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A patient with a suspected spinal injury is found unconscious. Which of the following actions should be taken first?
- A. Move the patient to a flat surface.
- B. Perform a jaw thrust maneuver.
- C. Apply a cervical collar.
- D. Check for responsiveness.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When a patient with a suspected spinal injury is found unconscious, the priority action is to secure the airway without jeopardizing the cervical spine. A jaw thrust maneuver is the appropriate technique to open the airway in this situation because it allows for the maintenance of neutral alignment of the cervical spine while ensuring proper ventilation. Moving the patient to a flat surface or applying a cervical collar could potentially worsen the spinal injury if not done correctly, and checking for responsiveness should only be done after ensuring a patent airway. Therefore, the safest and most effective initial action is to perform a jaw thrust maneuver to establish a clear airway.
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Which of the following laboratory findings is characteristic of a patient with a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)?
- A. Fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL
- B. Random plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL
- C. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5%
- D. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2-hour plasma glucose ≥140 mg/dL
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is typically confirmed through an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during pregnancy. In GDM, the 2-hour plasma glucose level during the OGTT is equal to or greater than 140 mg/dL. This finding is characteristic of GDM and distinguishes it from other types of diabetes. Fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL is diagnostic of diabetes mellitus outside of pregnancy, not specifically GDM. Random plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL is indicative of uncontrolled diabetes in general. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% is used for diagnosing diabetes outside of pregnancy and is not specific to GDM.
To be more responsible, a nurse needs to understand the elements of the communication process. When she initiates interpersonal communication, the element involved is
- A. referent
- B. message
- C. sender
- D. channel
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The element involved when a nurse initiates interpersonal communication is the sender. In the communication process, the sender is the person who initiates the message or information to be conveyed to the receiver. In this case, the nurse is taking on the role of the sender by initiating the communication with the patient, another healthcare professional, or any other individual. The sender is responsible for encoding the message and selecting the appropriate channel to convey it effectively. Therefore, in this scenario, the nurse is the one initiating communication, making her the sender in the communication process.
In order to determine the patient's ability to concentrate and focus, which would be the PRIORITY nursing action?
- A. Asked for the academic performance
- B. Conduct paper and pencil test
- C. Assess the mental status of the patient
- D. Refer the patient to the psychiatrist
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Assessing the mental status of the patient is the PRIORITY nursing action to determine the patient's ability to concentrate and focus. This assessment includes evaluating the patient's level of alertness, orientation, memory, thought processes, and mood. By observing the patient's mental status, the nurse can gain valuable information about the patient's cognitive function, attention span, and ability to concentrate. This assessment will help guide further interventions and care planning for the patient. Asking for academic performance or conducting paper and pencil tests may be useful tools to assess concentration and focus, but they should come after a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's mental status. Referring the patient to a psychiatrist may be necessary based on the assessment findings, but it should not be the first step in determining the patient's ability to concentrate and focus.
A patient presents with fever, chills, headache, and myalgia after returning from a trip to sub-Saharan Africa. Laboratory tests reveal intraerythrocytic ring forms and trophozoites on blood smear examination. Which of the following is the most likely causative agent?
- A. Plasmodium falciparum
- B. Trypanosoma cruzi
- C. Borrelia burgdorferi
- D. Leishmania donovani
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The clinical presentation of fever, chills, headache, and myalgia after a trip to sub-Saharan Africa is highly indicative of malaria. Specifically, the presence of intraerythrocytic ring forms and trophozoites on blood smear examination points towards Plasmodium falciparum as the most likely causative agent. Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly of the Plasmodium species that cause malaria and is responsible for the majority of severe malaria cases worldwide. It is transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Treatment for Plasmodium falciparum infection usually involves antimalarial medications such as artemisinin-based combination therapies.
A patient with a severe fungal infection demonstrates impaired neutrophil function. Which of the following cellular processes is most likely to be affected in this patient?
- A. Phagocytosis
- B. Antibody production
- C. Cytokine secretion
- D. Mast cell degranulation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in immune defense against pathogens, particularly in phagocytosis - the process by which they engulf and destroy invading microorganisms. In a severe fungal infection, impaired neutrophil function would most likely affect their ability to effectively perform phagocytosis, leading to a compromised immune response against the fungal pathogen. This would result in increased susceptibility to the infection and potentially severe outcomes for the patient. Antibody production, cytokine secretion, and mast cell degranulation are important components of the immune response, but neutrophils are primarily responsible for phagocytosis in the innate immune system.