Nursing Elites

1. What do high-pitched gurgles heard over the right lower quadrant indicate?

• A. Increased bowel motility
• B. Decreased bowel motility
• C. Normal bowel sounds
• D. Abdominal cramping

Correct answer: C

Rationale: High-pitched gurgles heard over the right lower quadrant indicate normal bowel sounds. Bowel sounds can vary in pitch, and high-pitched gurgles are considered normal and indicate the presence of active peristalsis in the intestines.

2. A nurse is orienting a newly licensed nurse on the purpose of administering vecuronium to a client who has acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates understanding of the teaching?

• A. This medication is given to treat infection.
• B. This medication is given to facilitate ventilation.
• C. This medication is given to decrease inflammation.
• D. This medication is given to reduce anxiety.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Vecuronium is a neuromuscular blocking agent that is used to facilitate ventilation by inducing muscle paralysis, which can help improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS. It does not treat infection, decrease inflammation, or reduce anxiety. Understanding the purpose of vecuronium administration is crucial for providing safe and effective care to patients with respiratory distress.

3. The healthcare professional must verify the client’s identity before the administration of medication. Which of the following is the safest way to identify the client?

• A. Ask the client for their name
• B. Check the client’s identification band
• C. State the client’s name aloud and ask the client to repeat it
• D. Check the room number

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Verifying the client's identity before administering medication is crucial to ensure patient safety. Checking the client’s identification band is the safest and most reliable method to confirm the client's identity. Identification bands are specifically designed to prevent errors in patient identification and help healthcare professionals administer care to the correct individual. Asking the client for their name (Choice A) may lead to errors if the client is unable to communicate or if there is a language barrier. Stating the client’s name aloud and asking them to repeat it (Choice C) relies on the client's ability to respond accurately. Checking the room number (Choice D) does not directly confirm the client's identity and may lead to errors if multiple patients are in the same room.

4. A client complains of difficulty swallowing when the nurse tries to administer capsule medication. Which of the following measures should the nurse take?

• A. Dissolve the capsule in a glass of water
• B. Break the capsule and give the contents with applesauce
• C. Check the availability of a liquid preparation
• D. Crush the capsule and place it under the tongue

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When a client has difficulty swallowing capsule medication, the nurse should check the availability of a liquid preparation. This is a safer approach and ensures that the medication's integrity is maintained, providing an alternative form that is easier for the client to take. Dissolving the capsule in water (choice A) may alter the medication's effectiveness, breaking the capsule and mixing the contents with applesauce (choice B) is not recommended as it may cause an unpleasant taste, and crushing the capsule and placing it under the tongue (choice D) can be unsafe and affect the medication's absorption.

5. Which of the following scenarios represents nursing malpractice?

• A. The nurse administers penicillin to a patient with a documented history of allergy to the drug. The patient experiences an allergic reaction and suffers cerebral damage due to anoxia.
• B. The nurse applies a hot water bottle or a heating pad to the abdomen of a patient with abdominal cramping.
• C. The nurse assists a patient out of bed with the bed locked in position; the patient slips and fractures his right humerus.
• D. The nurse administers the wrong medication to a patient, resulting in vomiting. This error is documented and reported to the physician and the nursing supervisor.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Administering a drug to a patient with a known allergy, leading to severe harm such as an allergic reaction causing cerebral damage due to anoxia, constitutes nursing malpractice. In this scenario, the nurse failed to adhere to the standard of care by administering a medication that the patient was allergic to, resulting in serious harm, which is a clear example of malpractice in nursing.

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