Nursing Elites

1. How should a healthcare professional assess and manage a patient with a tracheostomy?

• A. Monitor for signs of infection and ensure airway patency
• B. Suction airway secretions and provide humidified air
• C. Inspect stoma site and clean with saline
• D. Provide education on tracheostomy care

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Correct answer: Monitoring for signs of infection and ensuring airway patency is crucial in managing a patient with a tracheostomy. This involves observing for redness, swelling, or discharge at the stoma site, as well as assessing for any signs of respiratory distress. Choice B, suctioning airway secretions and providing humidified air, is important for maintaining airway hygiene but may not be the initial assessment priority. Choice C, inspecting the stoma site and cleaning with saline, is part of routine tracheostomy care but does not address immediate assessment and management needs. Choice D, providing education on tracheostomy care, is valuable but not the primary action required in the assessment and management of a patient with a tracheostomy.

2. A client with hypothyroidism may present with which of the following findings?

• A. Weight gain
• B. Hair loss
• C. Dry skin
• D. Diarrhea

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Dry skin is a common manifestation of hypothyroidism due to decreased thyroid hormone levels, leading to reduced sweating and oil production. Weight gain may occur due to a slowed metabolism, not diarrhea, as hypothyroidism is more commonly associated with constipation. Hair loss is typically associated with hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism.

3. A nurse in a long-term care facility is reviewing information about health care-associated infections with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

• A. Frequent hand washing prevents infection
• B. Prolonged use of corticosteroids increases infection risk
• C. Limit patient interaction to reduce infection spread
• D. Restrict client movement to prevent contamination

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because prolonged use of corticosteroids is a known risk factor for infections. Choice A is incorrect because frequent hand washing actually helps prevent infections. Choice C is incorrect as patient interaction is essential in healthcare but should be done following proper infection control measures. Choice D is also incorrect as restricting client movement is not a standard practice to prevent contamination.

4. What are the early signs of heart failure in a patient?

• A. Shortness of breath and weight gain
• B. Fatigue and chest pain
• C. Nausea and vomiting
• D. Cough and elevated blood pressure

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Shortness of breath and weight gain. Early signs of heart failure typically manifest as shortness of breath due to fluid accumulation in the lungs and weight gain due to fluid retention in the body. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Fatigue and chest pain are symptoms commonly associated with heart conditions but are not specific early signs of heart failure. Nausea and vomiting are not typically early signs of heart failure. Cough can be a symptom of heart failure, but it is usually associated with other symptoms like shortness of breath rather than being an isolated early sign. Elevated blood pressure is not an early sign of heart failure; in fact, heart failure is more commonly associated with low blood pressure.

5. A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is planning assignments for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who has been sent from the postpartum unit due to a staffing shortage for the shift. Which of the following client assignments should the nurse delegate to the LPN?

• A. A client who is postoperative following a bowel resection with an NGT set to continuous suction.
• B. A client who has fractured a femur yesterday and is experiencing shortness of breath.
• C. A client who sustained a concussion and has unequal pupils.
• D. A client who has an Hgb of 6.3 g/dl and a prescription for packed RBCs.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the LPN can care for stable clients with complex needs, such as managing an NGT set to continuous suction. Choices B, C, and D involve clients with more acute conditions that require a higher level of assessment and intervention, making them unsuitable for delegation to an LPN. Choice B requires prompt evaluation of the shortness of breath in a client with a recent femur fracture, which is beyond the LPN's scope. Choice C involves a head injury and unequal pupils, indicating the need for neurological assessment and close monitoring. Choice D relates to a critically low hemoglobin level and the need for blood transfusion, requiring careful monitoring and potential intervention beyond the LPN's role.

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