A healthcare professional is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. What is the most important action to prevent infection?
- A. Use sterile gloves during the procedure.
- B. Clean the catheter insertion site with alcohol.
- C. Insert the catheter as quickly as possible.
- D. Use a smaller catheter size to minimize trauma.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Using sterile gloves during catheter insertion is crucial to prevent infection. Sterile gloves help maintain asepsis during the procedure, reducing the risk of introducing microorganisms into the urinary tract. Cleaning the insertion site with alcohol, as mentioned in choice B, is important but not as critical as using sterile gloves. Choice C, inserting the catheter as quickly as possible, is not recommended as it can lead to errors and increase the risk of contamination. Choice D, using a smaller catheter size to minimize trauma, is not directly related to preventing infection but rather focuses on patient comfort and reducing tissue damage.
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The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of guided imagery for pain management in a patient with second- and third-degree burns requiring extensive dressing changes. Which finding best indicates the effectiveness of guided imagery?
- A. The patient's need for analgesic medication decreases during the dressing changes.
- B. The patient rates pain during the dressing change as a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10.
- C. The patient asks for pain medication during the dressing changes only once throughout the procedure.
- D. The patient's facial expressions remain stoic during the procedure.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. A reduction in the need for analgesic medication indicates that guided imagery is effective in managing the patient's pain. Choices B, C, and D do not directly measure the effectiveness of guided imagery. A patient rating pain as 6 on a scale of 0 to 10, asking for pain medication once, or having stoic facial expressions may not necessarily reflect the impact of guided imagery on pain management.
A healthcare provider prescribes a higher-than-usual dose of medication. What is the nurse's first action?
- A. Administer the medication and monitor closely.
- B. Hold the medication and consult the pharmacist.
- C. Ask another nurse to verify the dose.
- D. Call the provider for clarification.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to call the provider for clarification. When faced with a higher-than-usual dose of medication, the nurse's first action should be to contact the prescribing healthcare provider to confirm the dosage. Administering the medication without clarifying the dose with the provider can pose serious risks to the patient's safety. Holding the medication and consulting the pharmacist may be appropriate after contacting the provider for clarification. Asking another nurse to verify the dose is not the most appropriate action when dealing with an unusual prescription; direct communication with the provider is essential in such situations.
A patient with a urinary catheter reports discomfort. What is the nurse's priority action?
- A. Ensure the catheter tubing is not kinked.
- B. Irrigate the catheter to relieve the discomfort.
- C. Change the catheter to a smaller size.
- D. Remove the catheter and replace it with a new one.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to ensure the catheter tubing is not kinked. This is the priority action because a kinked tubing can obstruct urine flow, leading to discomfort and potential complications. It is essential to troubleshoot the current catheter first before considering other interventions. Irrigating the catheter (Choice B) may not address the underlying issue of kinking. Changing the catheter to a smaller size (Choice C) or removing and replacing it with a new one (Choice D) should only be considered if ensuring the tubing is unkinked does not resolve the discomfort.
What is the most important nursing intervention when caring for a patient with a wound?
- A. Apply an occlusive dressing over the wound.
- B. Clean the wound with normal saline.
- C. Administer antibiotics as prescribed.
- D. Reassess the wound every 4 hours for changes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most important nursing intervention when caring for a patient with a wound is to clean the wound with normal saline. This is crucial for preventing infection and promoting healing. Applying an occlusive dressing (Choice A) can be important but should come after cleaning the wound. Administering antibiotics (Choice C) is not the first-line intervention for all wounds and should be based on the healthcare provider's prescription. Reassessing the wound (Choice D) is essential but not the most important initial intervention.
The nurse is assessing the patient for respiratory complications of immobility. What action should the nurse take?
- A. Auscultate the entire lung region to assess lung sounds.
- B. Assess the patient at least every 4 hours.
- C. Focus auscultation on the upper lung fields.
- D. Inspect chest wall movements primarily during the expiratory cycle.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Auscultating the entire lung region is the most appropriate action when assessing a patient for respiratory complications related to immobility. This approach helps the nurse identify any abnormalities in lung sounds, such as diminished breath sounds or the presence of secretions. Assessing the patient at regular intervals (choice B) is important but does not specifically address the respiratory assessment needed in this situation. Focusing auscultation on the upper lung fields (choice C) may miss potential issues in other areas. Inspecting chest wall movements primarily during the expiratory cycle (choice D) is not the most effective way to assess lung sounds and identify respiratory complications.