Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following patients should the home care nurse assess first?

• A. A 65-year-old male with known COPD and difficulty breathing after climbing a flight of stairs.
• B. A 78-year-old with CHF who has gained 4 lbs according to her tele-monitoring.
• C. A 50-year-old with bilateral leg swelling and difficulty walking.
• D. A 60-year-old with lower back pain.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. A patient with known COPD and difficulty breathing after physical exertion like climbing stairs requires immediate assessment by the nurse. This could indicate a potential exacerbation of COPD, which needs prompt intervention to prevent respiratory distress. Choices B, C, and D describe important patient situations that also require attention, but the urgency is higher with a COPD patient experiencing difficulty breathing.

2. The school RN is assessing a group of middle school students for signs of scoliosis and discovers a female student with noticeable unequal symmetry of the upper and lower back. Which intervention is most important for the RN to implement?

• A. Send the student home
• B. Make a referral to have the scoliosis further evaluated.
• C. Withdraw the student from all physical activities
• D. Tell the student not to carry her backpack on her back

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Referring the student for further evaluation of scoliosis is crucial to confirm the diagnosis and determine the appropriate management plan. Sending the student home (choice A) without proper assessment and intervention is not the best course of action. Withdrawing the student from all physical activities (choice C) is not necessary and may cause unnecessary distress. Instructing the student not to carry her backpack on her back (choice D) does not address the underlying issue of scoliosis and is not the most important intervention at this point.

3. Which of the following health behavior choices are essential to promoting health and preventing diseases?

• A. Getting the right kind of food, adequate sleep, physical activity, and effectively handling stress
• B. Stopping smoking and taking vacations
• C. Making sure that all prescription medications are taken properly and at the right time
• D. Avoiding crowds during flu season

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Proper nutrition, adequate sleep, engaging in physical activity, and effective stress management are crucial for promoting health and preventing diseases. Choices B, C, and D do not encompass the comprehensive approach needed for overall health and disease prevention. Stopping smoking is important for health but is not the only factor to consider. Taking vacations can contribute to well-being but is not a core health behavior choice. Ensuring proper medication intake is essential for managing specific health conditions but does not cover all aspects of health promotion. Avoiding crowds during flu season is a preventive measure for infectious diseases but is not a fundamental health behavior choice for overall well-being.

4. A 19-year-old client is paralyzed in a car accident. Which statement used by the client would indicate to the nurse that the client was using the mechanism of 'suppression'?

• A. "I don't remember anything about what happened to me."
• B. "I'd rather not talk about it right now."
• C. "It's all the other guy's fault! He was going too fast."
• D. "My mother is heartbroken about this."

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because the statement "I'd rather not talk about it right now" indicates that the client is consciously choosing to avoid discussing the distressing issue, which aligns with the mechanism of suppression. Choice A does not involve active avoidance but rather memory loss, which is not suppression. Choice C involves blaming others, which is a defense mechanism known as projection. Choice D involves expressing emotions rather than avoiding them, which does not align with suppression.

5. A child and his family were exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis about 2 months ago. To confirm the presence or absence of an infection, it is most important for all family members to have a

• A. Chest x-ray
• B. Blood culture
• C. Sputum culture
• D. PPD intradermal test

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The PPD (purified protein derivative) intradermal test is the standard screening method for detecting tuberculosis infection. It helps identify individuals who have been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A chest x-ray (Choice A) is used to assess the extent of active disease, not for screening purposes. Blood culture (Choice B) is not typically used for tuberculosis screening. Sputum culture (Choice C) is used to confirm active tuberculosis in symptomatic individuals, not for initial screening purposes.

Similar Questions