Nursing Elites

1. What is the priority nursing action for a patient with shortness of breath?

• A. Administer oxygen
• B. Reposition the patient
• C. Check oxygen saturation
• D. Elevate the head of the bed

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering oxygen is the priority nursing action for a patient experiencing shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy aims to improve oxygenation levels quickly, addressing the underlying cause of the symptom. Repositioning the patient, checking oxygen saturation, and elevating the head of the bed are important interventions but administering oxygen takes precedence in this scenario to ensure adequate oxygen supply to the body.

2. A client is 2 hours postoperative following a total knee arthroplasty. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

• A. Heart rate 88/min
• B. Capillary refill of 2 seconds
• C. Pain level of 8 on a scale of 0 to 10
• D. Temperature of 37.8°C (100°F)

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A pain level of 8 is high and may indicate inadequate pain control or complications following surgery. Monitoring and managing pain is crucial postoperatively to ensure patient comfort and prevent complications. A heart rate of 88/min, capillary refill of 2 seconds, and a temperature of 37.8°C (100°F) are within normal ranges and do not typically require immediate reporting unless in the context of other concerning signs or symptoms.

3. A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider?

• A. Increased hoarseness
• B. Serum calcium level of 8.0 mg/dL
• C. Respiratory rate of 18/min
• D. Urinary output of 60 mL in 2 hours

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Serum calcium level of 8.0 mg/dL.' A low serum calcium level indicates hypocalcemia, which is a potential complication of thyroidectomy that can lead to life-threatening consequences, such as tetany or laryngospasm. Therefore, it is crucial for the nurse to report this finding promptly to the provider for timely intervention. Choices A, C, and D are important assessments following a thyroidectomy but are not as critical as detecting and addressing hypocalcemia, which can have serious implications for the client's health.

4. A healthcare professional is preparing to administer enoxaparin to a client. Which of the following actions should the healthcare professional take?

• A. Administer the medication intramuscularly.
• B. Inject the medication into the lateral abdominal wall.
• C. Massage the injection site after administration.
• D. Discard the prefilled syringe after expelling the air bubble.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to inject the medication into the lateral abdominal wall when administering enoxaparin. This is the recommended technique to ensure proper absorption and prevent tissue damage. Choice A is incorrect because enoxaparin should be administered subcutaneously, not intramuscularly. Choice C is incorrect as massaging the injection site after administration is not recommended, as it can cause bruising and discomfort. Choice D is incorrect because the prefilled syringe should not be discarded after expelling the air bubble; it should be used for the injection.

5. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which of the following resources should the nurse provide?

• A. Personal blogs about managing diabetes medications.
• B. Food label recommendations from the Institute of Medicine.
• C. Diabetes medication information from the Physicians' Desk Reference.
• D. Food exchange lists for meal planning from the American Diabetes Association.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Food exchange lists are valuable resources for individuals with diabetes as they provide structured meal planning guidance. This helps individuals manage their diabetes effectively by controlling their carbohydrate intake. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because personal blogs may not provide reliable and evidence-based information, food label recommendations from the Institute of Medicine may not be specific for diabetes meal planning, and diabetes medication information from the Physicians' Desk Reference is not directly related to meal planning for diabetes management.

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