Nursing Elites

1. During an examination of a patient's abdomen, the nurse notes that the abdomen is rounded and firm to the touch. During percussion, the nurse notes a drum-like quality of the sounds across the quadrants. How would the nurse interpret this type of sound?

• A. Constipation
• B. Air-filled areas
• C. Presence of a tumor
• D. Presence of dense organs

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A musical or drum-like sound (tympany) is heard when percussion occurs over an air-filled viscus, such as the stomach or intestines. This indicates the presence of air-filled areas. Constipation, choice A, does not produce specific percussion sounds and is related to bowel movements rather than the sound produced during percussion. The presence of a tumor, choice C, would not typically produce a drum-like sound but might result in dullness or decreased resonance. Dense organs, choice D, would produce a dull thud sound rather than a drum-like tympanic sound.

2. When turning an immobile bedridden client without assistance, which action by the nurse best ensures client safety?

• A. Securely grasp the client's arm and leg.
• B. Put bed rails up on the side of bed opposite from the nurse.
• C. Correctly position and use a turn sheet.
• D. Lower the head of the client's bed slowly

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When turning an immobile bedridden client without assistance, the best action to ensure client safety is to put bed rails up on the side of the bed opposite from the nurse. This is important because the nurse can only stand on one side of the bed, so having bed rails on the opposite side prevents the client from falling out of bed. Option A, which suggests securely grasping the client's arm and leg, can potentially cause client injury to the skin or joints. Options C and D, correctly positioning and using a turn sheet, and lowering the head of the client's bed slowly, respectively, are useful techniques during client turning but are of lower priority in terms of safety compared to the use of bed rails.

3. During the implementation phase of the nursing process when working with a hospitalized adult, which of the following actions would the nurse take?

• A. Formulate a nursing diagnosis of impaired gas exchange
• B. Record in the medical record the distance a client ambulates in the hall
• C. Write individualized nursing orders in the care plan
• D. Compare client responses to the desired outcomes for pain relief

Correct answer: B

Rationale: During the implementation phase of the nursing process, the nurse is responsible for carrying out or delegating nursing interventions and documenting nursing activities and client responses in the medical records. Option A involves diagnosing, which is part of the nursing process's earlier phases. Option C pertains to planning, which precedes implementation. Option D relates to evaluation, which comes after the implementation phase.

4. In the Gram Stain procedure, which component acts as the mordant?

• A. Crystal violet
• B. Methyl alcohol
• C. Iodine
• D. Safranin

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In the Gram Stain procedure, the mordant is Gram's Iodine. The purpose of the mordant is to form a complex with the crystal violet, enhancing its ability to bind to the cell wall. Crystal violet is actually the primary stain used in the Gram Stain procedure to initially color all cells. Methyl alcohol is the decolorizer that removes the crystal violet from certain cell types. Safranin is the counterstain used to stain those cells that did not retain the crystal violet stain after the decolorization step.

5. The nurse is assessing an 80-year-old male patient. Which assessment finding would be considered normal?

• A. Decrease in body weight from his younger years
• B. Decrease in deposits of fat in the cheeks and forearms
• C. Presence of kyphosis and flexion in bilateral knees and hips
• D. Change in overall body proportion, including a longer trunk and shorter extremities

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In an 80-year-old male patient, the presence of kyphosis (rounded upper back) and flexion in bilateral knees and hips are considered normal age-related changes. These postural changes are commonly seen in older adults due to structural changes in the spine and joints. Option A is incorrect as aging individuals typically experience a decrease in body weight, not an increase. Option B is also incorrect as there is usually a decrease in subcutaneous fat from the face and periphery, rather than an increase in fat deposits in specific areas. Option D is incorrect because the change in overall body proportion with aging usually involves a shorter trunk and relatively longer extremities, not the other way around. This is because long bones do not shorten with age, leading to this characteristic change in body proportions.

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