Steven John has type 1 diabetes mellitus and receives insulin. Which laboratory test will the nurse assess?
- A. Potassium
- B. AST (aspartate aminotransferase)
- C. Serum amylase
- D. Sodium
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Potassium. Patients with type 1 diabetes receiving insulin are at risk of developing hypokalemia due to insulin's effects on potassium levels. Monitoring potassium levels is crucial to prevent complications such as cardiac arrhythmias. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because AST, serum amylase, and sodium levels are not directly impacted by insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes and are not the primary concern that needs monitoring in this scenario.
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Nurses on an inpatient care unit are working to help reduce unit costs. Which of the following actions is appropriate to include in the cost-containment plan?
- A. Store opened bottles of normal saline in a refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
- B. Return unused supplies from the bedside to the unit's supply stock.
- C. Wait to dispose of sharps containers until they are completely full.
- D. Use clean gloves rather than sterile gloves for colostomy care.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Using clean gloves rather than sterile gloves for colostomy care is a cost-effective measure without compromising care quality. This choice helps in reducing costs without compromising patient safety. Storing opened bottles of normal saline in a refrigerator for up to 48 hours (Choice A) may lead to contamination risks. Returning unused supplies to the unit's supply stock (Choice B) can be inefficient and lead to potential waste. Waiting to dispose of sharps containers until they are completely full (Choice C) may pose safety hazards and not directly impact cost savings.
Which preventive measure can be employed to decrease the risk of compartment syndrome?
- A. The administration of a potassium-sparing diuretic for heart failure
- B. A bivalve cast for a skeletal fracture
- C. A cerebral diuretic to decrease intracranial pressure after a head injury
- D. A chest tube to restore normal intrathoracic pressure after a pneumothorax
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. A bivalve cast can help decrease the risk of compartment syndrome by providing space for swelling, thus preventing the build-up of pressure within the muscles. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they are not directly related to preventing compartment syndrome. Choice A is more focused on managing heart failure, choice C on reducing intracranial pressure, and choice D on restoring intrathoracic pressure after a pneumothorax, which are not relevant to preventing compartment syndrome.
Which of the following is expected to be most likely true in the near future?
- A. Quality improvement projects will decline due to cost-cutting measures.
- B. Alternative and complementary approaches will gain acceptance in medical practice.
- C. Care will primarily shift away from the hospital setting.
- D. Increased focus on care transitions will involve nursing.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the near future, there will be an increased focus on care transitions involving nursing. This means that nurses will play a crucial role in preparing patients for transitions between different care settings, ensuring continuity and quality of care. Choice A is incorrect because quality improvement projects are essential and are not expected to decline. Choice B is incorrect as alternative and complementary approaches are increasingly being integrated into medical practice. Choice C is incorrect as there is a growing trend towards providing care in community settings and homes, moving away from primarily hospital-based care.
Rotating injection sites when administering insulin prevents which of the following complications?
- A. Insulin edema
- B. Insulin lipodystrophy
- C. Insulin resistance
- D. Systemic allergic reactions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rotating injection sites when administering insulin helps prevent insulin lipodystrophy, which is the abnormal distribution of fat at injection sites. Insulin edema (choice A) is not prevented by rotating injection sites; it is characterized by swelling at the site of insulin injection due to increased capillary permeability. Insulin resistance (choice C) is a condition where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, and rotating injection sites does not directly prevent this. Systemic allergic reactions (choice D) are not specifically prevented by rotating injection sites; they are related to an allergic response to insulin.
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who has end-stage heart failure. The client's partner tells the nurse she can no longer handle caring for the client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Request another family member to assist the client's partner with care
- B. Recommend the partner to place the client in a long-term care facility
- C. Contact the case manager to discuss discharge options
- D. Ask the provider to delay the client's discharge home for a few more days
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should contact the case manager to discuss discharge options and support the client's partner. This action is appropriate as it involves seeking professional guidance and support for the client's partner who is struggling to care for the client. Option A is not the best choice as it solely focuses on involving another family member without addressing the partner's concerns directly. Option B is premature as recommending long-term care should be a well-considered decision involving multiple healthcare professionals. Option D delays the inevitable without providing a solution to the partner's current challenges.