Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is preparing to administer a medication through a nasogastric (NG) tube. Which action should the LPN/LVN take to ensure proper administration?

• A. Check the placement of the tube by auscultation.
• B. Flush the tube with 30 ml of water before and after medication administration.
• C. Administer the medication with food to prevent nausea.
• D. Dilute the medication with normal saline before administration.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: To ensure proper administration through a nasogastric tube, the LPN/LVN should flush the tube with 30 ml of water before and after medication administration. This action helps ensure the tube is patent, prevents clogging, and helps deliver the medication effectively. Checking the placement of the tube by auscultation (Choice A) is essential but does not directly relate to ensuring proper administration. Administering the medication with food (Choice C) may not always be appropriate for all medications and may not necessarily prevent nausea. Diluting the medication with normal saline (Choice D) is not a standard practice for all medications administered via an NG tube and may alter the medication's effectiveness.

2. During a follow-up visit, a home health nurse notices that a client with a gastrostomy tube, who receives intermittent feedings and medications, has developed diarrhea. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a possible cause of the diarrhea?

• A. The client’s caregiver washes out the feeding bag once every 24 hours with warm water.
• B. The client’s caregiver washes out the feeding bag with hot water every 24 hours.
• C. The client’s caregiver changes the feeding bag every 48 hours.
• D. The client’s caregiver adds water to the formula before administration.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Washing out the feeding bag once every 24 hours with warm water can lead to bacterial growth due to inadequate cleaning, potentially causing diarrhea. Hot water, as in choice B, can also promote bacterial growth, which is not desirable. Changing the feeding bag every 48 hours, like in choice C, is within an acceptable timeframe and is unlikely to be a cause of diarrhea. Adding water to the formula before administration, as in choice D, is a common practice to dilute the formula but is not typically associated with causing diarrhea in this scenario.

3. A nurse in a health clinic is caring for a 20-year-old client who tells the nurse that their last physical exam was in high school. Which of the following health screenings should the nurse expect the provider to perform for this client?

• A. Testicular examination
• B. Blood glucose
• C. Fecal occult blood
• D. Prostate-specific antigen

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A testicular examination is appropriate for a 20-year-old male to screen for testicular cancer, which is more common in younger age groups. Testicular cancer is most frequently diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 15 and 40. Blood glucose screening is typically recommended for older individuals or those at risk for diabetes. Fecal occult blood testing is used for colorectal cancer screening, usually starting at age 50. Prostate-specific antigen testing is commonly considered for prostate cancer screening in older males, typically around age 50. Therefore, the most appropriate screening for the 20-year-old client is the testicular examination.

4. A healthcare professional is instructing an AP about caring for a client who has a low platelet count. Which of the following instructions is the priority for measuring vital signs for this client?

• A. Avoid measuring the client’s temperature rectally.
• B. Count the client’s radial pulse for 30 seconds and multiply it by 2.
• C. Count the client’s respirations discreetly.
• D. Allow the client to rest for 5 minutes before measuring their BP.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to avoid measuring the client’s temperature rectally. Rectal temperatures can cause bleeding in clients with low platelet counts. It is crucial to avoid invasive methods that could increase the risk of bleeding or discomfort. Choice B, counting the radial pulse, is not directly related to the risk of bleeding in a client with low platelet count. Choice C, counting respirations discreetly, is important for accuracy but is not the priority when considering the risk of bleeding. Choice D, letting the client rest before measuring blood pressure, is beneficial but is not the priority in preventing potential harm due to low platelet counts.

5. A nurse manager is preparing to review practice guidelines with a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include that is within the RN scope of practice?

• A. Insert an implanted port
• B. Close a laceration with sutures
• C. Place an endotracheal tube
• D. Initiate an enteral feeding through a gastrostomy tube

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Initiate an enteral feeding through a gastrostomy tube. It is within the RN scope of practice for nurses to initiate enteral feedings through nasoenteric, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy tubes. Options A, B, and C involve procedures that typically fall within the scope of other healthcare professionals. Inserting an implanted port is often performed by specialized nurses or physicians, closing a laceration with sutures is usually done by healthcare providers with specific training in wound care, and placing an endotracheal tube is a procedure commonly carried out by anesthesiologists or respiratory therapists.

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