a sedative to the client

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When dealing with a client exhibiting disruptive behavior like yelling obscenities, involving a family member can provide emotional support and help in de-escalating the situation. Keeping the client isolated in their room (Choice A) may lead to further agitation. Placing the client in a wheelchair (Choice C) or administering a sedative (Choice D) should not be the first interventions for managing behavioral issues.

4. A nurse enters the hallway and discovers a visitor looking at a client's medical information on a computer. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

• A. Inform the care nurse that a visitor viewed a client's protected health information.
• B. Close the documentation program on the computer.
• C. Inform the visitor that the client's records are confidential.
• D. Find out which staff member left the documentation program on the screen.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse to take is to close the documentation program on the computer to prevent further unauthorized access to the client's medical information. Choice A is incorrect because the immediate concern is to secure the information first. Choice C, while important, can be addressed after securing the information. Choice D, finding out which staff member left the program open, is not the immediate priority when patient confidentiality is at risk.

5. A nurse is preparing to delegate bathing and turning of a newly admitted client who has end-stage cancer to an experienced assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following assessments should the nurse make before delegating care?

• A. Is the client's family present so the AP can show them how to turn the client?
• B. Has data been collected about specific client needs related to turning?
• C. Does the AP have time to change the client's central IV line dressing after turning her?
• D. Has the AP checked the client's pain level prior to turning her?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Before delegating the task of bathing and turning a client with end-stage cancer to an experienced assistive personnel (AP), the nurse must assess specific client needs related to turning. This assessment ensures that the delegated care is tailored to the client's individual requirements, promoting safe and effective care. Option A is incorrect because the presence of the client's family is not directly related to assessing the client's specific needs for turning. Option C is incorrect as it refers to a different task (changing the central IV line dressing) and is not directly related to the turning assessment. Option D is incorrect as checking the client's pain level, although important, is not directly related to the specific needs related to turning the client.

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