Nursing Elites

1. How should a healthcare professional care for a patient with a central venous catheter?

• A. Monitor for infection and change the dressing regularly
• B. Ensure the catheter is patent and flush as needed
• C. Educate the patient on self-care and proper hygiene
• D. Monitor blood glucose levels and administer IV fluids

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Corrected Rationale: Regular monitoring for infection and dressing changes are essential aspects of caring for a patient with a central venous catheter. Infections are a significant risk with these catheters, so vigilant monitoring and timely dressing changes help prevent complications. Choice B is important too, but ensuring catheter patency and flushing are more focused on maintaining the functionality of the catheter rather than infection prevention. Choice C is also important for patient education, but the immediate concern for a healthcare professional is monitoring and preventing infections related to the catheter. Choice D is not directly related to the care of a central venous catheter.

2. Which nursing action is a priority when managing a client with a wound infection?

• A. Change the wound dressing every 24 hours
• B. Perform a wound culture before administering antibiotics
• C. Cleanse the wound with alcohol-based solutions
• D. Apply a wet-to-dry dressing to the wound

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Performing a wound culture before administering antibiotics is crucial when managing a client with a wound infection. This step helps identify the specific pathogens causing the infection, allowing for the prescription of the most effective antibiotics. Changing the wound dressing every 24 hours (Choice A) is important for wound care but not the priority when an infection is present. Cleansing the wound with alcohol-based solutions (Choice C) can be too harsh and may delay wound healing. Applying a wet-to-dry dressing (Choice D) is not recommended for infected wounds as it can cause trauma to the wound bed during dressing changes.

3. How should a healthcare professional assess a patient with hyperkalemia?

• A. Monitor ECG and administer insulin
• B. Monitor blood glucose levels and provide fluids
• C. Monitor for muscle weakness and administer calcium gluconate
• D. Monitor electrolyte levels and provide potassium supplements

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Corrected Question: When assessing a patient with hyperkalemia, monitoring the ECG and administering insulin are crucial steps. Hyperkalemia can affect the heart's function, leading to life-threatening arrhythmias. Monitoring the ECG helps in identifying any cardiac abnormalities associated with high potassium levels. Administering insulin, along with glucose, helps shift potassium from the bloodstream into the cells, temporarily lowering the potassium levels. Choice B is incorrect because monitoring blood glucose levels and providing fluids are not the primary interventions for hyperkalemia. Choice C is incorrect as monitoring for muscle weakness and administering calcium gluconate are not the first-line treatments for hyperkalemia. Calcium gluconate may be used in specific situations to stabilize cardiac cell membranes in severe cases of hyperkalemia. Choice D is incorrect because monitoring electrolyte levels and providing potassium supplements would worsen hyperkalemia, as the patient already has elevated potassium levels and does not require additional potassium supplementation.

4. What is an early sign indicating the need for suctioning a client's tracheostomy?

• A. Irritability
• B. Hypotension
• C. Flushing
• D. Bradycardia

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Irritability is a crucial early sign that a client with a tracheostomy may require suctioning. Irritability could indicate a lack of oxygenation due to the airway blockage, prompting the need for suctioning to clear the airway. Hypotension, flushing, and bradycardia are not typically direct indicators for suctioning a tracheostomy. Hypotension may suggest hemodynamic instability, flushing could be related to autonomic responses, and bradycardia might indicate a cardiac issue rather than the need for suctioning.

5. What are the key nursing interventions for a patient with a tracheostomy?

• A. Maintain a patent airway and monitor for infection
• B. Suction airway secretions and provide humidified oxygen
• C. Educate patient on self-care and tracheostomy cleaning
• D. Change tracheostomy ties daily

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to maintain a patent airway and monitor for infection. These are crucial nursing interventions for patients with tracheostomies to ensure adequate oxygenation and prevent complications. Suctioning airway secretions and providing humidified oxygen can be part of the care plan but are not as essential as maintaining a patent airway. Educating the patient on self-care and tracheostomy cleaning is important for long-term management but is not as immediate as ensuring a patent airway and monitoring for infection. Changing tracheostomy ties daily is a specific task related to tracheostomy care but is not as critical as ensuring the airway is clear and infection-free.

Similar Questions