Nokea
A male Native American presents to the clinic with complaints of frequent abdominal cramping and nausea. He states that he has chronic constipation and had not had a bowel movement in five days, despite trying several home remedies. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
- A. Evaluate the stool samples for the presence of blood
- B. Assess for the presence of an impaction
- C. Determine which home remedies were used
- D. Obtain a list of prescribed medications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessing for impaction is crucial as it is a common cause of constipation and abdominal discomfort. In this scenario, the patient's symptoms of chronic constipation and no bowel movement for five days despite trying home remedies indicate a potential impaction that needs to be assessed. Evaluating stool samples for blood, determining the home remedies used, or obtaining a list of prescribed medications, while potentially relevant, are not as urgent as assessing for impaction in this situation.
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A nurse prepares to admit a client who is immediately postoperative to the unit following abdominal surgery. When transferring the client from the gurney to the bed, what should the nurse do?
- A. Lock the wheels on the bed and gurney
- B. Adjust the bed height
- C. Use a slide sheet
- D. Ask for assistance from another nurse
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take when transferring a postoperative client from the gurney to the bed is to lock the wheels on both the bed and the gurney. Locking the wheels ensures stability and prevents accidents during the transfer. Adjusting the bed height may be necessary for comfort but is not the primary concern during the transfer process. Using a slide sheet may be helpful in repositioning the client once on the bed but is not essential for the initial transfer. Asking for assistance from another nurse is always a good practice, but the immediate action to ensure safety during the transfer is to lock the wheels.
During an eye irrigation for a client exposed to smoke and ash, which nursing action should receive the highest priority?
- A. Wearing gloves during the procedure
- B. Using a sterile solution
- C. Irrigating from the inner to the outer canthus
- D. Positioning the client's head properly
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The highest priority during an eye irrigation for a client exposed to smoke and ash is wearing gloves during the procedure. This action is crucial as it helps prevent contamination and protects both the client and the nurse. Using a sterile solution is important but not as critical as ensuring the nurse's safety by wearing gloves. Irrigating from the inner to the outer canthus and positioning the client's head properly are essential steps in eye irrigation, but they are not the highest priority in this scenario compared to ensuring infection control by wearing gloves.
When moving a patient up in bed using a drawsheet with the help of another nurse, in which order will the nurses perform the steps, starting with the first one?
- A. Grasp the drawsheet firmly near the patient.
- B. Move the patient and drawsheet to the desired position.
- C. Position one nurse at each side of the bed.
- D. Place the drawsheet under the patient from shoulder to thigh.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When moving a patient up in bed with a drawsheet and the assistance of another nurse, it is important to have one nurse positioned at each side of the bed initially. This allows for proper coordination and support during the patient movement. Placing the drawsheet under the patient from shoulder to thigh, grasping the drawsheet firmly near the patient, and moving the patient and drawsheet to the desired position follow after the nurses are positioned on each side of the bed. The correct sequence ensures a safe and coordinated approach to repositioning the patient in bed.
During a client admission, how should the nurse conduct medication reconciliation?
- A. Compare the client's home medications to the provider's prescriptions.
- B. Review the client's medical history.
- C. Assess the client's current medications.
- D. Ask the client about their allergies.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: During medication reconciliation, the nurse should compare the client's home medications with the provider's prescriptions to ensure accuracy and prevent medication errors. Reviewing the client's medical history (Choice B) is important but not the primary focus of medication reconciliation. Assessing the client's current medications (Choice C) is also vital but is not specific to the comparison between home and prescribed medications during reconciliation. Asking the client about their allergies (Choice D) is relevant for ensuring safe medication administration but is not the primary step in medication reconciliation, which involves comparing actual medications.
How should a healthcare professional care for a client approaching death with shortness of breath and noisy respirations?
- A. Turn the client every 2 hours
- B. Provide supplemental oxygen
- C. Use a fan to reduce the feeling of breathlessness
- D. Administer diuretics as prescribed
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In a palliative care setting, when caring for a client approaching death with symptoms of shortness of breath and noisy respirations, using a fan can help alleviate the sensation of breathlessness. This intervention can provide comfort by improving air circulation and reducing the perception of breathlessness. Turning the client every 2 hours may not directly address the respiratory distress caused by noisy respirations. Providing supplemental oxygen may not be indicated or effective in all cases, especially in end-of-life care where the focus is on comfort rather than aggressive interventions. Administering diuretics as prescribed would not be appropriate for addressing noisy respirations and shortness of breath in a dying client, as this may not be related to fluid overload or congestion. Therefore, the most appropriate action to help the client feel more comfortable in this situation is to use a fan to reduce the feeling of breathlessness.