A healthcare professional is assessing a patient with pneumonia. Which finding is most concerning?
- A. Fever of 101°F.
- B. Blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg.
- C. Heart rate of 95 beats per minute.
- D. Crackles heard in the lung bases.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Crackles heard in the lung bases are most concerning in a patient with pneumonia as they suggest fluid accumulation in the lungs, indicating possible severe infection or respiratory distress. Prompt intervention is required to prevent further complications.\n\nChoice A, fever of 101°F, is common in infections like pneumonia but may not be as immediately concerning as crackles indicating fluid in the lungs.\n\nChoice B, a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg, is within normal limits and not directly indicative of pneumonia severity.\n\nChoice C, a heart rate of 95 beats per minute, is slightly elevated but not as critical as crackles suggesting fluid in the lungs.
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A client with a history of falls is under the care of a nurse. Which intervention is most important to implement?
- A. Increase the frequency of bed checks.
- B. Use bed alarms to prevent falls.
- C. Keep the room well lit during the day.
- D. Encourage the client to use a walker for mobility.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using bed alarms to prevent falls is the most important intervention to implement for a client with a history of falls. Bed alarms can provide timely alerts to the healthcare team, allowing for quick assistance to prevent falls. Increasing the frequency of bed checks may not necessarily prevent falls as effectively as direct intervention with bed alarms. Keeping the room well lit is important for general safety but may not address the immediate risk of falls. Encouraging the client to use a walker for mobility is beneficial but may not be as crucial as implementing bed alarms to prevent falls in this scenario.
A healthcare provider is assessing a patient with dehydration. Which finding indicates the patient's condition is worsening?
- A. Dry mucous membranes.
- B. Tachycardia and low blood pressure.
- C. Bradycardia and shallow respirations.
- D. Clear lung sounds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tachycardia and low blood pressure are indicative of worsening dehydration in a patient. Tachycardia is the body's compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output in response to decreased intravascular volume, while low blood pressure reflects inadequate perfusion due to decreased fluid levels. Bradycardia and shallow respirations are not typical findings in worsening dehydration, and clear lung sounds do not directly correlate with the severity of dehydration.
What is the most appropriate action for a healthcare provider to take when a patient refuses a prescribed medication?
- A. Document the refusal and notify the healthcare provider.
- B. Administer the medication at a later time.
- C. Explain the importance of the medication and its effects.
- D. Respect the patient's right to refuse the medication.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to respect the patient's right to refuse the medication. It is crucial to uphold the patient's autonomy and decision-making capacity when it comes to their treatment. Administering the medication later without the patient's consent (Choice B) disregards their autonomy and can lead to ethical issues. Documenting the refusal and notifying the healthcare provider (Choice A) is important for legal and continuity of care purposes but should come after respecting the patient's decision. While explaining the importance of the medication (Choice C) is valuable for promoting understanding and compliance, the immediate concern should be respecting the patient's refusal.
Which action by the nurse will help prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a patient on mechanical ventilation?
- A. Provide oral care every 4 hours.
- B. Reposition the patient every 2 hours.
- C. Suction the patient as needed.
- D. Administer antibiotics as prescribed.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Providing oral care every 4 hours helps prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia by reducing the buildup of bacteria in the mouth that can be aspirated into the lungs. Repositioning the patient every 2 hours is important for preventing pressure ulcers but is not directly related to preventing VAP. Suctioning the patient as needed is essential for maintaining airway patency but does not specifically prevent VAP. Administering antibiotics as prescribed is a treatment for infections but does not prevent VAP.
A nurse manager assigns a task outside the scope of a nursing assistant. How should the assistant respond?
- A. Refuse the task and report it to the charge nurse.
- B. Perform the task without reporting.
- C. Ask another nurse to perform the task.
- D. Accept the task but document it later.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When a task is assigned that is outside the scope of a nursing assistant, it is essential for the assistant to refuse the task and report it to the charge nurse. This ensures that tasks are appropriately delegated, maintaining patient safety and adherence to professional standards. Performing the task without reporting can lead to potential risks for the patient and legal implications. Asking another nurse to perform the task may not address the issue of improper delegation. Accepting the task but documenting it later does not resolve the immediate concern of working within the assistant's scope of practice and seeking appropriate delegation.