Nursing Elites

1. What are the key components of a focused respiratory assessment, and how do you recognize signs of respiratory distress?

• A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
• B. Palpation, Inspection, Observation, Auscultation
• C. Percussion, Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation
• D. Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation, Palpation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation. A focused respiratory assessment should start with inspection (observing the breathing pattern), followed by palpation (feeling for abnormalities like crepitus), percussion (evaluating for dullness or hyperresonance), and auscultation (listening to lung sounds). This systematic approach helps to identify signs of respiratory distress, such as abnormal breath sounds, increased respiratory rate, use of accessory muscles, and cyanosis. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not follow the standard order and sequence of a focused respiratory assessment.

2. A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is planning assignments for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who has been sent from the postpartum unit due to a staffing shortage for the shift. Which of the following client assignments should the nurse delegate to the LPN?

• A. A client who is postoperative following a bowel resection with an NGT set to continuous suction.
• B. A client who has fractured a femur yesterday and is experiencing shortness of breath.
• C. A client who sustained a concussion and has unequal pupils.
• D. A client who has an Hgb of 6.3 g/dl and a prescription for packed RBCs.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the LPN can care for stable clients with complex needs, such as managing an NGT set to continuous suction. Choices B, C, and D involve clients with more acute conditions that require a higher level of assessment and intervention, making them unsuitable for delegation to an LPN. Choice B requires prompt evaluation of the shortness of breath in a client with a recent femur fracture, which is beyond the LPN's scope. Choice C involves a head injury and unequal pupils, indicating the need for neurological assessment and close monitoring. Choice D relates to a critically low hemoglobin level and the need for blood transfusion, requiring careful monitoring and potential intervention beyond the LPN's role.

3. What intervention is essential for a client with dehydration?

• A. Monitor electrolyte levels regularly
• B. Administer oral rehydration solutions
• C. Increase fluid intake to maintain hydration
• D. Administer intravenous fluids to treat dehydration

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Administering oral rehydration solutions is essential for a client with dehydration as it helps replenish lost fluids and electrolytes directly through the oral route. Monitoring electrolyte levels regularly (Choice A) is important but not as essential as providing immediate rehydration. Increasing fluid intake to maintain hydration (Choice C) may not be sufficient for a client already dehydrated and needing rapid replenishment. Administering intravenous fluids (Choice D) is a more invasive intervention typically reserved for severe cases of dehydration or when the client cannot tolerate oral fluids.

4. A healthcare professional is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. What is the healthcare professional's first action?

• A. Check the client's temperature
• B. Verify that the client's blood type matches the blood product
• C. Administer the blood through an IV push
• D. Ensure the blood is warmed before administration

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The healthcare professional's first action before administering a blood transfusion should be to verify that the client's blood type matches the blood product. This step is crucial to ensure compatibility and prevent potentially severe transfusion reactions. Checking the client's temperature (Choice A) is important but not the first action in this scenario. Administering the blood through an IV push (Choice C) is incorrect as blood transfusions are typically administered as a slow infusion. Ensuring the blood is warmed before administration (Choice D) is not the first action and is not a standard practice in blood transfusions.

5. A client post-surgery has a chest tube. What is the most important assessment for the nurse to perform?

• A. Clamp the chest tube for 30 minutes every 4 hours
• B. Check for air leaks and ensure the chest tube is functioning properly
• C. Position the client in a high Fowler's position
• D. Encourage frequent coughing to clear secretions

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to check for air leaks and ensure the chest tube is functioning properly. This is crucial post-surgery to prevent complications such as pneumothorax or hemothorax. Clamping the chest tube, positioning the client, or encouraging coughing are not appropriate assessments for a client with a chest tube post-surgery and could lead to serious issues if done incorrectly.

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