Nursing Elites

1. The mother of a child who had a cleft palate repair 4 days ago is receiving home care instructions. Which statement by the mother indicates the need for further instruction?

• A. ''I will use a short nipple on the bottle.''
• B. ''I should avoid using straws for drinking.''
• C. ''I can give my child the pacifier in 2 weeks.''
• D. ''I may give my baby food mixed with water.''

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is ''I should avoid using straws for drinking.'' After a cleft palate repair, the child should avoid straws, pacifiers, spoons, and fingers near the mouth for 7 to 10 days to prevent injury to the surgical site. Allowing the child to use a straw can create negative pressure in the mouth, potentially disrupting the healing process. The other options are appropriate postoperative instructions for a child who had a cleft palate repair and do not pose a risk to the surgical site.

2. A patient with newly diagnosed lung cancer tells the nurse, 'I don't think I'm going to live to see my next birthday.' Which response by the nurse is best?

• A. Would you like to talk to the hospital chaplain about your feelings?
• B. Can you tell me what it is that makes you think you will die so soon?
• C. Are you afraid that the treatment for your cancer will not be effective?
• D. Do you think that taking an antidepressant medication would be helpful?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The nurse's initial response should be to collect more assessment data about the patient's statement. The answer beginning 'Can you tell me what it is' is the most open-ended question and will offer the best opportunity for obtaining more data. The answer beginning 'Are you afraid' implies that the patient thinks that the cancer will be immediately fatal, although the patient's statement may not be related to the cancer diagnosis. The remaining two answers offer interventions that may be helpful to the patient, but more assessment is needed to determine whether these interventions are appropriate.

3. What intervention should the nurse implement while a client is having a grand mal seizure?

• A. Open the jaw and place a bite block between the teeth
• B. Try to place the client on his side
• C. Restrain the client to prevent injury
• D. Place pillows around the client

Correct answer: B

Rationale: During a grand mal seizure, the client is at risk of injury due to severe, involuntary muscle spasms and contractions. It is crucial for the nurse to avoid restraining the client or inserting objects into their mouth, as these actions may lead to further harm. Placing the client on their side can help facilitate the drainage of oral secretions and assist in maintaining an open airway, reducing the risk of aspiration. Restraint should be avoided as it can exacerbate muscle contractions and increase the risk of injury. Placing pillows around the client may not provide adequate support or protection during the seizure, making it a less effective intervention compared to positioning the client on their side.

4. A newborn infant in the nursery has developed vomiting, poor feeding, lethargy, and respiratory distress, and has been diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis. Which of the following nursing interventions is most appropriate for this infant?

• A. Feed the infant 30 cc of sterile water
• B. Position the infant on his back
• C. Administer antibiotics as ordered
• D. Allow the infant to breastfeed

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious condition characterized by ischemic bowel, leading to gastrointestinal symptoms, lethargy, poor feeding, and respiratory distress. In the management of NEC, it is crucial to stop oral feedings, insert a nasogastric tube for decompression, and administer antibiotics as prescribed by the physician. Therefore, the most appropriate nursing intervention for an infant with NEC is to administer antibiotics as ordered. Choice A, feeding the infant sterile water, is incorrect because oral feedings should be stopped in NEC. Choice B, positioning the infant on his back, is not directly related to the treatment of NEC. Choice D, allowing the infant to breastfeed, is contraindicated in NEC as oral feedings should be ceased to prevent further complications.

5. When auscultating the patient's lungs during a shift assessment on a patient admitted in the early phase of heart failure, which finding would the nurse most likely hear?

• A. Continuous rumbling, snoring, or rattling sounds mainly on expiration
• B. Continuous high-pitched musical sounds on inspiration and expiration
• C. Discontinuous, high-pitched sounds of short duration heard on inspiration
• D. A series of long-duration, discontinuous, low-pitched sounds during inspiration

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In the early phase of heart failure, fine crackles are likely to be heard upon auscultation of the lungs. Fine crackles are characterized as discontinuous, high-pitched sounds of short duration heard on inspiration. Rhonchi are continuous rumbling, snoring, or rattling sounds mainly on expiration, which are often associated with airway secretions. Coarse crackles are a series of long-duration, discontinuous, low-pitched sounds during inspiration, typically indicating fluid in the alveoli. Wheezes are continuous high-pitched musical sounds on inspiration and expiration, commonly heard in conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, the correct choice is C, as it describes the expected lung sounds in a patient with early heart failure.

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