A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents with severe dyspnea and hypoxemia. What is the appropriate indication for initiating oxygen therapy in this client?
- A. Maintaining oxygen saturation above 95%
- B. Correcting underlying lung pathology
- C. Relieving shortness of breath
- D. Preventing complications of hypoxia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Preventing complications of hypoxia (D) is the primary indication for oxygen therapy in COPD with severe dyspnea and hypoxemia, averting tissue damage and organ failure (target SpO2 88-92%). Saturation above 95% (A) risks CO2 retention in COPD. Correcting pathology (B) requires other treatments. Relieving dyspnea (C) is a benefit, not the goal. Hypoxia prevention aligns with GOLD guidelines, prioritizing survival and function over symptom relief alone.
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How many minutes are allowed to pass if the client had engaged in strenuous activities, smoked or ingested caffeine before taking his/her BP?
- A. 5
- B. 10
- C. 15
- D. 30
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: After activity, smoking, or caffeine e.g., raising BP 30 minutes rest ensures accuracy, per AHA guidelines. Shorter times (5-15 min) risk false highs. Nurses enforce this e.g., post-exercise delay for reliable readings, standard in clinical assessment protocols.
The nurse is caring for a client receiving oxygen therapy via a simple face mask. Which nursing intervention is important to prevent skin breakdown?
- A. Changing the position of the mask every 2 hours
- B. Applying a protective barrier cream to the client's face
- C. Padding the pressure points on the client's face with soft material
- D. Encouraging the client to remove the mask intermittently for facial skin care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Padding pressure points with soft material (C) prevents skin breakdown from a simple face mask by reducing friction and pressure on the face. Repositioning q2h (A) helps but isn't enough alone. Barrier cream (B) is for moisture, not pressure. Intermittent removal (D) disrupts therapy. Padding, per skin integrity standards, is proactive.
What is nurse's primary critical observation when performing an assessment for determining an Apgar score?
- A. Heart rate
- B. Respiratory rate
- C. Presence of meconium
- D. Evaluation of Moro reflex
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Apgar score assesses newborn vitality at 1 and 5 minutes post-birth across five criteria: heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, reflex, color. Heart rate (choice A) is primary; absent (<60 bpm = 0, <100 = 1, >100 = 2) dictates immediate resuscitation, making it the most critical. Respiratory rate (choice B) follows, but weak/absent breathing often ties to heart rate. Meconium (choice C) isn't scored directly, though it flags distress. Moro reflex (choice D) tests tone/reflex, secondary to vitals. A is correct, as heart rate drives initial intervention. Nurses prioritize it, ensuring rapid response to stabilize the infant.
The nurse is caring for a client following a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Which finding should be reported to the physician immediately?
- A. Bright red urine 12 hours post-op
- B. Urine output of 30 mL/hour
- C. Complaints of bladder spasms
- D. Temperature of 100.2°F
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bright red urine 12 hours post-TURP suggests active bleeding, abnormal beyond initial pink-tinged output, requiring immediate physician report low output, spasms, or mild fever are less urgent. Nurses flag this, as hemorrhage risks clot retention or shock, prompting irrigation or intervention.
The nurse does not take shortcuts for example failing to identify a client when administering medications. This is an example of critical thinking attitude:
- A. Responsibility and accountability
- B. Thinking independently
- C. Fairness
- D. Discipline
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Responsibility and accountability as a critical thinking attitude mean adhering to standards and owning outcomes, like verifying a client's identity before medication to ensure safety. This reflects duty to the patient and profession, avoiding errors (e.g., wrong patient dosing). Thinking independently involves personal judgment, not just following protocol, which this nurse does by sticking to rules. Fairness ensures impartiality, not directly tied to identification steps. Discipline implies consistency, overlapping with responsibility, but lacks accountability's emphasis on answerability. By not cutting corners, the nurse upholds ethical and safety standards, embodying responsibility and accountability, critical for trust and precision in medication administration, a high-stakes nursing task.