Nursing Elites

1. When planning care for a client with ulcerative colitis who is experiencing symptoms, which client care activities can the nurse appropriately delegate to a unlicensed assistant?

• A. Assessing the client's bowel sounds
• B. administration of pain medication every 4 hours
• C. Evaluating the client's response to antidiarrheal medications
• D. Maintaining intake and output records

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Delegating tasks such as providing skin care, maintaining intake and output records, and obtaining the client's weight are within the scope of practice for an unlicensed assistant. Assessing bowel sounds and evaluating the response to medications require nursing judgment and should not be delegated.

2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

• A. Bloody diarrhea
• B. Fatty stools
• C. Weight gain
• D. High fever

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Clients with Crohn's disease often experience fatty stools (steatorrhea) due to malabsorption of fats. This occurs because the inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can affect the small intestine, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Bloody diarrhea is more commonly associated with ulcerative colitis. Weight gain is not a typical symptom of Crohn's disease; instead, weight loss is more common due to malabsorption and decreased appetite. High fever can occur during acute flare-ups but is not a primary finding of Crohn's disease.

3. A client is taking an antacid for treatment of a peptic ulcer. Which of the following statements best indicates that the client understands how to correctly take the antacid?

• A. I should take my antacid before I take my other medications.
• B. I need to decrease my intake of fluids so that I don’t dilute the effects of my antacid.
• C. My antacid will be most effective if I take it whenever I experience stomach pains.
• D. It is best for me to take my antacid 1 to 3 hours after meals.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: It is best for the client to take the antacid 1 to 3 hours after meals to ensure effectiveness.

4. Which of the following symptoms would a client in the early stages of peritonitis exhibit?

• A. Abdominal distention
• B. Abdominal pain and rigidity
• C. Hyperactive bowel sounds
• D. Right upper quadrant pain

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the early stages of peritonitis, the client would exhibit abdominal pain and rigidity due to inflammation.

5. A Penrose drain is in place on the first postoperative day following a cholecystectomy. Serosanguineous drainage is noted on the dressing covering the drain. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

• A. Notify the physician.
• B. Change the dressing.
• C. Circle the amount on the dressing with a pen.
• D. Continue to monitor the drainage.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Serosanguineous drainage with a small amount of bile is expected from the Penrose drain for the first 24 hours. Drainage then decreases, and the drain is removed usually within 48 hours. The nurse does not need to notify the physician. A sterile dressing covers the site and should be changed to prevent infection and skin excoriation.

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