Nursing Elites

1. The parents tell the nurse that their preschooler often awakes from sleep screaming in the middle of the night. The preschooler is not easily comforted and screams if the parents try to restrain the child. What should the nurse instruct the parents to do?

• A. Always read a story to the child before bedtime.
• B. Intervene only if necessary to protect the child from injury.
• C. Discuss counseling options with the primary health care provider.
• D. Try to wake the child and ask the child to describe the dream.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Waking up screaming from sleep at night indicates sleep terrors. The nurse would advise the parents to observe the child and intervene only if there is a risk for injury. Reading a story before bedtime helps calm the child before sleeping, but it does not ensure that the child will not have a sleep terror. There is no need for professional counseling because sleep terrors are a common phenomenon in preschool-age children. Trying to wake the child and asking the child to describe the dream is not appropriate as the child is not aware of anybody's presence during a sleep terror, and this may cause the child to scream and thrash more.

2. A client in a long-term care facility reports to the nurse that he has not had a bowel movement in 2 days. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

• A. Instruct the caregiver to offer a glass of warm prune juice at mealtimes.
• B. Notify the healthcare provider and request a prescription for a large-volume enema.
• C. Assess the client's medical record to determine the client's normal bowel pattern.
• D. Instruct the caregiver to increase the client's fluids to five 8-ounce glasses per day.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The first step in addressing a client's reported change in bowel habits is to assess the client's normal bowel pattern. This assessment helps the nurse understand the client's typical bowel habits and identify any deviations from the norm. By assessing the medical record first, the nurse gains valuable information that guides further interventions. In this scenario, offering prune juice (Option A) or increasing fluids (Option D) may not be appropriate until the client's normal bowel pattern is known. Notifying the healthcare provider for a large-volume enema (Option B) is premature without understanding the client's baseline. Therefore, assessing the client's medical record is the priority before proceeding with any interventions.

3. Which factor is most critical for a single mother of 2 children who recently lost her job and does not know what to do?

• A. Developmental history of children
• B. Available situational supports
• C. Underlying unconscious conflict
• D. Willingness to restructure lifestyle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In a crisis intervention, the priority is to identify available situational supports, such as family, friends, community resources, and social services, that can help the single mother and her children during this difficult time. Understanding the developmental history of the children may be important to assess their needs, but it is not the most critical factor in this immediate crisis. Exploring underlying unconscious conflicts is more suited for long-term therapy rather than crisis intervention. While the willingness to restructure lifestyle may eventually be necessary, the immediate focus should be on finding support systems to address the current crisis.

4. The client believes that the illness is a punishment for sins. Which cultural health belief is the client communicating?

• A. Yin/Yang balance
• B. Biomedical belief
• C. Determinism belief
• D. Magicoreligious belief

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The client is communicating a magicoreligious belief by attributing the illness to punishment for sins. In this belief system, illness is seen as caused by supernatural forces or hexes, often related to spiritual or religious beliefs. The yin/yang balance belief system does not view illness as punishment but rather as an imbalance of opposing forces. Biomedical belief focuses on physical and biochemical processes as the cause of health and illness. Determinism belief revolves around outcomes being preordained and unchangeable, not related to punishment for sins.

5. A client diagnosed with sexual dysfunction states, 'Well, I guess my sex life is over.' Which response would the nurse use as a reply?

• A. I'm sorry to hear that.'
• B. 'Oh, you have a lot of good years left.'
• C. 'You are concerned about your sex life?'
• D. 'Have you asked your primary health care provider about that?'

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The response 'You are concerned about your sex life?' explores the meaning of the statement and allows further expression of concern. It shows empathy and encourages the client to elaborate on their feelings. Choice A, 'I'm sorry to hear that,' does not prompt the client to share more about their concerns and may close off communication. Choice B, 'Oh, you have a lot of good years left,' lacks empathy and understanding of the client's emotions, diverting the focus from the client's feelings. Choice D, 'Have you asked your primary health care provider about that?' shifts the responsibility away from the nurse and may not address the client's emotional needs, potentially making them feel dismissed or embarrassed to seek help.

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