Nokea
A client with a history of stroke presents with dysphagia. What is the most important nursing intervention to prevent aspiration?
- A. Encourage the client to drink water between meals
- B. Position the client in a high-Fowler's position during meals
- C. Provide the client with thickened liquids
- D. Allow the client to eat quickly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Position the client in a high-Fowler's position during meals. Placing the client in a high-Fowler's position (sitting upright at a 90-degree angle) helps reduce the risk of aspiration by ensuring that the airway is protected during swallowing. This position facilitates easier swallowing and decreases the likelihood of food or liquids entering the respiratory tract. Encouraging the client to drink water between meals (choice A) does not directly address the risk of aspiration during meals. Providing thickened liquids (choice C) may be necessary for some patients with dysphagia but is not the most important intervention to prevent aspiration. Allowing the client to eat quickly (choice D) without proper positioning and precautions can increase the risk of aspiration.
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Which intervention is most effective in preventing the spread of infection in a healthcare setting?
- A. Wearing gloves
- B. Using hand sanitizer
- C. Practicing hand hygiene
- D. Disinfecting surfaces
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Practicing hand hygiene is the most effective measure to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings. While wearing gloves, using hand sanitizer, and disinfecting surfaces are important infection control measures, they are not as effective as proper hand hygiene. Hand hygiene, including handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, is crucial in preventing the transmission of pathogens from one person to another, making it the best choice among the options provided. Wearing gloves primarily protects the wearer and is not a substitute for hand hygiene. Using hand sanitizer is helpful but may not be as effective as proper handwashing. Disinfecting surfaces is important but does not address the direct transmission of pathogens through hand contact, which hand hygiene effectively prevents.
A client with diabetes mellitus is scheduled for surgery. What is the most important preoperative instruction the nurse should provide?
- A. Take your insulin as usual
- B. Do not eat or drink after midnight
- C. Monitor your blood glucose closely
- D. Bring your glucose meter to the hospital
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most important preoperative instruction for a client with diabetes mellitus scheduled for surgery is to instruct them not to eat or drink after midnight. This instruction is crucial to maintain NPO (nothing by mouth) status before surgery, reducing the risk of aspiration during anesthesia. While taking insulin as usual (Choice A) is important, doses can be adjusted by the healthcare team. Monitoring blood glucose closely (Choice C) is essential but not as critical preoperatively. Bringing a glucose meter to the hospital (Choice D) can be helpful but is not as vital as maintaining NPO status.
The nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection of heparin. What is the correct angle of insertion?
- A. 15 degrees
- B. 30 degrees
- C. 45 degrees
- D. 90 degrees
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct angle of insertion for a subcutaneous injection, such as heparin, is 45 degrees. This angle is appropriate as it helps to ensure proper delivery of the medication into the subcutaneous tissue. Option A (15 degrees) is too shallow for a subcutaneous injection and may result in the medication being deposited into the muscle. Option B (30 degrees) is also too shallow for subcutaneous injections. Option D (90 degrees) is used for intramuscular injections, not subcutaneous injections.
The client is 4 hours post-operative from a cesarean section and complains of gas pain and bloating. What non-pharmacological intervention can the nurse provide?
- A. Encourage the client to ambulate
- B. Apply a heating pad
- C. Provide a carbonated beverage
- D. Teach relaxation techniques
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to encourage the client to ambulate. Early ambulation helps alleviate gas pain and bloating by promoting gastrointestinal motility and reducing the accumulation of gas in the abdomen. Applying a heating pad may provide comfort for some types of pain but is not specifically effective for gas pain. Providing a carbonated beverage can actually worsen gas pain due to the introduction of more gas into the digestive system. Teaching relaxation techniques may be beneficial for overall comfort but may not directly address the gas pain and bloating experienced post-cesarean section.
The nurse is caring for a client who is NPO (nothing by mouth) due to a small bowel obstruction. Which nursing intervention is most important?
- A. Monitor bowel sounds
- B. Provide frequent oral care
- C. Encourage ambulation
- D. Measure abdominal girth
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Providing frequent oral care is crucial when a client is NPO to ensure comfort and prevent drying of the oral mucosa. In this situation, the priority is maintaining oral hygiene to prevent complications such as oral mucosa breakdown. Monitoring bowel sounds may be important in assessing bowel activity, but it is not the priority when the client is NPO due to a small bowel obstruction. Encouraging ambulation can be beneficial for other conditions, but in this case, oral care takes precedence. Measuring abdominal girth is more relevant for assessing abdominal distention, which is not the priority when the client is NPO. Therefore, the most important nursing intervention is to provide frequent oral care.