Nursing Elites

1. The nurse in the emergency room is admitting a client who has sustained a gunshot wound and will require immediate surgery. The client is unconscious and by themselves. Which of the following actions is most appropriate?

• A. Call the charge nurse and request that the facility's legal counsel provide a waiver for informed consent.
• B. Attempt to stabilize the client in the emergency room until they are conscious enough to provide informed consent.
• C. Try to locate the client's family to obtain informed consent before transporting the client to the operating room.
• D. Proceed with transporting the client to the operating room without obtaining informed consent.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In emergency situations where a client is unconscious and requires immediate surgery to save their life, the priority is to proceed with necessary interventions without delay to ensure the best possible outcome. Obtaining informed consent is essential in healthcare, but in situations where a delay in treatment can be life-threatening, healthcare providers are ethically and legally permitted to proceed with treatment without consent. Attempting to stabilize the client until conscious enough to provide consent or trying to locate family members for consent would cause a dangerous delay in critical care. Therefore, the most appropriate action in this scenario is to transport the unconscious client to the operating room for immediate surgery.

2. A nurse is reading the nurse practice act for the state in which she is employed. The nurse uses the information in this act for which purpose?

• A. To understand hospital and long-term care facility policies
• B. To know the scope of practice for nurses
• C. To identify health care policies in her state
• D. To be aware of the role of the licensed nurse

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'To be aware of the role of the licensed nurse.' Nurse practice acts outline the scope of practice for nurses, defining what constitutes nursing practice and the role of licensed nurses. Choice A is incorrect because hospital and long-term care facility policies are institution-specific and not typically covered in the nurse practice act. Choice B is incorrect as the scope of practice for nurses is a part of the nurse practice act, but it's not the sole purpose for a nurse to refer to it. Choice C is incorrect as health care policies in a state are governed by other legislative acts, not the nurse practice act.

3. What is the appropriate ratio of cardiac compressions to ventilations in an adult client for one-person CPR?

• A. 5:01
• B. 1:05
• C. 15:02
• D. 2:15

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 15:2. For one-person CPR on an adult, the ratio of compressions to ventilations is 15:2. This ratio ensures adequate oxygenation while maintaining effective circulation. Choice A (5:1) and Choice B (1:5) are incorrect ratios and do not align with the recommended guidelines for adult CPR. Choice D (2:15) is also incorrect as it reverses the order of compressions and ventilations.

4. A health care provider writes a medication prescription in a client's record. While transcribing the prescription, the nurse notes that the prescribed dose is three times higher than the recommended dose. The nurse calls the health care provider, who states that this is the dose that the client takes at home and that it is acceptable for this client's condition. What is the appropriate action for the nurse to take?

• A. Verifying the prescribed dose with the client before administering the medication
• B. Contacting the nursing supervisor
• C. Asking the nurse assigned to care for the client to administer the medication
• D. Continuing to transcribe the prescription

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse has identified a significant discrepancy between the prescribed dose and the recommended dose. While the health care provider has justified the higher dose based on the client's home regimen, the nurse's primary responsibility is to ensure patient safety. If a nurse has concerns about a prescription being incorrect or potentially harmful, they should seek further clarification from the health care provider. Since the nurse still believes the dose is inappropriate after discussing with the health care provider, the next appropriate action is to contact the nursing supervisor. Continuing to transcribe the prescription without addressing the concern could jeopardize the client's safety. Asking another nurse to administer the medication without proper resolution of the dosage concern would also pose a risk to the client. While verifying the prescribed dose with the client is important, in this situation, the nurse should first escalate the issue to the nursing supervisor to ensure appropriate actions are taken.

5. Under what circumstances is the legal right to confidentiality of client information waived?

• A. When a court system subpoenas information.
• B. When a family member requests health care information of a client.
• C. When a living will takes effect.
• D. When the client is declared incompetent by the legal system.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The legal right to confidentiality of client information is waived when a court system subpoenas information. This occurs when information is required for legal proceedings to occur, such as through summonses, court orders, or litigation information necessary for the court. Subpoenas are legal orders that compel the disclosure of information. The other choices do not inherently waive the legal right to confidentiality. A family member's request for health care information would typically require the client's consent or fall under specific legal exceptions. A living will dictates end-of-life care preferences but does not necessarily waive confidentiality. Lastly, the declaration of incompetence may impact decision-making capacity but does not automatically waive confidentiality.

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