Nursing Elites

1. Your long-term care patient has chronic pain and at this point in time, the patient needs increasing dosages to adequately control this pain. What is this patient most likely affected by?

• A. Drug addiction
• B. Drug interactions
• C. Drug side effects
• D. Drug tolerance

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Drug tolerance. When a patient needs increasing dosages to achieve the same pain relief, it indicates the development of drug tolerance. This means the body has adapted to the drug, requiring higher doses to produce the same effect. Choice A, drug addiction, is incorrect because drug addiction involves a psychological and physical dependence on the drug, which is not described in the scenario. Choice B, drug interactions, is incorrect as it refers to the effects when multiple drugs interact with each other, not the situation described. Choice C, drug side effects, is also incorrect as it pertains to the unintended effects of a drug, not the need for higher doses to control pain.

2. A hospice nurse is caring for a client who has a terminal illness and reports severe pain. After the nurse administers the prescribed opioid and benzodiazepine, the client becomes somnolent and difficult to arouse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Withhold the benzodiazepine but continue the opioid
• B. Contact the provider about replacing the opioid with an NSAID
• C. Administer the benzodiazepine but withhold the opioid
• D. Continue the medication dosages that relieve the client's pain

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to contact the provider about replacing the opioid with an NSAID. In this scenario, the client is experiencing excessive sedation after the administration of both opioid and benzodiazepine. Switching to a non-opioid analgesic like an NSAID can help manage pain effectively without causing additional sedation. Option A is incorrect because continuing the opioid may exacerbate sedation. Option C is incorrect as administering the benzodiazepine may further increase sedation. Option D is incorrect because maintaining the current medication dosages that are causing excessive sedation is not in the client's best interest.

3. Which of the following actions can an individual nurse take to exert leadership in supporting the profession of nursing?

• A. Join a local professional organization.
• B. Talk about healthcare issues to everyone who will listen, including legislators.
• C. Register to vote.
• D. Learn about the healthcare system.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Engaging in conversations about healthcare issues with a wide audience, including legislators, is a powerful way for a nurse to exert leadership and support the nursing profession. This action helps raise awareness, advocate for nursing-related matters, and contribute to positive changes in healthcare policies. Choice A, joining a local professional organization, is beneficial but may not have the same broad impact as engaging in public discourse. Choice C, registering to vote, is important for civic engagement but does not directly relate to exerting leadership in supporting the nursing profession. Choice D, learning about the healthcare system, is valuable for personal development but does not directly address exerting leadership in supporting the nursing profession.

4. You are caring for a patient who has no cognitive functioning but only basic human functions such as opening the eyes and the sleep-wake cycle. What level of consciousness does this patient have?

• A. Obtunded
• B. A persistent vegetative state
• C. Locked-in syndrome
• D. Brain death

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A persistent vegetative state is characterized by the absence of cognitive functioning while basic human functions like the sleep-wake cycle are retained. In this state, the patient shows reflex movements and basic responses to stimuli but lacks awareness or higher mental functions. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because: A) Obtunded refers to a decreased level of consciousness, not the absence of cognitive functioning. C) Locked-in syndrome is a condition where the patient is aware and awake but cannot move or communicate due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles except for vertical eye movements and blinking. D) Brain death is the irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including the brainstem, leading to the loss of all functions of the brain.

5. Which manifestation should the nurse expect to assess in a patient with fluid volume deficit?

• A. Headache and muscle cramps
• B. Dyspnea and respiratory crackles
• C. Increased pulse rate and blood pressure
• D. Orthostatic hypotension and flat neck veins

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension and flat neck veins are classic manifestations of fluid volume deficit. When the body loses fluid, blood volume decreases, leading to decreased venous return to the heart, resulting in orthostatic hypotension and flat neck veins. Choices A, B, and C are more indicative of other conditions such as dehydration, respiratory issues, or compensatory mechanisms in response to hypovolemia, respectively.

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