Nursing Elites

1. The healthcare professional is using the Glasgow Coma Scale to perform a neurologic assessment. A comatose client winces and pulls away from a painful stimulus. What action should the healthcare professional take next?

• A. Document that the client responds to a painful stimulus.
• B. Observe the client's response to verbal stimulation.
• C. Place the client on seizure precautions for 24 hours.
• D. Report decorticate posturing to the healthcare provider.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The client's response to a painful stimulus indicates a purposeful reaction, which should be accurately documented as per the assessment findings. This documentation is essential for ongoing monitoring and communication of the client's condition to the healthcare team.

2. A client has a nursing diagnosis of Altered sleep patterns related to nocturia. Which client instruction is important for the nurse to provide?

• A. Decrease intake of fluids after the evening meal.
• B. Drink a glass of cranberry juice every day.
• C. Drink a glass of warm decaffeinated beverage at bedtime.
• D. Consult the healthcare provider about a sleeping pill.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct instruction for the nurse to provide is to advise the client to decrease intake of fluids after the evening meal. By reducing fluid intake before bedtime, the client can minimize the need to void during the night, which can help improve sleep patterns affected by nocturia. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Drinking cranberry juice or warm decaffeinated beverage at bedtime may increase fluid intake, exacerbating the nocturia issue. Consulting the healthcare provider about a sleeping pill should not be the first intervention, as it is important to try non-pharmacological approaches first.

3. The caregiver learns the use of a gait belt from the nurse for a woman with right-sided weakness. The caregiver demonstrates the skill. Which observation indicates that the caregiver has learned how to perform this procedure correctly?

• A. Standing on the woman's strong side, the caregiver is ready to hold the gait belt if any evidence of weakness is observed.
• B. Standing on the woman's weak side, the caregiver provides security by holding the gait belt from the back.
• C. Standing behind the woman, the caregiver provides balance by holding both sides of the gait belt.
• D. Standing slightly in front and to the right of the woman, the caregiver guides her forward by gently pulling on the gait belt.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Standing on the weak side of the client and holding the gait belt from the back provides better security and support during ambulation, reducing the risk of falls. This positioning allows the caregiver to offer stability and assistance without interfering with the client's movement, ensuring safe ambulation for the client with right-sided weakness. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not provide the optimal support and security needed for a client with right-sided weakness. Standing on the weak side and holding the gait belt from the back is the most effective way to assist the client while minimizing the risk of falls.

4. A client with a diagnosis of asthma is receiving albuterol (Proventil) via a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Which assessment finding indicates that the medication is effective?

• A. Increased oxygen saturation.
• B. Decreased respiratory rate.
• C. Absence of audible wheezing.
• D. Improved exercise tolerance.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Increased oxygen saturation (A) is the most direct indicator of the effectiveness of albuterol (Proventil) in improving breathing. Oxygen saturation reflects the amount of oxygen in the blood, showing that the albuterol is helping with air exchange in the lungs. While decreased respiratory rate (B), absence of audible wheezing (C), and improved exercise tolerance (D) are positive outcomes, they are secondary to oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation directly reflects the improvement in the client's respiratory status and the effectiveness of the medication.

5. At 0100 on a male client’s second postoperative night, the client states he is unable to sleep and plans to read until feeling sleepy. What action should the nurse implement?

• A. Leave the room and close the door to the client’s room
• B. Assess the appearance of the client’s surgical dressing
• C. Bring the client a prescribed PRN sedative-hypnotic
• D. Discuss symptoms of sleep deprivation with the client

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The client has expressed a plan to read until feeling sleepy, indicating that he is managing his inability to sleep. In this situation, it is best for the nurse to respect the client's autonomy and leave the room, providing privacy and an opportunity for the client to relax and hopefully fall asleep. Closing the door can also help create a quiet environment conducive to rest.

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