A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure who has developed pulmonary edema. What is the nurse's priority action?
- A. Administer a diuretic as prescribed.
- B. Place the patient in a high Fowler's position.
- C. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula.
- D. Monitor the patient's lung sounds every 2 hours.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to place the patient in a high Fowler's position. This position helps improve lung expansion and oxygenation in cases of pulmonary edema by reducing venous return to the heart and enhancing respiratory mechanics. Administering a diuretic (Choice A) can be important but is not the priority over positioning in this situation. Administering oxygen (Choice C) is essential, but the priority action for improving oxygenation is the positioning of the patient. Monitoring lung sounds (Choice D) is crucial for ongoing assessment but is not the priority action when the patient is in distress with pulmonary edema.
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A client with a history of falls is under the care of a nurse. Which intervention is most important to implement?
- A. Increase the frequency of bed checks.
- B. Use bed alarms to prevent falls.
- C. Keep the room well lit during the day.
- D. Encourage the client to use a walker for mobility.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using bed alarms to prevent falls is the most important intervention to implement for a client with a history of falls. Bed alarms can provide timely alerts to the healthcare team, allowing for quick assistance to prevent falls. Increasing the frequency of bed checks may not necessarily prevent falls as effectively as direct intervention with bed alarms. Keeping the room well lit is important for general safety but may not address the immediate risk of falls. Encouraging the client to use a walker for mobility is beneficial but may not be as crucial as implementing bed alarms to prevent falls in this scenario.
A client with a history of seizures is admitted for monitoring. What should the nurse prioritize?
- A. Ensure the client is on seizure precautions.
- B. Educate the client about seizure triggers.
- C. Monitor for signs of an impending seizure.
- D. Initiate IV access for anti-seizure medication.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to ensure the client is on seizure precautions. This is crucial in preventing injury during a seizure episode. While educating the client about seizure triggers (choice B) is important for long-term management, it is not the priority when the client is admitted for monitoring. Monitoring for signs of an impending seizure (choice C) is essential but does not address immediate safety concerns. Initiating IV access for anti-seizure medication (choice D) is not the priority unless a seizure occurs and medical intervention is needed.
A healthcare provider writes a medication order that seems excessively high for the patient's condition. What is the nurse's first step?
- A. Administer the medication immediately.
- B. Hold the medication and consult the provider.
- C. Reduce the dose without consulting the provider.
- D. Administer the medication after double-checking with another nurse.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct first step for the nurse when encountering a medication order that appears excessively high for the patient's condition is to hold the medication and consult the provider. Administering the medication immediately (Choice A) without clarification could pose a risk to the patient's safety. Reducing the dose without consulting the provider (Choice C) is not recommended as it may lead to suboptimal treatment. Administering the medication after double-checking with another nurse (Choice D) is not sufficient; consulting the provider directly is crucial to ensure the accuracy and safety of the medication order.
A client is preparing for surgery wearing a necklace. What is the appropriate action?
- A. Remove the necklace and place it in a drawer
- B. Tape the necklace to the patient's skin
- C. Ask the patient for permission to lock it in a safe
- D. Ask the family to hold onto the necklace
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The appropriate action when a client is wearing a necklace before surgery is to ask the patient for permission to lock it in a safe. This is in line with hospital policy to secure valuables before entering surgery. Choice A is incorrect because simply placing the necklace in a drawer may not be secure. Choice B is incorrect as taping the necklace to the patient's skin can cause skin irritation and is not a standard practice. Choice D is incorrect because the responsibility for securing valuables typically lies with the healthcare team, not the patient's family.
What is the most appropriate action for a healthcare provider to take when a patient is at risk for falls?
- A. Place the call light within the patient's reach.
- B. Apply a yellow fall risk bracelet to the patient.
- C. Assist the patient when ambulating.
- D. Ensure the patient's room is well-lit.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to apply a yellow fall risk bracelet to the patient. This action helps alert staff to the patient's increased risk of falling, prompting them to implement appropriate safety measures and precautions. Placing the call light within reach (choice A) is generally important but does not specifically address fall risk. Assisting the patient when ambulating (choice C) is important but may not be sufficient alone to prevent falls. Ensuring the patient's room is well-lit (choice D) is also crucial for patient safety but does not directly address the patient's fall risk status.