A hospitalized male client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-bore tube and a continuous pump infusion. He reports that he had a bad bout of severe coughing a few minutes ago but feels fine now. What action is best for the nurse to take?
- A. Record the coughing incident. No further action is required at this time.
- B. Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped, and notify the healthcare provider.
- C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube.
- D. Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while auscultating the epigastrium for gurgling.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Coughing, vomiting, and suctioning can precipitate displacement of the tip of the small-bore feeding tube upward into the esophagus, placing the client at increased risk for aspiration. Checking the sample of fluid withdrawn from the tube (after clearing the tube with 30 ml of air) for acidic (stomach) or alkaline (intestine) values is a more sensitive method for these tubes. The nurse should assess tube placement in this way before taking any other action to ensure the tube is still in the correct position and prevent potential complications. Choice A is incorrect because further assessment is needed due to the risk of tube displacement. Choice B is incorrect as stopping the feeding and involving the family is premature without confirming tube placement. Choice D is incorrect as injecting air and auscultating for gurgling is not the recommended method to confirm tube placement.
You may also like to solve these questions
What action should the nurse take after applying gloves to irrigate a client's indwelling urinary catheter using an open technique?
- A. Empty the client's urinary drainage bag.
- B. Draw up the irrigating solution into the syringe.
- C. Secure the client's catheter to the drainage tubing.
- D. Use aseptic technique to instill the irrigating solution.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: After applying gloves to irrigate an indwelling urinary catheter using an open technique, the next step for the nurse is to draw up the irrigating solution into the syringe. This step is crucial as it ensures that the solution is ready to be instilled through the catheter to maintain its patency and prevent blockages. Option A is incorrect as emptying the client's urinary drainage bag is not the immediate next step in the irrigation process. Option C is incorrect as securing the client's catheter to the drainage tubing is not necessary at this stage. Option D is incorrect as the question pertains to the action immediately after applying gloves and does not involve instilling the irrigating solution yet.
Upon admission, a female client with breast cancer, liver, and spine metastases presents with constant, severe pain despite the continuous use of oxycodone (Percodan) and amitriptyline (Elavil) at home for pain management. What information is most crucial for the nurse to gather during the admission assessment?
- A. Sensory pattern, area, intensity, and nature of the pain.
- B. Identification of trigger points through palpation and manual pressure on painful areas.
- C. Current schedule and total dosages of medications used for breakthrough pain.
- D. Assessment of sympathetic responses indicative of acute pain onset.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most critical information for the nurse to obtain during the admission assessment of a client with severe pain due to breast cancer metastasis to the liver and spine is the sensory pattern, area, intensity, and nature of the pain. Understanding these details is essential to tailor appropriate pain management therapy effectively. By assessing the sensory pattern, area, intensity, and nature of pain, the nurse can better determine the underlying cause and choose the most suitable interventions to address the client's pain and improve their quality of life. Trigger points, medication dosages, and sympathetic responses are also important aspects of pain assessment but understanding the sensory aspects of pain is fundamental for providing optimal care in this scenario.
Which instruction should be included in the discharge teaching plan for an adult client with hypernatremia?
- A. Monitor daily urine output volume
- B. Drink plenty of water whenever thirsty
- C. Use salt tablets for sodium content
- D. Review food labels for sodium content
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In hypernatremia, there is an excess of sodium in the blood. Reviewing food labels for sodium content is crucial as it helps the client identify and avoid high-sodium foods, which can contribute to elevated sodium levels. Monitoring urine output volume may be important for other conditions but is not directly related to managing hypernatremia. Drinking water whenever thirsty is generally good advice for staying hydrated but does not specifically address the issue of high sodium levels. Using salt tablets would worsen hypernatremia by further increasing sodium intake.
After a needle stick occurs while removing the cap from a sterile needle, what action should the individual take?
- A. Complete an incident report.
- B. Select another sterile needle.
- C. Disinfect the needle with an alcohol swab.
- D. Notify the supervisor immediately.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the scenario described, the correct action after a needle stick injury is to discard the contaminated needle safely and choose a new sterile needle to continue the procedure. This step helps prevent potential transmission of infections and ensures the safety of both the individual and the patient. Disinfecting the needle with an alcohol swab is not adequate to address the risk of infection transmission. While completing an incident report and notifying the supervisor are important, the immediate action should be to replace the contaminated needle with a new sterile one to prevent any potential harm.
Which instruction is most important for the nurse to include when teaching a client with limited mobility strategies to prevent venous thrombosis?
- A. Perform cough and deep breathing exercises hourly.
- B. Turn from side to side in bed at least every 2 hours.
- C. Dorsiflex and plantarflex the feet 10 times each hour.
- D. Drink approximately 4 ounces of water every hour.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most crucial instruction for a client with limited mobility to prevent venous thrombosis is to perform dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the feet 10 times each hour. These exercises help promote venous return, reducing the risk of thrombosis by preventing blood stasis in the lower extremities. While other measures like turning in bed and staying hydrated are beneficial, promoting venous return through foot exercises is the priority in preventing venous thrombosis in clients with limited mobility. Dorsiflexion and plantarflexion directly target the calf muscle pump, aiding in the circulation of blood back to the heart and preventing clot formation. The other options, such as cough and deep breathing exercises, turning in bed, and hydration, are important for overall health but do not directly address venous stasis and thrombosis prevention in the same way as foot exercises.
Nokea