Nursing Elites

1. The wife of an older adult man who has had diabetes mellitus for the past 10 years reports to the home health nurse that her husband fell yesterday while taking his daily walk in the neighborhood. He has a bruised hand and a small abrasion on his left knee. The nurse assesses that his neurologic vital signs are stable. To reduce the risk for future falls, which assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain?

• A. current blood sugar level
• B. degree of paresthesia in feet
• C. wound healing of knee abrasion
• D. A1c glycosylated hemoglobin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Assessing for paresthesia (numbness or tingling) in the feet is crucial in this scenario as it can help determine if the client has a loss of sensation, which increases the risk of falls. Paresthesia is a common complication of diabetes that can lead to decreased sensation and proprioception in the feet, contributing to balance issues and an increased risk of falls. Monitoring for paresthesia allows the nurse to assess the extent of sensory impairment and implement appropriate interventions to prevent future falls. While monitoring blood sugar levels (choice A) and A1c levels (choice D) are important in managing diabetes, in this case, assessing paresthesia takes precedence due to its direct impact on fall risk. Similarly, while monitoring the wound healing of the knee abrasion (choice C) is important for overall wound care, it is not directly related to reducing the risk of future falls in this situation.

2. A teenage boy with a history of recurring atopic dermatitis (eczema) tells the school nurse that he wants to play high school football. Which action should the nurse take?

• A. encourage the teenager to join the swim team instead of the football team
• B. notify the parents of the problems associated with perspiration for those with eczema
• C. tell the teenager to shower with a non-perfumed soap immediately after practice
• D. inform the football coach of the teenager's skin condition and its manifestations

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to advise the teenager to shower with a non-perfumed soap immediately after practice. This recommendation can help reduce the risk of eczema flare-ups by removing sweat and irritants from the skin. Choice A is incorrect as it does not address the specific concerns related to eczema and football. Choice B, notifying the parents of perspiration problems, is not as direct as instructing the teenager on proper skincare. Choice D, informing the football coach, is not the most immediate and relevant action to address the teenager's individual needs.

3. An adolescent tells the school nurse that she is pregnant. Her last menstrual period was 4 months ago. She has not received any medical care. She smokes but denies any other substance use. What is the priority nursing action?

• A. notify her parents
• B. refer her for prenatal care
• C. teach breastfeeding methods
• D. offer nutritional instructions

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to refer her for prenatal care. Prenatal care is essential to monitor the health of both the mother and the fetus during pregnancy. While notifying her parents may be important for support and involvement, the priority is ensuring the adolescent receives medical care. Teaching breastfeeding methods and offering nutritional instructions are important but are not the immediate priority in this situation where prenatal care is urgently needed.

4. A client with a history of myocardial infarction is prescribed aspirin therapy. Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's teaching plan?

• A. Take aspirin with food.
• B. Take aspirin at the same time every day.
• C. Avoid taking aspirin with alcohol.
• D. Discontinue aspirin if you experience ringing in your ears.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct instruction for the nurse to include in the client's teaching plan is to avoid taking aspirin with alcohol. Combining aspirin with alcohol can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and other complications. Taking aspirin with food helps reduce stomach upset, but it is not the most crucial instruction in this scenario. While taking aspirin at the same time every day can help with consistency, it is not as critical as avoiding alcohol. Discontinuing aspirin if experiencing ringing in the ears is important to address potential side effects, but it is not directly related to preventing complications when combining with alcohol.

5. The healthcare professional is preparing a presentation on the impact of substance abuse on families. Which approach is most effective for engaging the audience?

• A. showing statistical data on substance abuse rates
• B. sharing personal stories from individuals affected by substance abuse
• C. distributing informational brochures on substance abuse
• D. providing a list of local substance abuse treatment centers

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Sharing personal stories from individuals affected by substance abuse is the most effective approach for engaging the audience. Personal stories evoke emotions, create empathy, and make the impact of substance abuse more relatable and tangible for the audience. This approach helps in fostering a deeper understanding of the real-life consequences of substance abuse on families. The other options, such as showing statistical data (choice A), distributing informational brochures (choice C), and providing a list of treatment centers (choice D), may be informative but may not engage the audience on an emotional level as effectively as personal stories.

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