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A patient with heart failure has gained 5 pounds in the last 3 days. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
- A. Restrict the patient's fluid intake.
- B. Monitor the patient's daily weight.
- C. Administer diuretics as prescribed.
- D. Increase the patient's salt intake to promote fluid balance.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor the patient's daily weight. In heart failure, sudden weight gain indicates fluid retention, which can worsen the condition. Monitoring daily weight helps in early detection of fluid accumulation, allowing timely intervention. Restricting fluid intake (choice A) may be necessary but is not the priority at this point. Administering diuretics (choice C) should be done based on healthcare provider orders, not the nurse's independent decision. Increasing salt intake (choice D) is contraindicated in heart failure as it can exacerbate fluid retention.
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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.
How can a healthcare provider prevent pressure ulcers in an immobile patient?
- A. Turn the patient every 4 hours.
- B. Provide the patient with a special mattress.
- C. Elevate the patient's legs to reduce pressure.
- D. Limit the patient's movement to reduce friction.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Providing the immobile patient with a special mattress is an effective way to prevent pressure ulcers. Special mattresses help distribute pressure evenly and reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcers by relieving pressure on sensitive areas. Turning the patient every 4 hours (Choice A) is a standard practice to prevent pressure ulcers but may not be as effective as using a special mattress. Elevating the patient's legs (Choice C) can help with circulation but may not directly prevent pressure ulcers. Limiting the patient's movement (Choice D) can lead to other complications and is not a recommended method for preventing pressure ulcers.
Which intervention is most effective for managing a patient with constipation?
- A. Increase the patient's fluid intake.
- B. Administer a stool softener as prescribed.
- C. Provide the patient with a high-fiber diet.
- D. Teach the patient to perform Valsalva maneuvers.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most effective intervention for managing constipation in a patient is to administer a stool softener as prescribed. Stool softeners help relieve constipation by making the stool easier to pass, especially in postoperative patients. Increasing fluid intake can be beneficial but may not address the underlying cause of constipation. While a high-fiber diet is important for bowel health, it may not provide immediate relief for constipation. Teaching a patient to perform Valsalva maneuvers is not recommended for managing constipation as it can lead to adverse effects like increasing intra-abdominal pressure.
The patient has been in bed for several days and needs to be ambulated. What action should the nurse take first?
- A. Dangle the patient at the bedside.
- B. Encourage isometric exercises.
- C. Suggest a high-calcium diet.
- D. Maintain a narrow base of support.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Dangle the patient at the bedside.' When a patient has been in bed for an extended period and needs to be ambulated, it is essential to dangle the patient at the bedside first. Dangling involves helping the patient sit on the edge of the bed with their legs over the side before standing up. This action helps prevent orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure when moving from lying down to standing up, which can lead to dizziness or fainting. Encouraging isometric exercises (choice B) or suggesting a high-calcium diet (choice C) are not the first actions to take before ambulating a patient. Maintaining a narrow base of support (choice D) is related to assisting with ambulation but is not the initial step that should be taken.
A nurse provides instructions to a client about preventing injury while using crutches. What should the nurse tell the client to avoid?
- A. An abnormal stance
- B. Injury to the nerves
- C. A fall and further injury
- D. Skin breakdown
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Injury to the nerves. Resting the underside of the arm on the crutch pad can injure the nerves. Choice A, an abnormal stance, is not directly related to nerve injury while using crutches. Choice C, a fall and further injury, is a general risk associated with improper crutch use but does not specifically address nerve injury. Choice D, skin breakdown, is a concern related to pressure ulcers but not the primary focus when discussing injury prevention related to crutch use.