An adult is scheduled for a paracentesis. What should the nurse plan to do immediately before the procedure is started?
- A. Give the client a full glass of water
- B. Have the client empty his/her bladder
- C. Ask the client to empty his/her bowels
- D. Administer diazepam (Valium) as ordered
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emptying the bladder before paracentesis prevents accidental puncture of the bladder during needle insertion into the abdominal cavity. Water intake, bowel emptying, or sedation are not immediate pre-procedure priorities.
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An RN who usually works in a spinal rehabilitation unit is floated to the emergency department. Which of these clients should the charge nurse assign to this RN?
- A. A middle-aged client who says 'I took too many diet pills' and 'my heart feels like it is racing out of my chest.'
- B. A young adult who says 'I hear songs from heaven. I need money for beer. I quit drinking 2 days ago for my family. Why are my arms and legs jerking?'
- C. An adolescent who was recently diagnosed with leukemia and started chemotherapy with an initial assessment finding of pinpoint pupils and a relaxed respiratory rate of 10
- D. An elderly client who reports having taken a 'large crack hit' 10 minutes prior to walking into the emergency room
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nurses who are floated to other units should be assigned to a client who has minimal anticipated immediate complications of their problem. The client in option C exhibits opioid toxicity with the pinpoint pupils and has the least risk of complications occurring in the near future.
The nurse is changing a dressing. Which event indicates a break in sterile technique?
- A. The nurse opens the sterile dressing set by opening the first flap away from herself.
- B. The nurse turns around when answering a question asked by the client in the other bed.
- C. The nurse opens the dressing set on the overbed table.
- D. The nurse pours sterile saline into the container in the dressing set.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Turning around risks contaminating the sterile field by passing non-sterile areas over it. Opening flaps away, using the table, or pouring saline maintain sterility.
An adult has been diagnosed with Bell's palsy and asks what causes it. The nurse knows that which of the following is correct?
- A. Bell's palsy is caused by the chickenpox virus.
- B. The cause is unknown.
- C. Bell's palsy usually follows a cold or influenza.
- D. Trauma to the area brings on the symptoms.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The exact cause of Bell's palsy is unknown, though it may be associated with viral infections or inflammation, but not specifically chickenpox, flu, or trauma.
The nurse is preparing an injection of IM haloperidol from a glass ampule. Which of the following actions by the nurse are appropriate? Select all that apply.
- A. Attaches an 18-gauge injection needle to a syringe for withdrawal of medication
- B. Breaks the ampule neck away from the nurse's body to prevent injury from the glass
- C. Disposes of the empty glass ampule in a sharps container
- D. Injects air into the glass ampule prior to withdrawing the medication
- E. Rests and steadies the needle on the ampule's outer rim to withdraw medication
Correct Answer: B,C
Rationale: Breaking the ampule away from the body (B) and disposing in a sharps container (C) are safe practices. An 18-gauge needle (A) is too large, injecting air (D) is unnecessary, and resting the needle on the rim (E) risks contamination.
A parent has numerous questions regarding normal growth and development of a 10 month-old infant. Which of the following parameters is of most concern to the nurse?
- A. 50% increase in birth weight
- B. Head circumference greater than chest
- C. Crying when the parents leave
- D. Able to stand up briefly in play pen
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 50% increase in birth weight. Birth weight should double by 6 months, indicating potential growth issues that require further evaluation.
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