Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is caring for a client who has just returned from surgery with an indwelling urinary catheter in place. What is the most important assessment for the nurse to make?

• A. Check for catheter patency
• B. Assess the color of the urine
• C. Measure the urine output
• D. Ensure the catheter tubing is secure

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The most important assessment for the nurse to make in this situation is to measure the urine output. This assessment is crucial in monitoring kidney function and fluid balance after surgery. While checking for catheter patency is important, it is not as critical as measuring urine output. Assessing the color of the urine can provide some information about kidney function, but measuring output gives a more accurate assessment. Ensuring the catheter tubing is secure is essential to prevent dislodgement but is not the most critical assessment to make at this time.

2. The nurse is caring for a 75-year-old male client who is beginning to form a decubitus ulcer at the coccyx. Which intervention will be most helpful in preventing further development of the decubitus ulcer?

• A. Encourage the client to eat foods high in protein
• B. Assess the client for daily range of motion exercises
• C. Teach the family how to perform sterile wound care
• D. Ensure the IV fluids are administered as prescribed

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Encouraging the client to eat foods high in protein is crucial in preventing further development of decubitus ulcers as high protein foods support tissue repair and skin integrity. Adequate protein intake is essential for wound healing. Assessing the client for daily range of motion exercises is important for preventing complications related to immobility, but it may not directly address the prevention of decubitus ulcers. Teaching the family how to perform sterile wound care is significant for wound management but may not be the most effective intervention to prevent further development of decubitus ulcers. Ensuring IV fluids are administered as prescribed is essential for maintaining hydration status but is not the most relevant intervention for preventing decubitus ulcers.

3. The nurse is monitoring a client's intravenous infusion and observes that the venipuncture site is cool to the touch, swollen, and the infusion rate is slower than the prescribed rate. What is the most likely cause of this finding?

• A. The solution's rate is too rapid
• B. The client has phlebitis
• C. The infusion site is infected
• D. The infusion is infiltrated

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. An infiltrated IV occurs when fluid leaks into the surrounding tissue, causing coolness, swelling, and a slow infusion rate. Choice A is incorrect because a rapid solution rate does not typically cause these specific symptoms. Choice B, phlebitis, presents with redness, warmth, and tenderness along the vein, not coolness. Choice C, infection, usually manifests with redness, warmth, and possibly purulent drainage, not coolness and swelling.

4. The nurse is teaching a client with hypertension about lifestyle modifications. Which recommendation is most effective for lowering blood pressure?

• A. Increase intake of red meat
• B. Engage in regular physical activity
• C. Consume a high-sodium diet
• D. Limit fluid intake to 1 liter per day

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Engaging in regular physical activity is a highly effective recommendation for lowering blood pressure and improving overall cardiovascular health. Regular exercise helps to strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and manage weight, all of which contribute to reducing blood pressure levels. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Increasing intake of red meat can lead to higher saturated fat consumption, which is detrimental to heart health. Consuming a high-sodium diet can exacerbate hypertension by increasing blood pressure. Limiting fluid intake to 1 liter per day may lead to dehydration and is not a recommended approach for managing hypertension.

5. When counting a client's radial pulse, the nurse notes the pulse is weak and irregular. To record the most accurate heart rate, what should the nurse do?

• A. Recheck the radial pulse in thirty minutes
• B. Palpate the radial pulse for thirty seconds and double the rate
• C. Count the apical pulse rate for sixty seconds
• D. Compare the radial pulse rate bilaterally and record the higher rate

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is to count the apical pulse rate for sixty seconds. The apical pulse is more accurate, especially when peripheral pulses are weak or irregular. Counting the apical pulse for a full minute provides a more precise heart rate measurement. Option A is incorrect because waiting for thirty minutes is unnecessary and could delay potential interventions. Option B is incorrect because doubling the radial pulse rate may not provide an accurate representation of the heart rate. Option D is incorrect because comparing radial pulses bilaterally does not give the most accurate heart rate measurement; the apical pulse is preferred in this situation.

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