Nursing Elites

1. When admitting a client, what information should the nurse record in the client’s record first?

• A. Assessment of the client
• B. Client’s medical history
• C. Plan of care
• D. Vital signs

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When admitting a client, the nurse's first step should be to assess the client. Assessment is crucial as it helps establish a baseline of the client's condition, identify any immediate concerns, and guide the development of an individualized plan of care. Recording the client's medical history, plan of care, or vital signs may follow the initial assessment but are secondary to the primary assessment process.

2. A client with a terminal illness and approaching death has noisy respirations and is short of breath. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Elevate the head of the client's bed
• B. Administer an opioid medication
• C. Perform oral suctioning
• D. Place the client in a prone position

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Elevating the head of the client's bed is the most appropriate action in this situation. It helps reduce noisy respirations and improves comfort for clients with terminal illnesses by facilitating better air exchange. Administering an opioid medication may not address the immediate issue of noisy respirations and shortness of breath caused by secretions in the airway. Performing oral suctioning without proper assessment and indication can be uncomfortable for the client and may not be necessary. Placing the client in a prone position can further compromise breathing and is not recommended for a client with respiratory distress.

3. A client admitted with sudden onset of severe back pain of unknown origin. Which statement would be most effective for the nurse to use to elicit further information from this client about his pain?

• A. Tell me how you are feeling right now.
• B. Describe the pain you are experiencing.
• C. Can you tell me more about your back pain?
• D. When did the pain start and how severe is it?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Describe the pain you are experiencing.' This question is the most effective as it prompts the client to provide detailed information about the nature of the pain, including its characteristics, intensity, and location. This detailed description can help the nurse in assessing the possible cause and severity of the pain. Choices A, C, and D are not as effective as they are either too general ('Tell me how you are feeling right now'), redundant ('Can you tell me more about your back pain?'), or focused only on timing and severity ('When did the pain start and how severe is it?').

4. When using an open irrigation technique to irrigate a client's indwelling urinary catheter, which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Place the client in a side-lying position
• B. Instill 15 mL of irrigation fluid into the catheter with each flush
• C. Subtract the amount of irrigant used from the client's urine output
• D. Perform the irrigation using a 20 mL syringe

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take when using an open irrigation technique on a client with an indwelling urinary catheter is to subtract the amount of irrigant used from the client's urine output. This calculation helps ensure an accurate measurement of the client's actual urine output by accounting for the irrigation fluid introduced into the catheter. Placing the client in a side-lying position (Choice A) is not directly related to the irrigation procedure. Instilling a specific volume of irrigation fluid (Choice B) may vary depending on the client's condition and the healthcare provider's order. Using a 20 mL syringe for irrigation (Choice D) is a matter of equipment choice and does not directly impact the calculation of urine output in this context.

5. When preparing for a change of shift, which document or tools should a healthcare provider use to communicate?

• A. SBAR
• B. SOAP
• C. PIE
• D. DAR

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is a structured method for communicating information during shift changes. SBAR provides a clear and concise way for healthcare providers to communicate important details about a patient's condition, ensuring that essential information is effectively transferred between providers. Choice B, SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), is a method primarily used for documentation in patient charts, not for shift change communication. Choice C, PIE (Problem, Intervention, Evaluation), is a nursing process format for organizing nursing care that focuses on individualized patient care plans, not shift handoff communication. Choice D, DAR (Data, Action, Response), is not a standard format for provider-to-provider handoff communication and is less commonly used in healthcare settings compared to SBAR.

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