Nursing Elites

1. What action should be taken to maintain the patency of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)?

• A. Flush the catheter with heparin solution daily.
• B. Change the dressing at the insertion site daily.
• C. Use sterile technique when changing the dressing.
• D. Keep the insertion site dry at all times.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is to use sterile technique when changing the dressing. This practice is essential for preventing infections that can compromise the patency of the PICC line. While flushing the catheter with heparin solution helps prevent clot formation, it does not directly maintain patency. Changing the dressing daily is important for hygiene but does not have a direct impact on catheter patency. Keeping the insertion site dry is crucial to prevent infections but does not specifically address patency maintenance.

2. When assessing a patient's feet, the nurse notices that the toenails are thick and separated from the nail bed. What does the nurse most likely suspect is the cause of this condition?

• A. Fungi
• B. Friction
• C. Nail polish
• D. Nail polish remover

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The nurse would most likely suspect fungi as the cause of thickened and separated toenails. Fungal infections can lead to changes in the nail structure, causing them to thicken and separate from the nail bed. Friction, nail polish, and nail polish remover are less likely to cause these specific nail changes. Friction typically leads to calluses or blisters, while nail polish and nail polish remover do not commonly result in thickened and separated toenails.

3. During the initial morning assessment, a male client denies dysuria but reports that his urine appears dark amber. Which intervention should the LPN/LVN implement?

• A. Provide additional coffee on the client's breakfast tray.
• B. Exchange the client's grape juice for cranberry juice.
• C. Bring the client additional fruit at mid-morning.
• D. Encourage additional oral intake of juices and water.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Encouraging additional oral intake of juices and water is the appropriate intervention in this scenario. Dark amber urine can indicate concentrated urine due to dehydration or other factors. By encouraging more fluids, the LPN/LVN can help dilute the urine, reducing the concentration of pigments causing the dark color. Providing additional coffee (Choice A) would not necessarily increase hydration and could potentially have a diuretic effect. Exchanging grape juice for cranberry juice (Choice B) does not address the core issue of hydration. Bringing additional fruit (Choice C) may provide some fluid, but encouraging specific fluids like juices and water would be more effective in diluting the urine.

4. During an assessment, a healthcare professional observes significant tenting of the skin over an older adult client's forearm. What factor should the healthcare professional primarily consider as a cause for this finding?

• A. Thin, parchment-like skin
• B. Loss of adipose tissue
• C. Dehydration
• D. Diminished skin elasticity

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Dehydration is the primary factor to consider in this scenario. Dehydration leads to decreased skin turgor and tenting, where the skin does not return to its normal position when pinched. While thin, parchment-like skin, loss of adipose tissue, and diminished skin elasticity can contribute to skin changes, they are not the primary cause of the significant tenting observed.

5. A nurse is talking with an adolescent who is having difficulty dealing with several issues. Which of the following issues should the nurse identify as the priority?

• A. “I kind of like this boy in my class, but he doesn’t like me back.”
• B. “I want to hang out with the kids in the science club, but the jocks pick on them.”
• C. “I am so fat, I skip meals to try to lose weight.”
• D. “My dad wants me to be a lawyer like him, but I just want to dance.”

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Skipping meals to lose weight may indicate an eating disorder or significant distress, which can have serious health implications. This behavior raises concerns about the adolescent's physical and mental well-being. The nurse should prioritize addressing potential eating disorders and body image issues in this situation. Choices A, B, and D, while important, do not pose an immediate risk to the adolescent's health or well-being compared to the potential consequences of disordered eating behavior.

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