The intensive care unit (ICU) nurse educator will determine that teaching arterial pressure monitoring to staff nurses has been effective when the nurse:
- A. Balances and calibrates the monitoring equipment every 2 hours.
- B. Positions the zero-reference stopcock line level with the hemostatic axis.
- C. Ensures that the patient is supine with the head of the bed flat for all readings.
- D. Rechecks the location of the hemostatic axis when changing the patient’s position.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because positioning the zero-reference stopcock line level with the hemostatic axis ensures accurate arterial pressure monitoring. Placing the stopcock at the hemostatic axis allows for correct measurement of blood pressure without any errors due to height differences. This positioning helps in obtaining precise and reliable readings.
A: Balancing and calibrating the monitoring equipment every 2 hours is important for equipment maintenance but does not directly impact the accuracy of arterial pressure monitoring.
C: Ensuring the patient is supine with the head of the bed flat is a standard position for arterial pressure monitoring but does not specifically address the correct positioning of the stopcock.
D: Rechecking the location of the hemostatic axis when changing the patient's position is essential for maintaining accuracy, but it does not directly relate to the initial correct positioning of the stopcock.
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A critically ill patient experiences stress and anxiety from many factors. Treatment of the patient focuses on reducing stressors and providing supportive care such as nutrition, oxygenation, pain management, control of anxiety, and specific care of the illness or injury. What is the best rationale for these interventions?
- A. Helps to support the patients immune system
- B. Part of good nursing care
- C. Mandated by hospital policy
- D. Reassures the patient and family
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Helps to support the patient's immune system. Providing supportive care such as nutrition, oxygenation, pain management, and anxiety control can help reduce stress, which in turn supports the immune system. Stress weakens the immune system, making the patient more vulnerable to infections and complications. By addressing stress and anxiety through supportive care, the patient's immune system is better able to function optimally, aiding in the recovery process.
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because:
B: Part of good nursing care - While supportive care is indeed part of good nursing care, the key rationale for these interventions in a critically ill patient is to support the immune system, not just to provide good nursing care.
C: Mandated by hospital policy - Hospital policies may dictate certain aspects of care, but the primary goal of these interventions is to support the patient's immune system, not just to comply with hospital policies.
D: Reassures the patient and family - While providing reass
After attending an educational program, the nurse understaanbidrbs.c othma/tte swt hich the following situations would require an ethics consultation?
- A. Conflict has occurred between the primary care provid er and family regarding treatment decisions. A family conference is held, and the family and primary care provider agree to a treatment plan that includes aggres sive treatment for 24 hours followed by re-evaluation.
- B. Family members disagree as to a patient’s course of tre atment. The patient has designated a healthcare proxy and has a written advancaebi rdb.icroemc/tteivste .
- C. A postoperative coronary artery bypass surgery patient was successfully resuscitated after sustaining a cardiopulmonary arrest i n the operating room The patient who is now not responding to treatment has a written advance directive and has a life partner at the bedside.
- D. Patient with multiple trauma and is not responding to treatment. No family members are known, and care is considered futile.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step 1: The correct answer is D because the situation involves a patient with multiple trauma who is not responding to treatment and has no known family members. This indicates a complex ethical dilemma where the medical team may be unsure about the appropriate course of action.
Step 2: In this scenario, an ethics consultation is necessary to help guide decision-making regarding the care of the patient. The lack of available family members complicates decision-making, and the consideration of care as futile adds another layer of complexity.
Step 3: An ethics consultation can provide a structured framework for evaluating the situation, considering ethical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice. It can help the healthcare team navigate the ethical considerations and make a well-informed decision in the best interest of the patient.
Summary:
Choice A: While conflicts between the primary care provider and family may warrant discussions, the agreement on a treatment plan does not necessarily require an ethics consultation.
Choice B: Disagreement
A patient is experiencing severe pain, despite receiving pain medication for the past 24 hours. The patients wife expresses concern about this to the nurse. Which response by the nurse would be most empowering to the patients family?
- A. Explain that the doctor is an expert on pain medication and that the current level ofm edication is the best.
- B. Recommend that the family members take turns massaging the patients feet todistract from the pain.
- C. Encourage the family to request that the physician evaluate the patients pain control.
- D. Ask the family to wait another 24 hours to see whether the patients pain level will go down.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it empowers the family to take action by requesting a physician evaluation of the patient's pain control. This step is crucial in ensuring that the patient's pain is adequately managed. By involving the physician, the family can advocate for the patient's needs and potentially explore alternative pain management strategies.
Choice A is incorrect because it dismisses the family's concerns and fails to address the need for further evaluation. Choice B may provide temporary relief but does not address the underlying issue of inadequate pain control. Choice D is incorrect as it suggests delaying action, which could lead to prolonged suffering for the patient.
The nurse is assessing a client and identifies a bruit over the thyroid. This finding is consistent with which interpretation?
- A. Hypothyroidism.
- B. Thyroid cyst.
- C. Thyroid cancer.
- D. Hyperthyroidism.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The presence of a bruit over the thyroid indicates increased blood flow, characteristic of hyperthyroidism. This excess blood flow is due to the hypermetabolic state in hyperthyroidism, leading to turbulent blood flow and the audible bruit. A bruit is not typically associated with hypothyroidism, thyroid cysts, or thyroid cancer, as these conditions do not cause increased blood flow. Therefore, the correct interpretation is hyperthyroidism.
The constant noise of a ventilator, monitor alarms, and inf usion pumps predisposes the patient to what form of stress?
- A. Anxiety
- B. Pain
- C. Powerlessness
- D. Sensory overload
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Sensory overload. Constant noise from medical equipment can overwhelm the patient's senses, leading to sensory overload. This can result in increased stress levels, difficulty concentrating, and overall discomfort. Anxiety (A) is related to worry and fear, but in this context, the primary stressor is sensory overload, not anxiety. Pain (B) is a physical sensation, not directly related to the sensory overload caused by noise. Powerlessness (C) refers to a lack of control or influence, which is not the primary form of stress induced by constant noise. Therefore, the correct choice is D as it directly correlates with the impact of the noise on the patient's sensory perception.