Nursing Elites

1. Ashley and her boyfriend Chris, both 19 years old, are transported to the Emergency Department after being involved in a motorcycle accident. Chris is badly hurt, but Ashley has no apparent injuries, though she appears confused and has trouble focusing on what is going on around her. She complains of dizziness and nausea. Her pulse is rapid, and she is hyperventilating. The nurse should assess Ashley's level of anxiety as:

• A. mild.
• B. moderate.
• C. severe.
• D. panic.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Based on the symptoms described, Ashley's level of anxiety should be assessed as severe. In severe anxiety, individuals have difficulty solving problems and understanding their environment. They often exhibit somatic symptoms like dizziness, nausea, rapid pulse, and hyperventilation. In contrast, mild anxiety may lead to mild discomfort or even enhanced performance. Moderate anxiety involves grasping less information, mild difficulty in problem-solving, and slight changes in vital signs. Panic, on the other hand, is characterized by markedly disturbed behavior and a potential loss of touch with reality. Therefore, in Ashley's case, the presence of somatic symptoms and vital sign changes indicates severe anxiety.

2. The physician has prescribed tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate) 10mg bid. The nurse should teach the client to refrain from eating foods containing tyramine because it may cause:

• A. Hypertension
• B. Hyperthermia
• C. Melanoma
• D. Urinary retention

Correct answer: A

Rationale: If the client eats foods high in tyramine, he might experience malignant hypertension. Tyramine is found in cheese, sour cream, Chianti wine, sherry, beer, pickled herring, liver, canned figs, raisins, bananas, avocados, chocolate, soy sauce, fava beans, and yeast. These episodes are treated with Regitine, an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent. Choices B, C, and D are unrelated to the question: Hyperthermia is excessive body temperature, melanoma is a type of skin cancer, and urinary retention is the inability to empty the bladder.

3. The nurse notes the patient care assistant looking through the personal items of the client with cancer. Which action should be taken by the registered nurse?

• A. Notify the police department for investigation
• B. Report this behavior to the charge nurse
• C. Monitor the situation and document any suspicious activities
• D. Confront the patient care assistant immediately

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The appropriate action for the registered nurse in this scenario is to report the behavior to the charge nurse. This allows for proper investigation and intervention. Inappropriate actions include notifying the police directly without following the chain of command (Choice A), monitoring without immediate action (Choice C), and confronting the assistant without involving a superior (Choice D). By reporting to the charge nurse, the situation is escalated appropriately within the healthcare setting, ensuring the well-being and safety of the client.

4. Lidocaine is a medication frequently ordered for the client experiencing

• A. Atrial tachycardia
• B. Ventricular tachycardia
• C. Heart block
• D. Ventricular bradycardia

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Lidocaine is used to treat ventricular tachycardia. This medication slowly exerts an antiarrhythmic effect by increasing the electrical stimulation threshold of the ventricles without depressing the force of ventricular contractions. It is not used for atrial arrhythmias; thus, answer A is incorrect. Answers C and D are incorrect because lidocaine does not slow the heart rate, so it is not used for heart block or bradycardia.

5. The client is admitted to the unit after a cholecystectomy. Montgomery straps are utilized with this client. The nurse is aware that Montgomery straps are utilized on this client because:

• A. The client is at risk for evisceration.
• B. The client will require frequent dressing changes.
• C. The straps provide support for drains that are inserted in the incision.
• D. No sutures or clips are used to secure the incision.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Montgomery straps are used to secure dressings that require frequent changes due to the large amount of drainage usually present after a cholecystectomy. They are also beneficial for clients allergic to various types of tape. Answer A is incorrect as the client is not at higher risk of evisceration. Answer C is incorrect because Montgomery straps are not used to support drains. Answer D is incorrect as sutures or clips are typically used to secure the incision after gallbladder surgery, not Montgomery straps.

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