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. Which atrioventricular heart block is also referred to as Mobitz II?

• A. Third-degree atrioventricular heart block
• B. Second-degree atrioventricular heart block
• C. First-degree atrioventricular heart block
• D. Complete heart block

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Second-degree atrioventricular heart block is also known as Mobitz II. In Mobitz II, some atrial impulses are blocked from reaching the ventricles, resulting in occasional dropped beats. Third-degree atrioventricular heart block is known as complete heart block, where no atrial impulses reach the ventricles. First-degree atrioventricular heart block is a condition where there is delayed conduction between the atria and ventricles but all atrial impulses are eventually conducted to the ventricles.

3. Serge, who has diabetes mellitus, is taking oral agents and is scheduled for a diagnostic test that requires him to be NPO. What is the best plan of action for the nurse regarding Serge's oral medications?

• A. Administer the oral agents immediately after the test.
• B. Notify the diagnostic department and request orders.
• C. Notify the physician and request orders.
• D. Administer the oral agents with a sip of water before the test.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best plan of action for the nurse is to notify the physician and request orders regarding Serge's oral medications. By involving the physician, the nurse ensures that appropriate instructions are obtained, considering Serge's medical condition and the need for NPO status for the diagnostic test. Administering the medications without medical guidance (choice A) can be risky, as it may affect the test results. Notifying the diagnostic department (choice B) is not the most direct and appropriate action; the physician is the primary healthcare provider responsible for medication orders. Administering the medications with water before the test (choice D) is not advisable when the patient is supposed to be NPO, as it can interfere with the test requirements.

4. What are the six levels of consciousness from the most to the least responsive level of consciousness? Number all six using 1 as the most conscious and 6 as the least conscious.

• A. Obtunded, Confused, Lethargic, Comatose, Stuporous, Alert
• B. Confused, Lethargic, Obtunded, Stuporous, Comatose, Alert
• C. Lethargic, Obtunded, Confused, Stuporous, Comatose, Alert
• D. Alert, Confused, Lethargic, Obtunded, Stuporous, Comatose

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct order of the six levels of consciousness from most to least responsive is Alert, Confused, Lethargic, Obtunded, Stuporous, Comatose. Choice A is incorrect because it starts with Obtunded, which is less responsive than Alert. Choice B is incorrect as it doesn't follow the correct order. Choice C is incorrect as Lethargic is more responsive than Obtunded. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

5. A charge nurse is making staff assignments on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following tasks should the nurse plan to delegate to an assistive personnel?

• A. Measuring oxygen saturation for a client who has dyspnea
• B. Inserting a rectal suppository for a client who is vomiting
• C. Performing nasal hygiene for a client who has an NG tube
• D. Pouching a client's ostomy bag for a new colostomy

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Pouching a new colostomy is a task that can be safely and appropriately delegated to an assistive personnel as it falls within their scope of practice. Measuring oxygen saturation (Choice A) requires a higher level of training and assessment, making it unsuitable for delegation. Inserting a rectal suppository (Choice B) and performing nasal hygiene (Choice C) involve invasive procedures that are typically performed by licensed nursing staff due to the associated risks and complexities, making them inappropriate for delegation to assistive personnel.

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