Nursing Elites

1. When measuring vital signs, the healthcare provider observes that a client is using accessory neck muscles during respirations. What follow-up action should the healthcare provider take first?

• A. Determine pulse pressure
• B. Auscultate heart sounds
• C. Measure oxygen saturation
• D. Check for neck vein distention

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Observing a client using accessory neck muscles during respiration indicates respiratory distress. The priority action should be to measure oxygen saturation to assess the adequacy of oxygenation. This intervention provides crucial information about the client's respiratory status and helps guide further assessment and interventions.

2. The nurse finds a client crying behind a locked bathroom door. The client will not open the door. Which action should the nurse implement first?

• A. Instruct an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to stay and keep talking to the client.
• B. Sit quietly in the client's room until the client leaves the bathroom.
• C. Allow the client to cry alone and leave the client in the bathroom.
• D. Talk to the client and attempt to find out why the client is crying.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When encountering a client in distress, the nurse's initial response should be to communicate with the client to assess the situation and provide support. By talking to the client and attempting to find out the reason for their distress, the nurse can offer appropriate assistance and ensure the client's well-being. This action prioritizes the client's emotional needs and helps establish a therapeutic relationship, which is essential in nursing care.

3. A client has an elevated AST 24 hours following chest pain and shortness of breath. This is suggestive of which of the following?

• A. Gallbladder disease
• B. Liver disease
• C. Myocardial infarction
• D. Skeletal muscle injury

Correct answer: C

Rationale: An elevated AST level following chest pain and shortness of breath is suggestive of myocardial infarction. AST is released from damaged heart muscle cells during a heart attack, indicating cardiac involvement. This enzyme is not specific to liver disease, gallbladder disease, or skeletal muscle injury in this clinical context.

4. A Native American individual presents to the clinic with complaints of frequent abdominal cramping and nausea. They state that they have chronic constipation and have not had a bowel movement in five days, despite trying several home remedies. Which intervention is most important for the healthcare provider to implement?

• A. Evaluate the stool samples for the presence of blood
• B. Assess for the presence of an impaction
• C. Determine which home remedies were used
• D. Obtain a list of prescribed medications

Correct answer: C

Rationale: It is crucial to determine which home remedies the individual has tried to avoid interactions with prescribed treatments and consider cultural practices that may influence their healthcare choices. Understanding the home remedies used can provide insights into the individual's health beliefs, preferences, and potential interactions with conventional treatments, allowing for a more holistic approach to their care.

5. When preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter, the nurse applies sterile gloves and then tests the catheter balloon for patency. What action should the nurse implement next?

• A. Place a sterile drape under the client's buttocks.
• B. Instruct the client to inhale and then exhale slowly.
• C. Discard the gloves and apply new sterile gloves.
• D. Apply a sterile lubricant to the end of the catheter.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: After testing the catheter balloon for patency, the nurse should proceed to apply a sterile lubricant to the end of the catheter. This lubrication helps facilitate the insertion of the catheter smoothly. Placing a sterile drape under the client's buttocks should have been done prior to this step. Discarding the gloves and applying new sterile gloves is not necessary at this point in the procedure. Instructing the client to inhale and exhale slowly is not part of the immediate steps for inserting an indwelling urinary catheter.

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