Nursing Elites

1. Which technique or method is used to determine whether or not the patient has an irregular pulse?

• A. Apical pulse
• B. Inspection
• C. Auscultation
• D. Percussion

Correct answer: A

Rationale: An apical pulse check is used to determine if the patient has an irregular pulse. The apical pulse is located at the point of maximal impulse (PMI) and is assessed using a stethoscope. Choice B, inspection, involves visual examination and is not used to assess pulse irregularities. Choice C, auscultation, involves listening to internal sounds using a stethoscope, which can be used to assess heart sounds but not specifically for pulse irregularities. Choice D, percussion, is a technique used to assess the density of body tissues or detect abnormal masses and is not used to determine pulse irregularities.

2. Which of the following is a benefit of the U.S. health-care system?

• A. With cost savings from technology, more Americans now have health-care insurance.
• B. Quality of care has improved in the United States.
• C. Care in the United States has shifted to a prevention focus rather than an illness focus.
• D. The use of technology is projected to decrease health-care costs and improve clinical outcomes.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the use of technology and electronic health records is projected to decrease health-care costs and improve clinical outcomes, quality, and safety. Choice A is incorrect because it states that very few Americans have no health-care insurance, which is not a benefit of the U.S. health-care system. Choice B may be true, but it does not directly address a benefit of the health-care system. Choice C is not necessarily a benefit but rather a shift in focus, so it is also incorrect.

3. A client is in DKA, secondary to infection. As the condition progresses, which of the following symptoms might the nurse see?

• A. Kussmaul's respirations and a fruity odor on the breath
• B. Shallow respirations and severe abdominal pain
• C. Decreased respirations and increased urine output
• D. Cheyne-Stokes respirations and foul-smelling urine

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), as the condition progresses, the body tries to compensate for the acidic environment by increasing the respiratory rate, leading to Kussmaul's respirations. The accumulation of ketones in the body causes a fruity odor on the breath. Option A is correct because Kussmaul's respirations and a fruity odor on the breath are classic signs of DKA. Option B is incorrect because shallow respirations are not typically seen in DKA, and severe abdominal pain is more commonly associated with conditions like pancreatitis. Option C is incorrect as decreased respirations are not a typical finding in DKA, and increased urine output is more commonly seen in conditions like diabetes insipidus. Option D is incorrect because Cheyne-Stokes respirations are not characteristic of DKA, and foul-smelling urine is not a prominent symptom in this condition.

4. A nurse is assessing an older adult client who was brought to the emergency department by his son, who reports that the client fell at home. The nurse suspects elder abuse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. File an incident report.
• B. Ask the client about his injuries with the son present.
• C. Ask the client's son to go to the waiting area.
• D. Treat and discharge the client

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to ask the client's son to go to the waiting area. This allows the nurse to interview the client independently to assess for signs of elder abuse without the son's potential influence. Filing an incident report may be necessary later but is not the immediate action required. Asking about injuries with the son present could lead to biased responses or intimidation. Treating and discharging the client without addressing the suspicion of elder abuse would neglect the nurse's responsibility to ensure the client's safety.

5. Rotating injection sites when administering insulin prevents which of the following complications?

• A. Insulin edema
• B. Insulin lipodystrophy
• C. Insulin resistance
• D. Systemic allergic reactions

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Rotating injection sites when administering insulin helps prevent insulin lipodystrophy, which is the abnormal distribution of fat at injection sites. Insulin edema (choice A) is not prevented by rotating injection sites; it is characterized by swelling at the site of insulin injection due to increased capillary permeability. Insulin resistance (choice C) is a condition where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, and rotating injection sites does not directly prevent this. Systemic allergic reactions (choice D) are not specifically prevented by rotating injection sites; they are related to an allergic response to insulin.

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