Nursing Elites

1. Cheryl M. has a serious swallowing disorder. She has asked you for a glass of water. The doctor has ordered honey thickness liquids for her. Water is not a honey thickness liquid. It is much thinner. What should you do?

• A. Tell the resident that she cannot have water.
• B. Give her applesauce instead of the water.
• C. Tell Cheryl that she is NPO until midnight.
• D. Thicken the water and give it to her.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: You can give Cheryl the water that she has requested; however, since water is not a honey-thick liquid as ordered by the doctor, you must thicken it with a commercial thickener before giving it to her. This will ensure that the water is at the appropriate consistency for her swallowing disorder. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect: A) Telling the resident she cannot have water is not the best course of action without attempting to modify it first. B) Giving her applesauce instead of water does not address the specific request for water. C) Placing Cheryl on NPO status until midnight is unnecessary and does not address her immediate request for water.

2. A patient has a goal of eating at least 50% of each meal. The patient refuses to eat, so a nurse force-feeds the patient in order for them to reach their goal of eating at least 50% of the meal. The nurse has committed __________ against this patient.

• A. assault
• B. battery
• C. physical neglect
• D. emotional neglect

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'battery.' Battery occurs when there is unwanted physical contact or force applied to a person without their consent. In this scenario, force-feeding the patient against their will constitutes battery as the nurse is physically interfering with the patient's body without permission. Assault involves the threat of physical harm, which is not present in the situation described. Physical neglect refers to the failure to provide basic care needs, which is not the case here. Emotional neglect involves the failure to address emotional needs, which is also not applicable in this context.

3. A client with expressive aphasia is pointing wildly at the bath water but unable to speak. Which response from the nurse is most appropriate?

• A. Is something wrong with the bath water?
• B. Just calm down, we'll finish your bath soon.
• C. Are you trying to tell me something?
• D. Shall I turn on the television?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A client with expressive aphasia faces difficulty expressing themselves verbally but can understand others. In this scenario, the client's gestures indicate a communication attempt. The nurse's best response is to directly address the potential issue the client is indicating, which is the bath water. Option A acknowledges the client's non-verbal communication and seeks to address their concern. Choices B, C, and D do not directly address the client's attempt to communicate about the bath water, which is the focal point of the interaction.

4. Who is legally able to make decisions for the patient or resident during a patient care conference when the patient is not mentally able to make decisions on their own?

• A. The patient or their healthcare proxy
• B. Only the patient
• C. Only the healthcare proxy
• D. The doctor

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When a patient is unable to make decisions due to mental incapacity, the healthcare proxy, designated by the patient in advance, has the legal authority to make decisions on the patient's behalf. In this situation, the patient lacks the capacity to make decisions independently. The healthcare proxy's role is to represent the patient's wishes and best interests. The doctor's role in a patient care conference is to provide medical expertise, offer recommendations, and assist in the decision-making process, but the final decision-making authority lies with the healthcare proxy, not the doctor.

5. A client is complaining of pain that starts in the shoulder and travels down the length of his arm. This type of pain is referred to as:

• A. Referred pain
• B. Superficial pain
• C. Radiating pain
• D. Precipitating pain

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Radiating pain is the correct term for pain that originates in one part of the body and extends to other related areas. In this scenario, the pain starting in the shoulder and traveling down the arm describes radiating pain. Referred pain (Choice A) is pain felt at a site different from the actual origin of the pain. Superficial pain (Choice B) is pain that arises from the skin or tissues just beneath it. Precipitating pain (Choice D) refers to pain that is triggered by specific actions or events, not the characteristic described in the question.

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