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A patient is prescribed a diuretic for hypertension. What is the most important assessment the nurse should perform?
- A. Monitor the patient's respiratory rate.
- B. Check the patient's blood pressure regularly.
- C. Monitor the patient's potassium levels.
- D. Monitor the patient's sodium levels.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Corrected Rationale: When a patient is prescribed a diuretic for hypertension, monitoring the patient's sodium levels is crucial. Diuretics can lead to alterations in sodium levels, potentially causing complications like hyponatremia. While monitoring other parameters like respiratory rate, blood pressure, and potassium levels may also be important, the primary concern with diuretic therapy is the risk of sodium imbalance, making the monitoring of sodium levels the most critical assessment.
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What is the most important action for the nurse to take after finding a patient on the floor who reports, 'I fell out of bed'?
- A. Reassess the patient.
- B. Complete an incident report.
- C. Notify the health care provider.
- D. Take no action, as no harm has occurred.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most important action for the nurse to take after finding a patient on the floor who reports falling out of bed is to notify the health care provider. This is crucial to ensure that the incident is reported, documented, and that the patient receives necessary follow-up care. Reassessing the patient is important, but notifying the healthcare provider takes precedence to address any potential injuries or issues that may have resulted from the fall. Completing an incident report is necessary, but immediate notification to the healthcare provider is more critical in this situation. Doing nothing is not an appropriate response, as the patient's safety and well-being must be the top priority.
A patient has a DNR (do-not-resuscitate) order but their family insists on resuscitation if necessary. What should the nurse do?
- A. Follow the family's wishes to resuscitate.
- B. Explain that the nurse must follow the DNR order.
- C. Ask the provider for clarification on the DNR.
- D. Call the ethics committee to discuss the situation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The nurse must follow the legal DNR order, even if the family insists on resuscitation. Respecting the patient's wishes is crucial in providing ethical care. Choice A is incorrect because the nurse should prioritize the patient's documented wishes over the family's requests. Choice C may cause unnecessary delays in care as the DNR order is a legal document. Choice D is not the initial action to take in this situation; the nurse should first address the conflict between the family's wishes and the patient's DNR order.
What is the most appropriate method for assessing a patient's pain level?
- A. Observe the patient's facial expressions.
- B. Use a standardized pain scale, such as 0-10.
- C. Ask the patient to rate their pain based on their mood.
- D. Ask the patient's family members to assess the pain.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most appropriate method for assessing a patient's pain level is to use a standardized pain scale, such as a 0-10 scale. This method provides an objective and consistent way to measure and communicate the intensity of pain experienced by the patient. Choice A, observing facial expressions, can be subjective and may not always accurately reflect the level of pain. Choice C, asking the patient to rate their pain based on their mood, may be influenced by various factors unrelated to pain. Choice D, involving the patient's family members in assessing the pain, is not ideal as pain is a subjective experience that should be reported by the patient themselves.
Which intervention will best help a patient with chronic pain maintain mobility?
- A. Provide the patient with opioids to control pain.
- B. Encourage stretching exercises to improve flexibility.
- C. Teach the patient to use assistive devices like a cane.
- D. Recommend complete bed rest until the pain subsides.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Encouraging stretching exercises is the most appropriate nursing intervention to help a patient with chronic pain maintain mobility. Stretching exercises can improve flexibility, prevent stiffness, and promote better range of motion in patients with chronic pain. Providing opioids (Choice A) may help control pain but does not directly address mobility. Teaching the patient to use assistive devices (Choice C) may be beneficial but does not focus on improving mobility directly. Recommending complete bed rest (Choice D) can lead to deconditioning and further loss of mobility, which is not recommended for chronic pain management.
The emergency department has been notified of a potential bioterrorism attack. Which action by the nurse is priority?
- A. Prepare for potential posttraumatic stress related to this bioterrorism attack.
- B. Transport patients quickly and efficiently through the elevators.
- C. Monitor for specific symptoms related to the bioterrorism attack.
- D. Manage all patients using standard precautions.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: During a potential bioterrorism attack, the priority for the nurse is to manage all patients using standard precautions. This approach ensures the safety of both patients and healthcare providers by preventing the spread of potential bioterrorism-related illnesses. Option A is incorrect because managing patient care and safety through standard precautions takes precedence. Option B is incorrect as patient transport should also be done while adhering to infection control measures. Option C is incorrect as monitoring for specific symptoms is important but not the priority when all patients need to be managed with standard precautions.