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. Which electrolyte imbalance is common in patients receiving diuretics?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is Hypokalemia. Diuretics, such as furosemide, commonly cause potassium loss in patients, leading to hypokalemia. This electrolyte imbalance should be closely monitored to prevent complications like cardiac arrhythmias. Hypercalcemia (Choice B) is not typically associated with diuretic use. Hyponatremia (Choice C) involves low sodium levels and can occur in conditions like syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) but is not directly caused by diuretics. Hypermagnesemia (Choice D) is an excess of magnesium, usually not a common electrolyte imbalance induced by diuretics.

3. A client is receiving warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse expect to be ordered to monitor the effect of warfarin?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: International normalized ratio (INR). When a client is on warfarin therapy, the INR is monitored regularly to assess the anticoagulant effects of the medication. A therapeutic INR range for most indications is between 2.0 to 3.0. Choices A, C, and D are not typically used to monitor the effect of warfarin. Platelet count assesses the number of platelets in the blood, PT measures the clotting time of plasma, and PTT evaluates the intrinsic pathway of coagulation.

4. What is the first intervention when a patient has difficulty breathing post-surgery?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering oxygen is the initial intervention for a patient experiencing breathing difficulties post-surgery. Providing oxygen helps improve oxygenation and alleviate respiratory distress. Repositioning the patient, checking oxygen saturation, and elevating the head of the bed are important interventions but administering oxygen takes precedence in addressing hypoxia and respiratory compromise.

5. When a client with schizophrenia who experiences auditory hallucinations says, 'It's hard not to listen to the voices,' which question should the nurse ask?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct question for the nurse to ask the client who experiences auditory hallucinations and finds it hard not to listen to the voices is, 'What helps you ignore what you are hearing?' This question focuses on promoting coping strategies and therapeutic communication, encouraging the client to share what techniques or interventions have been effective for managing the auditory hallucinations. Choice A is incorrect because it assumes the client does not understand that the voices are not real, which may not be the case. Choice B delves into the reasons behind the voices, which may not be immediately helpful in managing the current situation. Choice C suggests a physical solution of going to a private place, which may not address the underlying issue of coping with the voices.

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