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A nurse is assisting in the plan of care for a client who has constipation after receiving opioid medication for incisional pain. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Encourage the client to increase oral intake of fluids.
- B. Auscultate the client's abdomen for bowel sounds.
- C. Provide the client privacy with a set time to defecate.
- D. Administer a fiber-based laxative to the client.
- E. Increase physical activity.
- F. Check medication history.
- G. Apply heat to the abdomen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Auscultating bowel sounds assesses the underlying issue (e.g., ileus) before interventions like fluids or laxatives.
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A nurse is caring for a client who has dysphagia following a stroke. When assisting the client at mealtime, which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
- A. Instruct the client to tilt their head back to facilitate swallowing
- B. Encourage the client to use a straw.
- C. Provide oral care before meals.
- D. Schedule physical therapy directly before meals.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Oral care before meals removes debris and reduces aspiration risk in dysphagia. Tilting back worsens swallowing, straws may not be safe, and therapy timing isn't relevant.
A nurse is assisting with the plan of care for an older adult client who has a new prescription for transdermal clonidine. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the plan of care?
- A. Inform the client of the adverse effect of diarrhea.
- B. Monitor the client for weight loss.
- C. Advise the client about increased dry mouth.
- D. Check the client for increased hypopigmentation under the patch.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clonidine, an antihypertensive, commonly causes dry mouth as a side effect, and advising the client about this is appropriate for the care plan. Diarrhea, weight loss, and hypopigmentation are not typical effects associated with transdermal clonidine.
A nurse is assisting with the transfer of a client from a medical-surgical unit to an intensive care unit following a change in status. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the transfer documentation?
- A. Number of family members who have visited
- B. Primary health problem
- C. Admission vital signs from 1 week ago
- D. Scheduled times for dressing changes
- E. Current medication prescriptions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transfer documentation ensures continuity of care, focusing on critical, current data for the receiving team. The primary health problem is essential it summarizes why the client's status changed (e.g., respiratory failure, sepsis), guiding ICU interventions. Number of family members who visited is irrelevant to clinical management; it's a social detail, not a priority. Admission vital signs from a week ago are outdated current vitals matter more, especially with a status change. Scheduled dressing changes are useful but secondary to understanding the underlying condition driving the transfer. Identifying the primary issue provides context for the client's deterioration, aligns with handoff standards like SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), and ensures the ICU team addresses the root cause immediately. This focus on relevance enhances patient safety, reduces miscommunication, and supports rapid response in a critical setting, making it the most vital piece of transfer information.
An occupational health nurse is interpreting the results of a tuberculin skin test for a group of clients who received the test 48 hr ago. Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as having a positive test result?
- A. A client whose injection site is scabbed
- B. A client whose injection site is firm and measures 3 mm (0.1 in)
- C. A client whose injection site has an elevated area measuring 15 mm (0.6 in)
- D. A client whose injection site is ecchymotic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An induration of 15 mm after 48 hours indicates a positive TB skin test, suggesting exposure or infection. Smaller indurations, scabbing, or bruising do not meet the criteria for a positive result.
A nurse is caring for a client who has dysphagia following a stroke. The nurse should recommend a referral to which of the following members of the interdisciplinary team?
- A. Speech therapist
- B. Respiratory therapist
- C. Occupational therapist
- D. Physical therapist
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A speech therapist addresses dysphagia by assessing swallowing and recommending strategies, critical after a stroke. Other therapists focus on different rehabilitation aspects.