Nursing Elites

1. An unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reports to the charge nurse that a client who delivered a 7-pound infant 12 hours ago is reporting a severe headache. The client’s blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg, respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min, heart rate is 74 beats/min, and temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). What action should the charge nurse implement first?

• A. Notify the healthcare provider of the assessment findings.
• B. Administer analgesics as prescribed.
• C. Increase the client’s fluid intake.
• D. Monitor the client’s vital signs every hour.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A severe headache post-delivery could indicate a serious condition such as preeclampsia or a spinal headache, which requires immediate medical attention. Notifying the healthcare provider of the assessment findings allows for prompt evaluation and appropriate management of the client's condition.

2. Albumin 25% IV is prescribed for a child with nephrotic syndrome. Which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the medication is having the desired effect?

• A. Weight gain.
• B. Reduction of fever.
• C. Improved caloric intake.
• D. Reduction of edema.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Reduction of edema. Albumin helps reduce edema by increasing oncotic pressure, drawing fluid back into the blood vessels. In nephrotic syndrome, there is an abnormal loss of protein in the urine, leading to decreased oncotic pressure and fluid shifting into the interstitial spaces, causing edema. Administering albumin helps restore the oncotic pressure, reducing edema, which is a desirable effect of the medication.

3. A two-year-old child with heart failure (HF) is admitted for replacement of a graft for coarctation of the aorta. Prior to administering the next dose of digoxin (Lanoxin), the nurse obtains an apical heart rate of 128 bpm. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Determine the pulse deficit
• B. Administer the scheduled dose
• C. Calculate the safe dose range
• D. Review the serum digoxin level

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to administer the scheduled dose of digoxin. A heart rate of 128 bpm in a two-year-old child with heart failure falls within the safe range for digoxin administration. It indicates that the child's heart rate is not excessively low, which could be a concern for administering digoxin. Therefore, proceeding with the scheduled dose is appropriate in this scenario. Determining the pulse deficit (Choice A) is not necessary in this situation as the heart rate is already obtained. Calculating the safe dose range (Choice C) is not required as the heart rate is within the safe range. Reviewing the serum digoxin level (Choice D) is not needed at this point since the heart rate indicates that administering the next dose is appropriate.

4. A new mother asks the LPN/LVN, 'How do I know that my daughter is getting enough breast milk?' Which explanation should the nurse provide?

• A. Weigh the baby daily, and if she is gaining weight, she is eating enough.
• B. Your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale straw-colored urine 6 to 10 times a day.
• C. Offer the baby extra bottle milk after her feeding, and see if she is still hungry.
• D. If you're concerned, you might consider bottle feeding so that you can monitor her intake.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Adequate voiding is a sign that the baby is receiving enough milk. Pale straw-colored urine 6 to 10 times a day indicates proper hydration and nutrition. This is a reliable indicator of adequate breast milk intake for the infant. Choice A is incorrect because weight gain alone may not always indicate sufficient milk intake. Choice C is incorrect because supplementing with bottle milk can interfere with establishing breastfeeding. Choice D is incorrect as it suggests switching to bottle feeding, which is not necessary if the baby is latching and voiding well.

5. A mother calls the school nurse to report that her preschool-aged child was bitten by a tick during a school outing last week. The mother removed the tick and flushed it down the toilet. What action should the school nurse take?

• A. Refer the mother to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• B. Report the incident to the school principal.
• C. Culture the bite site when the child returns to school.
• D. Schedule a test for Lyme disease if a rash appears.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct action to take in this situation is to schedule a test for Lyme disease if a rash appears. Lyme disease can be transmitted through tick bites, and a rash is a common early symptom of the disease. Testing for Lyme disease is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. Referring the mother to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Choice A) is not necessary at this point, as immediate testing for Lyme disease is more appropriate. Reporting the incident to the school principal (Choice B) is not the most direct action to address the potential health concern. Culturing the bite site when the child returns to school (Choice C) may not be as effective as scheduling a test for Lyme disease if a rash appears, as the latter is a more specific diagnostic measure for Lyme disease.

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