elderly patients are more prone to dehydration than younger people because the elderly elderly patients are more prone to dehydration than younger people because the elderly
Logo

Nursing Elites

NCLEX NCLEX-RN

Exam Cram NCLEX RN Practice Questions

1. Elderly patients are more prone to dehydration than younger people because the elderly ___________.

Correct answer: have less sense of thirst

Rationale: Elderly patients are prone to dehydration because they have a lower and diminished sense of thirst. This reduced sensation of thirst makes them less likely to drink an adequate amount of fluids, leading to dehydration. While it is true that elderly individuals may also have changes such as decreased stomach mucus production and saliva production, these factors do not directly contribute to dehydration. Drinking more coffee and tea, as mentioned in choice A, is not a consistent behavior among all elderly individuals and is not a primary reason for their increased risk of dehydration.

2. A client has died approximately one hour ago. The nurse notes that the client's temperature has decreased in the last hour since their death. Which of the following processes explains this phenomenon?

Correct answer: C: Algor mortis

Rationale: Algor mortis occurs after death when the body's circulation stops, and the client's temperature begins to fall. The client's temperature will drop by approximately 1.8 degrees per hour until it reaches room temperature. During algor mortis, the client's skin gradually loses its elasticity. Rigor mortis refers to the stiffening of the body after death due to chemical changes in the muscles. Postmortem decomposition is the breakdown of tissues after death. Livor mortis is the pooling of blood in the dependent parts of the body, causing a purple-red discoloration.

3. A client on lithium has diarrhea and vomiting. What should the nurse do first?

Correct answer: Hold the next dose and obtain an order for a stat serum lithium level

Rationale: Diarrhea and vomiting are manifestations of lithium toxicity. The priority action for the nurse is to hold the next dose of lithium and obtain an order for a stat serum lithium level to confirm toxicity. This ensures patient safety and prevents further harm. Recognizing it as a drug interaction is not the first step in this scenario. Cogentin is used to manage extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) associated with antipsychotics, not lithium toxicity. Reassuring the client about these symptoms as common side effects of lithium therapy is inappropriate as they indicate a more serious issue than typical side effects like hand tremors, nausea, polyuria, and polydipsia.

4. When a client with newly diagnosed chronic bronchitis tells the home health nurse about continuing to smoke 1 or 2 cigarettes a day and not doing the prescribed pulmonary physiotherapy exercises, which response by the nurse is best?

Correct answer: ''Tell me about your typical day before you were diagnosed with chronic lung disease.''

Rationale: Asking the client to describe a typical day is the best response. More data are needed about the client’s usual activities of daily living so that the plan can be adapted to the client’s preferences. The statement indicating that smoking and not doing the pulmonary exercises will allow the lung disease to progress is probably not news to the client and does not help in determining factors that might be contributing to nonadherence. The statement that the nurse cannot stop the client’s behaviors indicates that the client is to blame and will place the client on the defensive. The statement that the client’s dyspnea is caused by smoking and not doing the pulmonary exercises places the client on the defensive and will decrease trust, preventing the nurse from obtaining more information about why the client is nonadherent with the treatment plan.

5. The nurse informs the physical therapy department that the client is too weak to use a walker and needs to be transported by wheelchair. Which step of the nursing process is the nurse engaged in at this time?

Correct answer: Implementation

Rationale: The nurse is responsible for coordinating the plan of care with other disciplines to ensure the client's safety. This action represents the implementation phase of the nursing process. During the implementation phase, the nurse puts the care plan into action, which includes coordinating with other healthcare team members like the physical therapy department. Assessment involves data gathering, planning involves goal setting, and evaluation involves determining the attainment of client goals.

Similar Questions

A 4-month-old child is at the clinic for a well-baby checkup and immunizations. Which of these actions is most appropriate when the nurse is assessing an infant’s vital signs?
Your patient who had AIDS/HIV has just died. Should you still use standard precautions as you provide post-mortem care?
The nurse is planning care for a patient with a wrist restraint. How often should a restraint be removed, the area massaged, and the joints moved through their full range?
The client is 5 feet from the bathroom door when he states, 'I feel faint.' Before the nurse can get the client to a chair, the client starts to fall. What is the priority action for the nurse to take?
A client who has undergone a mastectomy because of breast cancer is now undergoing chemotherapy, which has caused hair loss. The client states, 'I feel like I’ve lost my sense of power.' Which response would the nurse give?

Access More Features

NCLEX Basic

  • 5,000 Questions with answers
  • Comprehensive NCLEX coverage
  • 30 days access @ $69.99

NCLEX Basic

  • 5,000 Questions and answers
  • Comprehensive NCLEX Coverage
  • 90 days access @ $69.99