A healthcare professional is instructing an AP about caring for a client who has a low platelet count. Which of the following instructions is the priority for measuring vital signs for this client?
- A. Avoid measuring the client's temperature rectally.
- B. Count the client's radial pulse for 30 seconds and multiply it by 2.
- C. Count the client's respirations discreetly.
- D. Allow the client to rest for 5 minutes before measuring their BP.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to avoid measuring the client's temperature rectally. Rectal temperatures can cause bleeding in clients with low platelet counts. It is crucial to avoid invasive methods that could increase the risk of bleeding or discomfort. Choice B, counting the radial pulse, is not directly related to the risk of bleeding in a client with low platelet count. Choice C, counting respirations discreetly, is important for accuracy but is not the priority when considering the risk of bleeding. Choice D, letting the client rest before measuring blood pressure, is beneficial but is not the priority in preventing potential harm due to low platelet counts.
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A nurse is counseling an older adult who describes having difficulty with several issues. Which of the following problems verbalized by the client should the nurse identify as the priority?
- A. "I spent my whole life dreaming about retirement, and now I wish I had my job back."
- B. "It's been so stressful for me to have to depend on my child to help around the house."
- C. "I just heard my friend Al die. That's the third one in 3 months."
- D. "I keep forgetting which medications I have taken during the day."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The statement expressing the loss of friends is the priority issue as it indicates potential grief and emotional distress. Losing multiple friends within a short period can have a profound impact on an older adult's emotional well-being. Option A expresses regret but does not indicate an immediate emotional crisis. Option B focuses on stress related to dependence, which is important but not as urgent as coping with loss. Option D highlights a memory concern, which is significant but does not address the emotional impact of loss.
The caregiver is teaching parents about accidental poisoning in children. Which point should be emphasized?
- A. Call the Poison Control Center as soon as the situation is identified
- B. Empty the child's mouth in any case of possible poisoning
- C. Have the child move minimally if a toxic substance was inhaled
- D. Do not induce vomiting if the poison is a hydrocarbon
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to emphasize emptying the child's mouth in any case of possible poisoning. This action is crucial to prevent further ingestion of the poisonous substance. Choice A is incorrect because calling the Poison Control Center should be one of the first steps, not waiting until the situation is identified. Choice C is incorrect as moving the child may spread or exacerbate the effects of the toxic substance. Choice D is incorrect because inducing vomiting can be harmful if the poison is a hydrocarbon, as it may lead to aspiration.
A 54-year-old male client and his wife were informed this morning that he has terminal cancer. Which nursing intervention is likely to be most appropriate?
- A. Ask the wife how she would like to participate in the client's care
- B. Provide the wife with information about hospice
- C. Encourage the wife to visit during the treatment process
- D. Refer her to a support group for family members of those with terminal cancer
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this situation, it is crucial to involve the wife in the care of the client to provide support and empower her. Asking the wife how she would like to participate allows her to be actively involved in decision-making and caregiving. Providing information about hospice (choice B) might be premature as the couple may still be digesting the diagnosis. Encouraging the wife to visit during the treatment process (choice C) may not address her immediate need for involvement and support. Referring her to a support group for family members (choice D) is helpful but involving her directly in the client's care is a more immediate and personalized approach.
A charge nurse is talking with a newly licensed nurse and is reviewing nursing interventions that do not require a provider's prescription. Which of the following interventions should the charge nurse include?
- A. Writing a prescription for morphine sulfate as needed for pain
- B. Inserting a nasogastric (NG) tube to relieve gastric distention
- C. Showing a client how to use progressive muscle relaxation
- D. Performing a daily bath after the evening meal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Showing a client how to use progressive muscle relaxation is an intervention that does not require a provider's prescription. This falls within the nurse's scope of practice and can be implemented to promote relaxation and reduce stress for the client. Choices A and B involve tasks that require a provider's prescription and specialized training. Writing a prescription for morphine sulfate and inserting an NG tube should only be done by authorized healthcare providers. Choice D, performing a daily bath, while within the nurse's scope, does not specifically address interventions that do not require a provider's prescription.
A nurse is precepting a newly licensed nurse who is preparing to help a client perform tracheostomy care. The nurse should intervene if the equipment the preceptee gathered included:
- A. Cotton balls
- B. Sterile gloves
- C. A suction catheter
- D. Tracheostomy tubes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cotton balls. Cotton balls are not suitable for tracheostomy care due to the risk of lint and contamination. When performing tracheostomy care, sterile supplies such as sterile gloves, a suction catheter, and tracheostomy tubes are essential. Sterile gloves are needed to maintain asepsis, a suction catheter is necessary for airway clearance, and tracheostomy tubes are crucial for maintaining a patent airway. Cotton balls should be avoided to prevent introducing lint or fibers into the tracheostomy site, which can lead to infection or airway obstruction.