Nursing Elites

1. The client finds a client crying behind a locked bathroom door. The client will not open the door. Which action should the nurse implement first?

• A. Instruct an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to stay and keep talking to the client.
• B. Sit quietly in the client's room until the client leaves the bathroom.
• C. Allow the client to cry alone and leave the client in the bathroom.
• D. Talk to the client and attempt to find out why the client is crying.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The nurse's first concern should be for the client's safety, so an immediate assessment of the client's situation is needed. Option D is the correct choice as it involves directly addressing the client's emotional state and attempting to understand the reason for the distress. In a vulnerable situation like this, the nurse should take the lead in assessing and communicating with the client. Option A is incorrect as it would delegate the responsibility to someone else when the nurse should be the one to initiate the assessment. Option B is inappropriate as it does not actively address the client's emotional needs or safety. Option C is also incorrect because leaving the client alone without further assessment could potentially endanger the client's well-being.

2. A client with untreatable metastasized cancer tells the nurse, 'I think they made a mistake. I don't think I have cancer. I feel too good to be dying.' Which stage of grief is the client experiencing?

• A. Anger
• B. Denial
• C. Bargaining
• D. Acceptance

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The client is experiencing the stage of denial. This is evident as the client is having difficulty accepting the reality of their diagnosis and denies the presence of cancer despite the evidence. During the anger stage, the individual expresses anger about their situation, questioning why it is happening to them. Bargaining involves attempting to negotiate for more time or a different outcome, acknowledging the reality of death but trying to delay it. Acceptance, on the other hand, is characterized by coming to terms with the inevitability of death and preparing for it peacefully. Therefore, in this scenario, the client's disbelief and refusal to accept the diagnosis align with the denial stage of grief.

3. Which signs and symptoms would the nurse observe in a client with schizophrenia?

• A. Traumatic flashbacks and hypervigilance
• B. Depression and psychomotor retardation
• C. Loosened associations and hallucinations
• D. Ritualistic behavior and obsessive thinking

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In clients with schizophrenia, the nurse would observe loosened associations and hallucinations. Loosened associations refer to disorganized thinking where thoughts are not logically connected. Hallucinations involve perceiving things that are not based in reality. Traumatic flashbacks and hypervigilance are more indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder. Depression and psychomotor retardation are common in depression, not schizophrenia. Ritualistic behavior and obsessive thinking are typically seen in obsessive-compulsive disorders, not schizophrenia.

4. Which response would the nurse make to a client with schizophrenia who claims to be Joan of Arc about to be burned at the stake?

• A. ''Tell me more about being Joan of Arc.''
• B. 'We both know that you're not Joan of Arc.''
• C. ''It seems like the world is a pretty scary place for you.''
• D. 'You're safe here, because we won't let you be burned.''

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The nurse would say, ''It seems like the world is a pretty scary place for you.'' This response allows the nurse to understand the symbolism, reflect on and acknowledge the client's feelings, and help preserve the client's integrity. The statement, ''Tell me more about being Joan of Arc,'' validates the client's delusion and does not test reality. The statement, ''We both know that you're not Joan of Arc,'' rejects the client's feelings and does not address the client's fears of being harmed; clients cannot be argued out of delusions. The statement, ''You're safe here, because we won't let you be burned,'' is false reassurance; the nurse is agreeing with the client's false perceptions of reality, which is nontherapeutic.

5. A male client is laughing at a television program with his wife when the evening nurse enters the room. He says his foot is hurting and he would like a pain pill. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Ask him to rate his pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
• B. Encourage him to wait until bedtime so the pill can help him sleep.
• C. Attend to the acutely ill client's needs first because this client is laughing.
• D. Instruct him in the use of deep breathing exercises for pain control.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Obtaining a subjective estimate of the pain experience by asking the client to rate his pain helps the nurse determine which pain medication should be administered and also provides a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of the medication. Medicating for pain should not be delayed to use it as a sleep medication, so encouraging him to wait until bedtime is incorrect. Option C is judgmental and inappropriate as all clients deserve prompt attention. Option D should be used as an adjunct to pain medication, not instead of medication, so instructing him in deep breathing exercises alone is not the priority in this situation.

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