Once the nurse has made initial rounds and checked all of the assigned clients, which client should be cared for first?
- A. A client who is scheduled for surgery at 1 p.m.
- B. A client in skeletal traction who has just received pain medication
- C. A client scheduled for physical therapy at 11 a.m.
- D. A client who is able to perform activities of daily living independently
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The priority should be given to the client who is scheduled for surgery at 1 p.m. Preparing a client for surgery involves various tasks such as physical and emotional preparation, following healthcare provider instructions, and potential last-minute changes in the surgical schedule. It is crucial to ensure the client is adequately prepared. Providing care to a client who just received pain medication can wait until the medication takes effect. Clients who are independent in performing daily activities and those scheduled for physical therapy later in the morning are not as high a priority as preparing a client for an upcoming surgery. Therefore, the client scheduled for surgery should be cared for first to ensure all necessary preparations are completed.
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A nursing care plan for a client with sleep problems has been implemented. All of the following should be expected outcomes except:
- A. the client reports no episodes of awakening during the night.
- B. the client falls asleep within 1 hour of going to bed.
- C. the client reports satisfaction with their amount of sleep.
- D. the client rates sleep as an 8 or more on the visual analog scale.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An expected outcome for a nursing care plan targeting sleep problems is that the client reports no episodes of awakening during the night, the client reports satisfaction with their amount of sleep, and the client rates sleep as an 8 or more on the visual analog scale. Falling asleep within 1 hour of going to bed is not necessarily an expected outcome. While it is generally desirable for individuals to fall asleep within a reasonable time frame, this specific timeframe may vary among individuals, and it is not a strict criterion for successful sleep outcomes. Therefore, the correct answer is that the client falls asleep within 1 hour of going to bed, as this is not a definitive measure of the effectiveness of the nursing care plan for sleep problems.
A health care provider repeatedly asks a nurse to write his verbal prescriptions in his clients' charts after he makes his rounds. The nurse is uncomfortable with writing the prescriptions and explains this to the health care provider, but the health care provider tells the nurse that she will be reported if she does not write the prescriptions. How should the nurse manage this conflict?
- A. Stating to the health care provider, 'I don't really care whether you report me. I am not writing your prescriptions.'
- B. Fulfilling the health care provider's request
- C. Discussing the situation with the nurse manager
- D. Reporting the health care provider to the chief of medicine at the hospital
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a conflict arises, it is most appropriate to try resolving the conflict directly. In this situation, the nurse has tried to explain why she is uncomfortable with the health care provider's request but has been unable to resolve the conflict. The nurse would then most appropriately use organizational channels of communication and discuss the issue with the nurse manager, who would then proceed to resolve the conflict. The nurse manager may attempt to discuss the situation with the health care provider or seek assistance from the nursing supervisor. Fulfilling the health care provider's request and writing the prescriptions in the clients' charts ignores the issue. Reporting the health care provider to the chief of medicine is inappropriate because the nurse should use the appropriate organizational channels of communication to resolve the conflict. Stating 'I don't really care whether you report me. I am not writing your prescriptions.' is an inappropriate statement and will result in further conflict between the nurse and health care provider.
A nurse is assisting with data collection of a client who has sustained circumferential burns of both legs. What should the nurse examine first?
- A. Heart rate
- B. Peripheral pulses
- C. Blood pressure (BP)
- D. Radial pulse rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority assessment for a client with circumferential burns to the legs is to examine peripheral pulses. This is essential to ensure adequate circulation to the extremities. Circumferential burns can lead to compartment syndrome, causing decreased circulation to the affected limbs. Checking peripheral pulses is crucial to monitor for any signs of compromised circulation. While heart rate and blood pressure are important assessments in general, in the context of circumferential burns, the immediate concern is the risk of impaired circulation to the extremities. Therefore, assessing peripheral pulses takes precedence in this situation.
In a centralized decision-making process within an organization, where is the authority to make decisions vested?
- A. Every employee
- B. A few individuals, such as the board of directors
- C. Many individuals, with decisions filtering down to the individual employee
- D. All nursing employees, pharmacists, and hospital health care providers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a centralized decision-making process within an organization, the authority to make decisions is concentrated in a few individuals, such as the board of directors. This means that key decision-making power is held by a select group at the top of the organizational hierarchy. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in a centralized structure, decision-making authority is not distributed among every employee, does not filter down to individual employees, and is not shared among all nursing employees, pharmacists, or hospital health care providers. Centralized decision-making implies a more top-down approach.
A nurse in a long-term care center notes that an employee is constantly calling in sick. Which action should the nurse take initially to handle this problem?
- A. Documenting the employee's absences in the personnel file
- B. Discussing the situation with the employee and reminding them of the agency's employment standards
- C. Reporting the employee to administration
- D. Issuing a written warning to the employee
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When an employee demonstrates excessive absenteeism, the initial action a nurse should take is to discuss the situation with the employee and remind them of the agency's employment standards. It is important to communicate openly with the employee to understand the reasons for their frequent absences and remind them of the expectations regarding attendance. This approach allows for a constructive dialogue and provides the employee with an opportunity to rectify their behavior. Documenting the employee's absences in the personnel file may be necessary if the issue persists despite the discussion. Reporting the employee to administration should be considered only if the employee fails to improve after the initial discussion. Issuing a written warning should be a subsequent step if the employee continues to violate the attendance policies even after reminders and discussions.