Nokea
An unresponsive 79-year-old is admitted to the emergency department (ED) during a summer heat wave. The patient’s core temperature is 105.4°F (40.8°C), blood pressure (BP) 88/50, and pulse 112. The nurse initially will plan to:
- A. Apply wet sheets and a fan to the patient.
- B. Provide O2 at 6 L/min with a nasal cannula.
- C. Start lactated Ringer's solution at 1000 mL/hr.
- D. Give acetaminophen (Tylenol) rectal suppository.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Apply wet sheets and a fan to the patient. This is the initial treatment for hyperthermia to aid in lowering the body temperature. Wet sheets help in evaporative cooling, while a fan enhances heat loss through convection. This approach is crucial in managing heat-related illnesses quickly. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not directly address the urgent need to reduce the patient's elevated core temperature. Providing O2, IV fluids, or acetaminophen can be considered later in the management, but the priority is to rapidly lower the body temperature in a hyperthermic patient to prevent further complications.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is managing a donor patient six hours prior to th e scheduled harvesting of the patient’s organs. Which assessment finding requires imme diate action by the nurse?
- A. Morning serum blood glucose of 128 mg/dL
- B. pH 7.30; PaCO 38 mm Hg; HCO 16 mEq/L 2 3
- C. Pulmonary artery temperature of 97.8° F
- D. Central venous pressure of 8 mm Hg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The patient's pH of 7.30 indicates acidosis, PaCO2 of 38 mm Hg is low, and HCO3 of 16 mEq/L is also low, suggesting metabolic acidosis. This finding requires immediate action as untreated acidosis can lead to serious complications.
Choice A (morning serum blood glucose of 128 mg/dL) is within normal range and does not require immediate action.
Choice C (pulmonary artery temperature of 97.8°F) is a normal temperature and does not require immediate action.
Choice D (central venous pressure of 8 mm Hg) is within normal range and does not require immediate action.
The nurse is caring for a mechanically ventilated patient an d responds to a high inspiratory pressure alarm. Recognizing possible causes for the alarma, btihrbe.c nomu/rtesset assesses for which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Coughing or attempting to talk
- B. Disconnection from the ventilator
- C. Kinks in the ventilator tubing
- D. Need for suctioning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Disconnection from the ventilator. This is the correct choice because a high inspiratory pressure alarm can indicate a disconnection, leading to inadequate ventilation and increased pressure in the circuit. This can be a life-threatening situation that requires immediate attention.
Explanation of why other choices are incorrect:
A: Coughing or attempting to talk - While coughing or talking may affect the patient's ability to ventilate properly, it is not directly related to the high inspiratory pressure alarm.
C: Kinks in the ventilator tubing - Kinks in the tubing may cause increased resistance to airflow, but they are more likely to trigger a low pressure alarm rather than a high inspiratory pressure alarm.
D: Need for suctioning - Suctioning may be necessary for airway clearance, but it is not directly related to the high inspiratory pressure alarm.
The nurse is caring for a patient with acute respiratory dist ress syndrome who is hypoxemic despite mechanical ventilation. The primary care provider (PCP) orders a nontraditional ventilator mode as part of treatment. Despite sedation and aabnirba.lcgoems/tieas,t the patient remains restless and appears to be in discomfort. The nurse informs the PCP of this assessment and anticipates what order?
- A. Continuous lateral rotation therapy
- B. Guided imagery
- C. Neuromuscular blockade
- D. Prone positioning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Neuromuscular blockade.
1. Neuromuscular blockade helps to achieve optimal ventilator synchrony by reducing patient-ventilator asynchrony and improving oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
2. Despite sedation, the patient's restlessness and discomfort suggest inadequate ventilator synchrony, which can be addressed by neuromuscular blockade.
3. Continuous lateral rotation therapy (A) and prone positioning (D) are interventions for improving ventilation and oxygenation in ARDS but do not directly address patient-ventilator synchrony.
4. Guided imagery (B) is a non-pharmacological technique for relaxation and pain management, which may not address the underlying issue of ventilator synchrony in this case.
Noninvasive diagnostic procedures used to determine kidney function include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) x-ray
- B. Renal ultrasound
- C. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- D. Intravenous pyelography (IVP)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) x-ray. This procedure is noninvasive and commonly used to assess kidney function by visualizing the size, shape, and position of the kidneys. Renal ultrasound is also noninvasive and can provide detailed images of the kidneys. However, MRI and IVP are more invasive procedures that involve the use of contrast agents and are not typically used solely for diagnostic purposes to assess kidney function. Overall, KUB x-ray and renal ultrasound are the preferred noninvasive options for evaluating kidney function.
The nurse is caring for a patient following insertion of a left subclavian central venous catheter (CVC). Which action by the nurse best reduces th e risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI)?
- A. Review daily the necessity of the central venous cathet er.
- B. Cleanse the insertion site daily with isopropyl alcohol.
- C. Change the pressurized tubing system and flush bag daily.
- D. Maintain a pressure of 300 mm Hg on the flush bag.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Review daily the necessity of the central venous catheter. This action reduces the risk of CRBSI by promoting early removal of unnecessary catheters, which is a key strategy in preventing infections. Unnecessary catheters increase the risk of infection due to prolonged exposure to the patient's skin flora and possible contamination during insertion. Reviewing daily ensures the catheter is only kept when necessary, minimizing the duration of catheter use and reducing the chances of infection.
Summary of other choices:
B: Cleansing the insertion site daily with isopropyl alcohol is important for maintaining skin integrity but does not directly reduce the risk of CRBSI.
C: Changing the pressurized tubing system and flush bag daily is important for maintaining catheter patency but does not directly reduce the risk of CRBSI.
D: Maintaining a pressure of 300 mm Hg on the flush bag is important for proper catheter function but does not directly reduce the risk of CR