Nursing Elites

1. Which question should the nurse ask the parents of a child suspected of having glomerulonephritis?

• A. Did your child fall off a bike onto the handlebars?
• B. Has the child had persistent nausea and vomiting?
• C. Has the child been itching or had a rash anytime in the last week?
• D. Has the child had a sore throat or a throat infection in the last few weeks?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Glomerulonephritis refers to a group of kidney disorders characterized by inflammatory injury in the glomerulus. Group A β-hemolytic streptococcal infection is a common cause of glomerulonephritis. Children with glomerulonephritis often develop symptoms after a throat infection caused by streptococcal bacteria. Therefore, asking about a sore throat or throat infection in the last few weeks is crucial to assess the possible link to glomerulonephritis. Choices A, B, and C are not directly associated with the pathophysiology of glomerulonephritis. Asking about falling off a bike, nausea and vomiting, or itching and rash do not provide relevant information for assessing glomerulonephritis in this context.

2. A 20-year-old female attending college is found unconscious in her dorm room. She has a fever and a noticeable rash. She has just been admitted to the hospital. Which of the following tests is most likely to be performed first?

• A. Blood sugar check
• B. CT scan
• C. Blood cultures
• D. Arterial blood gases

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The most likely test to be performed first in this scenario is blood cultures. Blood cultures are crucial to investigate the fever and rash symptoms in an unconscious patient. This test is used to detect foreign invaders like bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms in the blood, which could indicate a blood infection (bacteremia). A positive blood culture result confirms the presence of bacteria in the blood. A blood sugar check (choice A) may be important but is less likely to be the first test in this context. A CT scan (choice B) and arterial blood gases (choice D) are generally not the initial tests performed to investigate a fever and rash with altered mental status.

3. A client is brought into the emergency room where the physician suspects that he has cardiac tamponade. Based on this diagnosis, the nurse would expect to see which of the following signs or symptoms in this client?

• A. Fever, fatigue, malaise
• B. Hypotension and distended neck veins
• C. Cough and hemoptysis
• D. Numbness and tingling in the extremities

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Cardiac tamponade occurs when fluid or blood accumulates in the pericardium, preventing the heart from contracting properly. This leads to decreased cardiac output and is considered a medical emergency. Classic signs of cardiac tamponade include hypotension (low blood pressure) and distended neck veins due to the increased pressure around the heart. These signs result from the compromised ability of the heart to pump effectively. Choices A, C, and D are not typically associated with cardiac tamponade. Fever, fatigue, and malaise are non-specific symptoms that can be seen in various conditions. Cough and hemoptysis are more commonly associated with respiratory conditions, while numbness and tingling in the extremities are neurological symptoms not typically seen in cardiac tamponade.

4. The nurse is preparing to administer an enteral feeding to a client via a nasogastric feeding tube. The most important action of the nurse is:

• A. Verify correct placement of the tube
• B. Check that the feeding solution matches the dietary order
• C. Aspirate gastric contents to determine the amount of the last feeding remaining in the stomach
• D. Ensure that the feeding solution is at room temperature

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The most crucial action for the nurse when preparing to administer enteral feeding via a nasogastric tube is to verify the correct placement of the tube. Proper placement of the tube is vital to prevent complications such as aspiration into the lungs. The definitive methods to confirm the position of the nasogastric tube include visualization through an x-ray or aspirating stomach contents and checking their pH (usually pH 1 to 5). Aspirated stomach content can also be tested for bilirubin to confirm placement in the stomach. Choice B, checking that the feeding solution matches the dietary order, is important for ensuring the correct nutrition is provided but is not as critical as verifying tube placement to prevent potential harm. Choice C, aspirating gastric contents to determine the amount of the last feeding remaining in the stomach, is a common nursing practice but is not the most crucial action when compared to ensuring correct tube placement. Choice D, ensuring that the feeding solution is at room temperature, is relevant for patient comfort and preventing thermal injury but is not as essential as confirming correct tube placement to prevent serious complications.

5. A patient is admitted with active tuberculosis (TB). The nurse should question a healthcare provider's order to discontinue airborne precautions unless which assessment finding is documented?

• A. Chest x-ray shows no upper lobe infiltrates.
• B. TB medications have been taken for 6 months.
• C. Mantoux testing shows an induration of 10 mm.
• D. Three sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli are negative.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Three sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli are negative. Negative sputum smears indicate that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not present in the sputum, and the patient cannot transmit the bacteria by the airborne route. This finding is crucial for discontinuing airborne precautions. Choice A is incorrect because chest x-rays do not determine the presence of active TB for transmission precautions. Choice B is not directly related to the infectiousness of TB; completing a 6-month course of medication is important for treatment but does not confirm the absence of active disease or infectiousness. Choice C is not relevant to assessing infectiousness; Mantoux testing measures exposure to TB but does not confirm the absence of active infection or infectiousness.

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