how should a nurse manage a patient with respiratory distress
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Nursing Elites

ATI RN

ATI RN Exit Exam

1. How should a healthcare professional manage a patient with respiratory distress?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Administering oxygen is crucial in managing a patient with respiratory distress as it helps improve oxygenation and alleviate breathing difficulties. While administering bronchodilators may be beneficial in certain respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD, in a patient with respiratory distress, ensuring adequate oxygen supply takes precedence. Checking oxygen saturation is important, but the immediate intervention to address respiratory distress is providing supplemental oxygen. Repositioning the patient may be helpful in optimizing ventilation but is not the primary intervention in managing acute respiratory distress.

2. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving packed RBCs. Which of the following findings indicate fluid overload?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Dyspnea. Dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, is a common sign of fluid overload in a client receiving packed RBCs. When fluid accumulates in the lungs due to overload, it can lead to respiratory distress. This finding requires prompt intervention to prevent further complications. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect: A) Low back pain is not typically associated with fluid overload; C) Hypotension refers to low blood pressure and is not a typical finding in fluid overload; D) Thready pulse may indicate poor perfusion but is not a direct indicator of fluid overload.

3. A healthcare provider is assisting with mass casualty triage following an explosion at a local factory. Which of the following clients should the healthcare provider identify as the priority?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a mass casualty situation, a client with hypovolemic shock should be the priority as they require immediate intervention to restore fluid volume and prevent further deterioration. Hypovolemic shock can lead to organ failure and death if not addressed promptly. While clients with other severe conditions like massive head trauma, full-thickness burns, or an open fracture also need urgent care, hypovolemic shock directly threatens the client's life due to inadequate circulating blood volume. Therefore, stabilizing the client with indications of hypovolemic shock takes precedence over others in this scenario.

4. A healthcare professional is reviewing the medical record of a client scheduled for a CT scan with contrast media. The healthcare professional should identify which of the following findings as a contraindication to the procedure?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, a history of allergy to shellfish. A known allergy to shellfish is a contraindication for the use of contrast media in a CT scan due to the potential risk of an allergic reaction, which could be severe and life-threatening. Choices A, B, and C are not contraindications to the procedure. A normal white blood cell count, urine specific gravity within the normal range, and a history of asthma do not typically interfere with the administration of contrast media for a CT scan.

5. A nurse is caring for a client who has severe hypertension and is receiving nitroprusside. What action should the nurse take?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take when caring for a client receiving nitroprusside for severe hypertension is to limit light exposure to the IV infusion. Nitroprusside is light-sensitive, and exposure to light can lead to degradation of the medication, reducing its effectiveness. Administering oxygen (Choice A) may be necessary for some clients but is not directly related to the administration of nitroprusside. Monitoring blood pressure every 2 hours (Choice B) is a general nursing intervention for clients with hypertension but does not specifically address the administration of nitroprusside. Attaching an inline filter to the IV tubing (Choice D) is not necessary to address the specific concern of light exposure related to nitroprusside administration.

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