Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following terms describes the amount of blood ejected per heartbeat?

• A. Stroke volume
• B. Cardiac output
• C. Ejection fraction
• D. Afterload

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Stroke volume. Stroke volume refers to the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle in one contraction. Choice B, Cardiac output, is the total volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute and is calculated by multiplying stroke volume by heart rate. Choice C, Ejection fraction, is the percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat. Choice D, Afterload, refers to the pressure or resistance that the ventricles must overcome to eject blood during systole. Therefore, in the context of the question, the term that specifically describes the amount of blood ejected per heartbeat is stroke volume.

2. Magnesium's major functions in the body would be least likely to include which of the following?

• A. allowing muscles to relax after contraction
• B. assisting the operation of hundreds of enzymes
• C. synthesis of protein in the soft tissues
• D. regulation of body temperature

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Magnesium plays a key role in muscle relaxation, enzyme operation, and protein synthesis, but it is not directly involved in regulating body temperature.

3. The nurse is working with a patient who recently had a stroke. The patient frequently chokes and coughs when eating and is having difficulty feeding herself. What is the best way to ensure adequate nutrition?

• A. to have an aide feed her at each meal
• B. to ask a family member to assist during meals
• C. to provide tube feedings for the patient
• D. to initiate TPN for the patient

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best way to ensure adequate nutrition for a stroke patient who frequently chokes and coughs when eating and has difficulty feeding herself is to provide tube feedings. Tube feedings are a safe and effective method to deliver nutrition directly to the stomach or intestines, bypassing the swallowing mechanism, reducing the risk of aspiration. Having an aide feed her each meal (choice A) may not address the underlying issue of swallowing difficulty and aspiration risk. Asking a family member to be present at each meal (choice B) does not provide a definitive solution to the patient's nutritional needs. Placing the patient on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (choice D) is a more invasive and typically reserved for patients who cannot tolerate enteral feedings or have non-functional gastrointestinal tracts.

4. Fat-soluble vitamins are different from water-soluble vitamins because the body is able to store only small amounts of fat-soluble vitamins.

• A. Both the statement and the reason are correct and related.
• B. Both the statement and the reason are correct but are not related.
• C. The statement is correct, but the reason is not correct.
• D. The statement is not correct, but the reason is correct.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The statement is correct, but the reason is not correct. A major difference between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins is that the body is able to store larger amounts of fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamins A and D are stored for long periods; therefore, minor shortages might not be identified until drastic depletion has occurred. Observable signs and symptoms of a dietary deficiency are often not identified until they are in an advanced state. Water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are not stored in the body and are excreted in the urine if taken in excess, making it harder to reach toxic levels.

5. How do foods or supplements containing significant amounts of plant sterols help lower LDL cholesterol levels?

• A. reducing cholesterol synthesis
• B. suppressing inflammation
• C. reducing blood clotting
• D. interfering with cholesterol and bile absorption

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Plant sterols interfere with cholesterol and bile absorption in the intestines. This interference helps lower LDL cholesterol levels by reducing the amount of cholesterol that enters the bloodstream. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because plant sterols primarily work by interfering with cholesterol and bile absorption, not by reducing cholesterol synthesis, suppressing inflammation, or reducing blood clotting.

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