Nursing Elites

1. What is the correct action regarding thigh pressure when comparing it to arm pressure in an adolescent with high blood pressure?

• A. The popliteal artery should be auscultated to obtain thigh pressure.
• B. The best position to measure thigh pressure is the prone position.
• C. If the blood pressure in the arm is high in an adolescent, then it should be compared with the thigh pressure.
• D. Thigh pressure is generally higher than arm pressure due to the proximity to the heart and the size of the popliteal vessels.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When blood pressure measured in the arm is significantly elevated, especially in adolescents and young adults, it is crucial to compare it with thigh pressure to assess for coarctation of the aorta. The popliteal artery, not the femoral artery, should be auscultated for the thigh pressure reading as the femoral artery is closer to the placement of the blood pressure cuff. Generally, thigh pressure is higher than arm pressure; however, if there is coarctation of the artery, arm pressures can be higher than thigh pressures. The preferred position for measuring thigh pressure is the prone position, not supine, with the knee slightly bent to facilitate accurate readings.

2. Which statement by the client with chronic obstructive lung disease indicates an understanding of the major reason for the use of occasional pursed-lip breathing?

• A. ''This action of my lips helps to keep my airway open.''
• B. ''I can expel more air when I pucker up my lips to breathe out.''
• C. ''My mouth doesn't get as dry when I breathe with pursed lips.''
• D. ''By prolonging breathing out with pursed lips, the smaller areas in my lungs don't collapse.''

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have difficulty exhaling fully due to the weak alveolar walls from the disease process. Pursed-lip breathing helps prevent alveolar collapse by maintaining positive pressure in the airways during exhalation. This is the major reason for using pursed-lip breathing in individuals with chronic obstructive lung disease. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not directly address the main purpose of pursed-lip breathing, which is to prevent alveolar collapse and improve exhalation in these patients.

3. After receiving change-of-shift report, which patient should the nurse assess first?

• A. A patient with pneumonia who has crackles in the right lung base
• B. A patient with possible lung cancer who has just returned after bronchoscopy
• C. A patient with hemoptysis and a 16-mm induration with tuberculin skin testing
• D. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary function testing (PFT) that indicates low forced vital capacity

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is the patient with possible lung cancer who has just returned after bronchoscopy. After bronchoscopy, the patient may have decreased cough and gag reflexes, necessitating immediate assessment for airway patency to prevent potential complications. The other patients do not exhibit urgent clinical manifestations or have undergone recent procedures that require immediate attention. Therefore, they can be assessed after ensuring the safety and stability of the patient who has just returned after bronchoscopy.

4. Your patient has finished a 12-ounce can of iced tea and 8 ounces of fresh orange juice. What will you record on the Intake and Output form for this patient's intake?

• A. 20 cc
• B. 20 cm
• C. 600 cc
• D. 600 cm

Correct answer: C

Rationale: You will record 600 cc of fluid intake. There are 600 cc in 20 ounces (12 ounces of iced tea + 8 ounces of orange juice) of fluid intake. Choice A and B are incorrect as they do not reflect the correct conversion of fluid intake from ounces to cubic centimeters. Choice D is incorrect as it provides the measurement in cubic centimeters but does not account for the total fluid intake accurately.

5. A healthcare professional realizes after a patient has left the office that they forgot to document the patient's complaint of a sore throat. Which of the following choices would BEST correct the error?

• A. Pull out that page of the chart and rewrite it with the correct information.
• B. Put one line through the original Chief Complaint, write 'ERROR,' your initials, and today's date. Make the correction by rewriting the Chief Complaint with the correct information.
• C. Go to the next available line of the SOAP notes. Write the current date, then write 'Late Entry.' Place the date and time when the patient stated they had a sore throat. Sign and date the entry.
• D. All of the above are incorrect.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When adding information to a patient's chart after the encounter, using the term 'Late Entry' is essential. This clearly indicates that the information was added after the fact and helps to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the medical record. Option A is incorrect because removing a page from the chart and rewriting it can lead to inaccuracies and is not a recommended practice for correcting errors. Option B suggests marking the original Chief Complaint as an error, which may not be clear to future readers of the chart and could lead to confusion. Option D is incorrect as it dismisses the correct approach outlined in Option C, which is the best way to handle the situation of missed documentation during a patient encounter.

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