A nurse is caring for a client who has acute angina. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Measure blood pressure.
- B. Administer aspirin.
- C. Administer nitroglycerin.
- D. Initiate IV access.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer aspirin. Aspirin helps to reduce platelet aggregation and prevent further clot formation in clients with acute angina, thus reducing the risk of myocardial infarction. Administering aspirin should be the first action as it addresses the immediate risk of clot formation and helps improve blood flow to the heart muscle.
Measuring blood pressure (A) can be important but is not the priority in this situation. Administering nitroglycerin (C) is important for symptom relief but does not address the underlying cause. Initiating IV access (D) may be necessary later for further interventions, but it is not the first priority.
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A nurse is caring for a client who has just returned from surgery with an external fixator to the left tibia. Which of the following assessment findings requires immediate intervention by the nurse?
- A. The client's capillary refill in the left toe is 6 seconds.
- B. The client has 100 mL blood in the closed-suction drain.
- C. The client has an oral temperature of 36.3° C (90.9° F).
- D. The client reports a pain level of 7 on a scale from 0 to 10 at the operative site.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Capillary refill time of 6 seconds in the toe indicates poor circulation, which is a concerning finding post-surgery with an external fixator. Immediate intervention is needed to prevent complications like tissue ischemia. Choices B, C, and D do not require immediate intervention as they are within normal limits postoperatively. Blood in the drain is expected, the temperature is normal, and pain level 7 is manageable with appropriate pain management.
A nurse is caring for a client receiving TPN. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Monitor serum blood glucose during infusion.
- B. Obtain the client's weight daily.
- C. Infuse 0.9% sodium chloride if the solution is not available.
- D. Verify the solution with another RN prior to infusion.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Monitor serum blood glucose during infusion. This is crucial because TPN (total parenteral nutrition) is a high concentration of glucose and can lead to hyperglycemia. Regular monitoring helps in detecting and managing any glucose fluctuations promptly. Choice B is incorrect as daily weight is essential but not the priority when compared to monitoring glucose. Choice C is incorrect as infusing 0.9% sodium chloride as an alternative can lead to incompatible solutions and cause harm. Choice D is incorrect because verifying the solution with another RN is important for safety but does not address the immediate need for glucose monitoring.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who reports that they cannot afford their prescribed medication. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
- A. I can arrange for a social worker to talk with you before you leave.'
- B. I can contact the occupational therapist to schedule a home visit.'
- C. Contact your pharmacy to inquire about a different medication.'
- D. You should ask your provider to prescribe a cheaper medication.'
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: "I can arrange for a social worker to talk with you before you leave." This option is the most appropriate as it addresses the client's financial constraints by offering assistance in accessing support services. A social worker can help the client explore options for medication assistance programs, financial aid, or community resources. Option B is incorrect as it does not directly address the client's medication affordability issue. Option C suggests switching medications without considering the client's specific needs. Option D places the burden on the client to navigate the healthcare system for cost-effective solutions. Option A is the best choice as it prioritizes addressing the client's financial barriers through appropriate referral and support.
A nurse is assessing a client who has skeletal traction for a femoral fracture. The nurse notes that the weights are resting on the floor. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Remove one of the weights.
- B. Tie knots in the ropes near the pulleys to shorten them.
- C. Increase the elevation of the affected extremity.
- D. Reapply the weights to ensure proper traction.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to reapply the weights to ensure proper traction. This is crucial to maintain the intended pulling force required for the skeletal traction to be effective in realigning the fractured bone. If the weights are resting on the floor, it means that the traction is not being applied as intended, which can lead to ineffective treatment and potential complications. Removing a weight (choice A) would decrease the traction force, tying knots in the ropes (choice B) would alter the mechanics of the system, and increasing the elevation of the extremity (choice C) would not address the issue of weights resting on the floor. Therefore, the best course of action is to reapply the weights to ensure proper traction and alignment of the fractured bone.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a cervical spine injury and has a halo traction device in place. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
- A. Apply medicated powder under the vest to reduce itching.
- B. Move the client up and down in bed by holding onto the halo traction device.
- C. Ensure that there is space for one finger to fit between the vest and the client's skin.
- D. Locate or tighten the screws on the device as needed for the client's comfort.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Ensure that there is space for one finger to fit between the vest and the client's skin. This is important to prevent pressure ulcers and skin breakdown. Tight vest can lead to skin irritation. Applying medicated powder (A) may further irritate the skin. Moving the client by holding the halo traction device (B) can lead to dislodgement or injury. Locating or tightening screws (D) should only be done by healthcare providers to prevent complications.
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