Nursing Elites

1. Ruth is a 72-year-old patient who has been upset and crying all morning. When asked why she is upset, she turns toward the wall in silence. What collaborative process may be helpful in caring for this patient?

• A. Speak with the patient care technician
• B. Call the chaplain
• C. Call the social worker
• D. Call the patient's husband

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Collaborating with the patient care technician is an appropriate approach in this scenario. Patient care technicians and nurses' aides often provide direct care to patients, developing a closer relationship with them. Patients may feel more comfortable sharing their feelings with these caregivers compared to other healthcare professionals. In this situation, Ruth's distress appears more emotional than spiritual, making it more suitable to speak with someone directly involved in her care. Calling the chaplain (Choice B) might not directly address Ruth's immediate emotional needs as it could focus more on spiritual support. Involving the social worker (Choice C) could help address underlying emotional or social issues, but speaking with the patient care technician is a more direct and immediate step to assess and provide initial support. Calling the patient's husband (Choice D) may not address Ruth's immediate emotional distress and may not be appropriate without understanding the root cause of her upset.

2. A nurse caring for a pediatric client shows little concern when the parents attempt to speak with her about their daughter's illness. When approached by the nurse manager about her behavior, the nurse responds by saying, 'I don't want to get involved. It doesn't matter what I do anyway; my work does not make much of a difference.' This nurse is exhibiting which of the following characteristics?

• A. Objectivity
• B. Depersonalization
• C. Procrastination
• D. Disruption

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Depersonalization.' A nurse who distances themselves from clients to avoid emotional involvement is displaying depersonalization. This behavior is often seen in nurses experiencing burnout due to stress. Depersonalization can stem from low morale, moral distress, and may serve as a defense mechanism to cope with stress and emotional exhaustion. It is a way to shield oneself from feeling overwhelmed by the burdens of caring for others. Choice A, 'Objectivity,' is incorrect because objectivity involves maintaining a neutral and unbiased perspective, which is not the case here. Choice C, 'Procrastination,' is incorrect as it refers to delaying tasks, not emotional distancing. Choice D, 'Disruption,' is irrelevant to the scenario described and does not align with the nurse's behavior of detachment and lack of concern.

3. Which of the following is a true statement about assessing blood pressure by palpation?

• A. Only the diastolic blood pressure can be assessed through palpation.
• B. The palpation technique is most useful for infants and small children.
• C. Hypertension is a common condition that might need to be assessed through blood pressure palpation.
• D. Only the systolic blood pressure can be assessed through palpation.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When assessing blood pressure by palpation, it is important to note that only the systolic blood pressure can be determined accurately using this method. Diastolic blood pressure cannot be reliably assessed through palpation. The palpation technique is particularly useful in situations where traditional blood pressure measurement methods are challenging, such as in infants, small children, or individuals with low blood pressure that is difficult to hear. Hypertension, a common condition characterized by elevated blood pressure, is typically assessed using auscultation rather than palpation. Therefore, the correct statement is that only the systolic blood pressure can be assessed through palpation.

4. A family member is complaining that the lights are too dim in the middle of the night when she comes in to visit her husband. What is the most objective response?

• A. Patients sleep better with the lights dimmed.
• B. The nightshift nurses prefer to work with less light.
• C. It's time for him to sleep, and you should, too.
• D. There's a reason we do that. Let me share a research study with you.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The most objective response in this situation is to explain to the family member that there is a specific reason for dimming the lights and offer to share a research study to provide evidence-based information. By doing so, it helps the family member understand that the care provided is based on established practices and research, potentially alleviating her concerns and ensuring that her husband receives appropriate care. Choices A, B, and C do not address the family member's concern or provide a rationale backed by evidence, making them less suitable responses in this context.

5. A healthcare professional is preparing to draw a blood specimen from an adult client's central line. All of the following actions for this procedure are correct EXCEPT:

• A. Disconnect the current infusion
• B. Clean the cap with alcohol and attach a 5 cc syringe
• C. Draw 5 cc of a blood sample to discard
• D. Flush with saline after the sample

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When drawing a blood specimen from a central line, the healthcare professional should disconnect any infusions that are currently running and that could contaminate the specimen. It is important to use a minimum size of a 10 cc syringe when using a central line to avoid placing too much pressure on the catheter. Cleaning the cap with alcohol and attaching a 5 cc syringe is not appropriate as a larger syringe size should be used for this procedure. Drawing 5 cc of a blood sample to discard and flushing with saline after the sample are correct steps in the process of drawing a blood specimen from a central line.

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