Nursing Elites

1. What are the nursing priorities when caring for a patient with a newly placed peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)?

• A. Performing sterile dressing changes
• B. Educating the patient on PICC line care
• C. Flushing the PICC line as prescribed
• D. Inspecting the insertion site for signs of infection

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Performing sterile dressing changes. When caring for a patient with a newly placed PICC line, one of the nursing priorities is to ensure proper care of the insertion site by performing sterile dressing changes. This helps prevent infections and maintain the integrity of the line. While educating the patient on PICC line care, flushing the PICC line as prescribed, and inspecting the insertion site for signs of infection are important aspects of care, the priority immediately after insertion is to maintain the sterility of the site through proper dressing changes.

2. A nurse is teaching a client about signs of infection after surgery. What statement indicates further teaching is required?

• A. Redness and swelling are normal after surgery
• B. Any drainage from the incision site is not concerning
• C. Yellow drainage is normal
• D. I should monitor for increased redness or warmth

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Any drainage from the incision site should be monitored, and any signs of infection, such as increased redness or warmth, need to be reported to the healthcare provider. Choices A, C, and D provide accurate information about signs of infection after surgery and do not indicate a need for further teaching.

3. A nurse is caring for a patient with an infection. Which laboratory result is most important to monitor?

• A. White blood cell count (WBC)
• B. C-reactive protein (CRP)
• C. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• D. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: White blood cell count (WBC). Monitoring the white blood cell count is crucial when caring for a patient with an infection as it helps assess the body's response to the infection. An elevated white blood cell count often indicates an active infection or inflammation, while a decreasing count may signal improvement or potential complications. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are nonspecific markers of inflammation and not as specific to monitoring infection progression as the white blood cell count. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are important for assessing oxygen-carrying capacity and blood volume, but they are not the primary indicators for monitoring infection.

4. A healthcare professional is preparing to administer the initial dose of ceftriaxone to a client who has endometritis. Which of the following statements by the client should cause the healthcare professional to hold the medication and consult the provider?

• A. I have a severe allergy to amoxicillin
• B. I get sick when I take diuretics
• C. I have a history of hearing problems
• D. I take prednisone for my asthma

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A severe allergy to amoxicillin could indicate a potential cross-reactivity with ceftriaxone, so the medication should be held. Cross-reactivity between penicillins (like amoxicillin) and cephalosporins (like ceftriaxone) is a known concern due to their similar chemical structures. Choices B, C, and D do not directly contraindicate the administration of ceftriaxone for endometritis.

5. A nurse manager assigns a nursing assistant a task outside of their role. What should the nursing assistant do?

• A. Follow the manager's directive
• B. Report the task to the charge nurse
• C. Refuse to perform the task
• D. Perform the task and document later

Correct answer: B

Rationale: If a nurse manager assigns a nursing assistant a task that is outside of their role, the nursing assistant should report the task to the charge nurse. This is important because the charge nurse can provide guidance on whether the task is appropriate for the nursing assistant to perform. Choice A is incorrect because blindly following a directive that is outside of the nursing assistant's scope could lead to negative consequences. Choice C might not be the best course of action initially, as it's important to seek clarification first. Choice D is also not the best option because performing a task outside of one's role without proper authorization can pose risks to both the patient and the nursing assistant.

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