Nursing Elites

1. What is the average cardiac output?

• A. Approximately 4 to 6 L per minute
• B. Approximately 4 to 8 L per minute
• C. Approximately 5 to 8 L per minute
• D. Approximately 3 to 7 L per minute

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Approximately 4 to 8 L per minute. Cardiac output is defined as the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, typically ranging between 4 to 8 liters. Choices A, C, and D provide ranges that are either too narrow or outside the standard average values for cardiac output, making them incorrect.

2. A client on spironolactone (Aldactone) has a potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L. What is the nurse’s priority action?

• A. Hold the spironolactone and notify the healthcare provider.
• B. Administer a potassium supplement.
• C. Continue the spironolactone as ordered.
• D. Increase the dose of spironolactone.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct action for a client on spironolactone with a potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L is to hold the medication and notify the healthcare provider. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that can further elevate potassium levels, which are already high. Administering a potassium supplement (Choice B) would exacerbate the hyperkalemia. Continuing the spironolactone as ordered (Choice C) could lead to worsening hyperkalemia. Increasing the dose of spironolactone (Choice D) would be contraindicated in the presence of elevated potassium levels.

3. What is the term for a condition where the lung collapses due to air leaking into the space between the lung and the chest wall?

• A. Pneumothorax
• B. Pleural effusion
• C. Atelectasis
• D. Pulmonary fibrosis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Pneumothorax is the correct answer for this question. Pneumothorax is the collapse of a lung caused by the presence of air in the pleural space between the lung and chest wall. This condition can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and may require emergency treatment such as chest tube insertion to remove the air. Pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, not air. Atelectasis is the collapse or closure of a lung resulting in reduced or absent gas exchange. Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition characterized by scarring and thickening of lung tissue, not related to air leaking into the pleural space.

4. Which heart chamber receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body?

• A. Left atrium
• B. Right atrium
• C. Left ventricle
• D. Right ventricle

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is the left ventricle. It receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and pumps it to the rest of the body through the aorta. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs, the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, and the right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

5. The client is on nitroglycerin patches. What should the nurse include in the client’s education?

• A. Rotate the application site with each new patch.
• B. Apply the patch at the same time each day.
• C. Leave the patch on for 24 hours, then remove it for 12 hours before applying a new one.
• D. Apply the patch to the same site each time.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Rotate the application site with each new patch.' When educating a client using nitroglycerin patches, it is essential to rotate the application site to prevent skin irritation. Choice B is incorrect because applying the patch at the same time each day is not a critical aspect of patch application. Choice C is incorrect as nitroglycerin patches are usually left on for a specific period, typically 12 to 14 hours, before being replaced. Choice D is incorrect because applying the patch to the same site each time can lead to skin irritation and tolerance development.

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