Nursing Elites

1. Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action should the healthcare provider take?

• A. Notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately.
• B. Continue to assess the blood pressure every 5 minutes.
• C. Place the woman in a lateral position.
• D. Turn off the continuous epidural.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Placing the woman in a lateral position is the appropriate action to improve venous return and cardiac output, helping to stabilize the blood pressure. This position can alleviate pressure on the inferior vena cava, reducing the risk of hypotension associated with epidural anesthesia. Turning off the continuous epidural would not be the initial action as it may not be necessary and could lead to inadequate pain relief for the client. Notifying the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately is premature and should be done after attempting non-invasive interventions. Continuing to assess the blood pressure every 5 minutes is important, but placing the woman in a lateral position should be the first intervention to address the hypotension.

2. A child with glomerulonephritis is asking for strawberries. What should the nurse do?

• A. Allow the child to eat strawberries.
• B. Restrict the child's diet.
• C. Give the child a low-protein diet.
• D. Increase the child's fluid intake.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In glomerulonephritis, it is crucial to restrict the child's diet, particularly avoiding foods high in potassium like strawberries. Potassium restriction is essential because impaired kidney function in glomerulonephritis can lead to potassium retention, potentially causing hyperkalemia. Therefore, the nurse should restrict the child's diet to manage their condition effectively.

3. In caring for a 4-year-old boy recently diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which characteristic of the disease is most important for the nurse to focus on during the initial teaching?

• A. Lower legs become progressively weaker, causing a waddling, unsteady gait.
• B. Growth and development have been abnormal since birth.
• C. Muscular strength can be regained with physical exercise and therapy.
• D. Respiratory dysfunction and aspiration are prime concerns at this stage of the disease.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a key characteristic is the progressive weakness in the lower legs, leading to a waddling, unsteady gait. The nurse should focus on teaching about this aspect as it helps in understanding the disease's progression and managing the symptoms effectively.

4. During an examination for possible cryptorchidism in an infant, what technique should be used?

• A. Place the infant in a warm room and use a calm approach.
• B. Hold the scrotum and palpate gently.
• C. Cleanse the penis with an antiseptic-soaked pad.
• D. Position the infant in a warm room to prevent muscle contraction.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When examining an infant for cryptorchidism, it is important to position the infant in a warm room to prevent muscle contraction, which could cause the testes to retract. Placing the infant in a side-lying position may not be necessary for this specific examination. Holding the penis or retracting the foreskin is not relevant to the assessment for cryptorchidism. Cleansing the penis with an antiseptic pad is not indicated for this examination.

5. Which physical assessment data should the nurse consider a normal finding for a primigravida client who is 12 hours postpartum?

• A. Unilateral lower leg pain.
• B. Saturating two perineal pads per hour.
• C. Pulse rate of 56 bpm.
• D. Soft, spongy fundus.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A pulse rate of 56 bpm is a normal finding for a primigravida client who is 12 hours postpartum. Bradycardia (pulse rate 50-70 bpm) can be a normal postpartum occurrence due to increased stroke volume and decreased cardiac output after delivery. Unilateral lower leg pain and saturating two perineal pads per hour are not normal findings and require further assessment. A soft, spongy fundus could indicate uterine atony, which is abnormal postpartum.

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