In preparing assignments for the shift, which client is best for the charge nurse to assign to a practical nurse (PN)?
- A. An older client who fell yesterday and is now complaining of diplopia.
- B. An adult newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and high cholesterol.
- C. A client with pancreatic cancer who is experiencing intractable pain.
- D. An older client post-stroke who is aphasic with right-sided hemiplegia.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The best client for the charge nurse to assign to a practical nurse (PN) is an older client post-stroke who is aphasic with right-sided hemiplegia. This client is stable and suitable for care by a PN under supervision. Choices A, B, and C present clients with more complex and acute conditions that would require a higher level of nursing expertise and intervention.
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A client who recently underwent a tracheostomy is being prepared for discharge to home. Which instruction is most important for the nurse to include in the discharge plan?
- A. Explain how to use communication tools.
- B. Teach tracheal suctioning techniques.
- C. Encourage self-care and independence.
- D. Demonstrate how to clean the tracheostomy site.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most important instruction for a client who recently underwent a tracheostomy is to teach tracheal suctioning techniques. Suctioning helps clear secretions and maintain an open airway, which is critical for the client's respiratory function and overall well-being. While communication tools, self-care, and cleaning the tracheostomy site are important aspects of care, ensuring proper suctioning techniques is crucial for preventing complications and ensuring the client's safety.
A client with a history of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is admitted with hyperkalemia. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Administer intravenous calcium gluconate.
- B. Administer intravenous insulin and glucose.
- C. Administer intravenous sodium bicarbonate.
- D. Administer a loop diuretic as prescribed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer intravenous insulin and glucose. In the presence of hyperkalemia, the priority intervention is to shift potassium back into the cells to lower serum levels. Insulin, in combination with glucose, helps drive potassium intracellularly. Administering calcium gluconate (choice A) is used to stabilize myocardial cell membranes but does not address the underlying cause of hyperkalemia. Administering sodium bicarbonate (choice C) is not the initial treatment for hyperkalemia. Loop diuretics (choice D) may be used later to enhance potassium excretion but are not the primary intervention for acute hyperkalemia.
The nurse needs to add a medication to a liter of 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W) that is already infusing into a client. At what location should the nurse inject the medication?
- A. Medication port
- B. IV drip chamber
- C. Y-site connector
- D. At the hub of the IV catheter
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is the medication port. When adding medication to an already infusing IV solution, it should be done through the medication port to ensure direct delivery into the bloodstream without interrupting the primary IV line. Injecting the medication into the IV drip chamber, Y-site connector, or at the hub of the IV catheter can lead to dilution, inaccurate dosing, or potential blockages in the IV line, which can compromise the effectiveness of the medication and patient safety.
A client is receiving continuous bladder irrigation via a triple-lumen suprapubic catheter that was placed during a prostatectomy. Which report by the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) requires intervention by the nurse?
- A. Leakage around the catheter insertion site.
- B. Pink-tinged urine in the drainage bag.
- C. Client reports discomfort at the catheter site.
- D. Decreased urine output in the last hour.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Leakage around the catheter insertion site may indicate a problem with the catheter placement or function, requiring immediate intervention. Pink-tinged urine in the drainage bag is expected due to the continuous bladder irrigation. Discomfort at the catheter site is common after the procedure. Decreased urine output in the last hour may be due to the continuous bladder irrigation and doesn't require immediate intervention.
A client with a history of chronic heart failure is admitted with shortness of breath. Which diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate preparing the client for first?
- A. Chest X-ray
- B. Arterial blood gases (ABGs)
- C. Echocardiogram
- D. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is an echocardiogram. This diagnostic test is crucial in assessing ventricular function and identifying the cause of shortness of breath in a client with heart failure. It provides valuable information about the heart's structure, function, and blood flow. While a chest X-ray may show signs of heart failure, it does not directly assess cardiac function like an echocardiogram does. Arterial blood gases (ABGs) are useful to evaluate oxygenation and acid-base balance but do not provide information specific to heart function. An electrocardiogram (ECG) assesses the heart's electrical activity and rhythm, which is important but may not provide the detailed structural information needed in this scenario.