Nursing Elites

1. The client on amiodarone reports shortness of breath. What is the nurse’s best response?

• A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
• B. Reassure the client that this is a common side effect.
• C. Instruct the client to monitor their symptoms at home.
• D. Suggest the client reduce physical activity.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a client on amiodarone reports shortness of breath, it can be indicative of pulmonary toxicity, a severe side effect associated with this medication. The nurse's priority is to notify the healthcare provider immediately to assess the situation and determine the appropriate course of action. Choice B is incorrect because shortness of breath with amiodarone should not be dismissed as a common side effect. Instructing the client to monitor symptoms at home (Choice C) may delay necessary intervention. Suggesting the client reduce physical activity (Choice D) does not address the potential serious nature of the symptom and the need for prompt evaluation.

2. What is the condition where the body's immune system attacks its tissues, causing inflammation and damage?

• A. Autoimmune disease
• B. Infectious disease
• C. Allergic reaction
• D. Degenerative disease

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, leading to inflammation and damage. This is different from infectious diseases (choice B), which are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, allergic reactions (choice C), which involve an exaggerated response of the immune system to harmless substances, and degenerative diseases (choice D), which are characterized by progressive deterioration of tissue or organs due to various factors.

3. The nurse is administering digoxin to a client with a heart rate of 45 bpm. What is the nurse’s priority action?

• A. Hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider.
• B. Administer the digoxin as ordered.
• C. Increase the dose of digoxin.
• D. Monitor the client’s heart rate and reassess in 30 minutes.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider. A heart rate of 45 bpm is already low, and digoxin can further decrease the heart rate, leading to serious complications like bradycardia or heart block. Administering the medication can exacerbate the bradycardia, hence it should be withheld. Increasing the dose of digoxin is contraindicated due to the client's low heart rate. Monitoring the heart rate alone without taking immediate action to withhold the medication is not the priority when faced with the risk of further lowering the heart rate.

4. What is the term for the ability of cardiac cells to respond to a stimulus by initiating a cardiac impulse?

• A. Excitability
• B. Contractility
• C. Rhythmicity
• D. Conductivity

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Excitability. Excitability is the ability of cardiac cells to respond to a stimulus by initiating a cardiac impulse. Choice B, Contractility, refers to the ability of cardiac muscle to shorten forcibly. Choice C, Rhythmicity, refers to the cardiac muscle's ability to contract rhythmically. Choice D, Conductivity, refers to the ability of the heart's cells to conduct electrical impulses.

5. The client has a prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. What is the nurse's instruction for how to take this medication during an episode of chest pain?

• A. Take one tablet every 5 minutes, up to three tablets.
• B. Take one tablet every hour until the pain subsides.
• C. Take two tablets immediately if chest pain occurs.
• D. Take one tablet with a full glass of water.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The standard instruction for sublingual nitroglycerin during an episode of chest pain is to take one tablet every 5 minutes, up to three tablets. If the pain persists after taking three tablets, the client should seek emergency help. Choice B is incorrect because taking one tablet every hour is not the appropriate dosing for acute chest pain. Choice C is incorrect as taking two tablets immediately is not in line with the recommended dosing instructions. Choice D is incorrect because sublingual nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue, not swallowed with water.

Similar Questions