A client who has a new prescription for warfarin (Coumadin) asks the nurse how the medication works. What explanation should the nurse provide?
- A. It dissolves blood clots
- B. It prevents the blood from clotting
- C. It thins the blood
- D. It decreases the risk of infection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: It prevents the blood from clotting. Warfarin works as an anticoagulant by inhibiting the production of certain clotting factors in the liver. This prevents the formation of blood clots and reduces the risk of conditions like deep vein thrombosis or stroke. Choice A is incorrect because warfarin does not dissolve existing blood clots but prevents new ones. Choice C is misleading as it does not actually "thin" the blood but affects its ability to clot. Choice D is unrelated to the mechanism of action of warfarin.
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The nurse is caring for a laboring 22-year-old primigravida following administration of regional anesthesia. In planning care for this client, what nursing intervention has the highest priority?
- A. Raising the side rails and placing the call bell within reach
- B. Teaching the client how to push effectively to decrease the length of the second stage of labor
- C. Timing and recording uterine contractions
- D. Positioning the client for proper distribution of anesthesia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because raising the side rails and placing the call bell within reach ensures the safety and immediate accessibility of the client, which is the highest priority in nursing care. This intervention helps prevent falls or other accidents and allows the client to call for assistance if needed.
Choice B is incorrect because teaching pushing techniques is important but not the highest priority at this moment. Choice C, timing and recording uterine contractions, is also important but not the highest priority compared to ensuring the client's safety. Choice D, positioning for anesthesia distribution, is relevant but not as critical as ensuring immediate access to assistance in case of emergency.
What assessment technique should the nurse use to monitor a client for a common untoward effect of phenytoin (Dilantin)?
- A. Bladder palpation
- B. Inspection of the mouth
- C. Blood glucose monitoring
- D. Auscultation of breath sounds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Inspection of the mouth. Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia as a common untoward effect. By inspecting the mouth regularly, the nurse can assess for signs of this side effect such as swollen or bleeding gums. Bladder palpation (A) is not relevant to monitoring phenytoin side effects. Blood glucose monitoring (C) is not typically associated with phenytoin use. Auscultation of breath sounds (D) is not directly related to monitoring for phenytoin side effects.
The nurse offers diet teaching to a female college student who was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia following her voluntary adoption of a lacto-vegetarian diet. What nutrients should the nurse suggest this client eat to best meet her nutritional needs while allowing her to adhere to a lacto-vegetarian diet?
- A. Drink whole milk instead of skim milk to enhance the body's production of amino acids
- B. Take vitamin K 10mg PO daily to enhance production of red blood cells
- C. Increase amounts of dark yellow vegetables such as carrots to fortify iron stores
- D. Combine several legumes and grains such as beans and rice to form complete proteins
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Combine several legumes and grains such as beans and rice to form complete proteins. This is the best option because a lacto-vegetarian diet excludes meat but includes dairy products. Legumes and grains complement each other in terms of amino acid profiles, allowing the individual to obtain all essential amino acids needed for protein synthesis. This combination ensures the client gets adequate protein intake necessary for red blood cell production without consuming meat.
A: Drinking whole milk instead of skim milk does not enhance amino acid production. Skim milk contains the same amino acids as whole milk.
B: Taking vitamin K does not enhance red blood cell production. Iron is the key nutrient needed for red blood cell production.
C: Increasing dark yellow vegetables such as carrots does not provide a significant amount of iron to fortify iron stores compared to legumes and grains.
An experienced nurse tells the nurse-manager that working with a new graduate is impossible because the new graduate will not listen to suggestions. The new graduate comes to the nurse-manager describing the senior nurse's attitude as challenging and offensive. What action is best for the nurse manager to take?
- A. Have both nurses meet separately with the staff mental health consultant
- B. Listen actively to both nurses and offer suggestions to solve the dilemma
- C. Ask the senior nurse to examine mentoring strategies used with the new graduate
- D. Ask the nurses to meet with the nurse-manager to identify ways of working together
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The nurse-manager should ask the nurses to meet to identify ways of working together. This is the best action because it promotes open communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution between the two nurses. By facilitating a discussion between them, the nurse-manager can help address the underlying issues, clarify misunderstandings, and find common ground for effective teamwork. This approach encourages mutual understanding and fosters a positive working relationship.
A: Having both nurses meet separately with the staff mental health consultant does not directly address the conflict between them.
B: While listening actively and offering suggestions is important, involving both nurses in the discussion is crucial for resolving the conflict.
C: Asking the senior nurse to examine mentoring strategies does not involve the new graduate in the conversation and may not address the overall issue.
Which instruction should the nurse provide to an elderly client who is taking an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker?
- A. Wear long-sleeved clothing when outdoors
- B. Report the onset of sore throat
- C. Eat plenty of potassium-rich food
- D. Change the position slowly
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Change the position slowly. Elderly clients taking both ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are at risk for orthostatic hypotension. Instructing them to change positions slowly helps prevent sudden drops in blood pressure and dizziness upon standing up.
A: Wearing long-sleeved clothing when outdoors is not directly related to the medications mentioned.
B: Reporting the onset of a sore throat is important for monitoring potential side effects of medications but not specific to the combination of ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.
C: Eating plenty of potassium-rich foods is not typically contraindicated for clients taking ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers, but it is not the most essential instruction compared to preventing orthostatic hypotension.
In summary, changing position slowly is crucial to prevent orthostatic hypotension, which is a common side effect of these medications in elderly clients.