Nursing Elites

1. While conducting an intake assessment of an adult male at a community mental health clinic, the nurse notes that his affect is flat, he responds to questions with short answers, and he reports problems with sleeping. He reports that his life partner recently died from pneumonia. Which action is most important for the nurse to implement?

• A. Encourage the client to see the clinic's grief counselor.
• B. Determine if the client has a family history of suicide attempts.
• C. Inquire about whether the life partner had AIDS.
• D. Consult with the healthcare provider about the client's need for antidepressant medications.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The client is exhibiting symptoms of normal grief, such as flat affect, withdrawal, and sleep disturbances, following the recent death of his life partner. It is crucial for the nurse to encourage the client to see the clinic's grief counselor. Grief counseling can provide the client with appropriate support and coping strategies during this grieving process, helping him navigate through his loss and emotions effectively.

2. A client with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) is admitted with chest pain. Which laboratory test should the nurse expect to be ordered to determine if the client is experiencing another MI?

• A. Troponin
• B. Myoglobin
• C. CK-MB
• D. C-reactive protein

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Troponin is the most specific and sensitive laboratory test for detecting myocardial infarction (MI). It is released when there is damage to the heart muscle, making it a valuable marker for diagnosing another MI. Myoglobin and CK-MB can also be elevated in MI, but troponin is preferred due to its higher specificity. C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation and not specific to MI.

3. The healthcare provider obtains a BP reading of 100/88 in the right arm of a client whose blood pressure is typically 120/60 in the same arm. What action should the healthcare provider implement first?

• A. Use an electronic sphygmomanometer to take the BP every 30 minutes.
• B. Retake the blood pressure in the same arm, deflating the cuff slowly.
• C. Ask another healthcare provider to recheck the blood pressure to compare results.
• D. Obtain another blood pressure cuff and retake the blood pressure.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The healthcare provider should first retake the blood pressure in the right arm, deflating the cuff slowly, because a low systolic and high diastolic blood pressure measurement is often the result of deflating the cuff too rapidly. Taking the BP in the same arm ensures consistency and accuracy of the measurement.

4. The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with a new diagnosis of osteoporosis. Which instruction should the nurse include?

• A. Increase dietary intake of calcium-rich foods.
• B. Avoid activities that increase the risk of falls.
• C. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.
• D. Increase intake of vitamin D supplements.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Avoiding activities that increase the risk of falls (B) is the most crucial instruction for a client with osteoporosis to prevent fractures. Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them more susceptible to fractures from falls. While increasing calcium intake (A) is important for bone health, avoiding falls takes precedence to prevent immediate harm. Avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight (C) is not directly related to osteoporosis management. Increasing vitamin D supplements (D) is beneficial for bone health, but fall prevention is more critical in this scenario.

5. A client has a nursing diagnosis of 'Spiritual distress related to a loss of hope, secondary to impending death.' What intervention is best for the nurse to implement when caring for this client?

• A. Help the client accept the final stage of life.
• B. Assist and support the client in establishing short-term goals.
• C. Encourage the client to make future plans, even if they are unrealistic.
• D. Instruct the client's family to focus on positive aspects of the client's life.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a client is experiencing spiritual distress due to a loss of hope related to impending death, it is crucial for the nurse to assist and support the client in establishing short-term goals. This approach helps the client maintain hope and a sense of purpose, as achieving immediate goals can provide a sense of accomplishment and meaning. While acceptance of the final stage of life is important, helping the client set short-term goals is a more immediate and effective intervention in addressing spiritual distress. Encouraging the client to make future plans, especially if they are unrealistic, may not be beneficial as it could lead to further distress if those plans are unattainable. Instructing the client's family to focus on positive aspects of the client's life, though supportive, does not directly address the client's spiritual distress and loss of hope.

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