Nokea
The ED nurse is assessing a young gymnast who fell from a balance beam. The gymnast presents with a clear fluid leaking from her nose. What should the ED nurse suspect?
- A. Fracture of the cribriform plate
- B. Rupture of an ethmoid sinus
- C. Abrasion of the soft tissue
- D. Fracture of the nasal septum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clear fluid from either nostril suggests a fracture of the cribriform plate with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. The symptoms are not indicative of an abrasion of the soft tissue or rupture of a sinus. Clear fluid leakage from the nose would not be indicative of a fracture of the nasal septum.
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The nurse is providing care for a patient who has just been admitted to the postsurgical unit following a laryngectomy. What assessment should the nurse prioritize?
- A. The patients swallowing ability
- B. The patients airway patency
- C. The patients carotid pulses
- D. Signs and symptoms of infection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient with a laryngectomy is at risk for airway occlusion and respiratory distress. As in all nursing situations, assessment of the airway is a priority over other potential complications and assessment parameters.
A patient states that her family has had several colds during this winter and spring despite their commitment to handwashing. The high communicability of the common cold is attributable to what factor?
- A. Cold viruses are increasingly resistant to common antibiotics.
- B. The virus is shed for 2 days prior to the emergence of symptoms.
- C. A genetic predisposition to viral rhinitis has recently been identified.
- D. Overuse of OTC cold remedies creates a rebound susceptibility to future colds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Colds are highly contagious because virus is shed for about 2 days before the symptoms appear and during the first part of the symptomatic phase. Antibiotic resistance is not relevant to viral illnesses and OTC medications do not have a rebound effect. Genetic factors do not exist.
The perioperative nurse has admitted a patient who has just undergone a tonsillectomy. The nurses postoperative assessment should prioritize which of the following potential complications of this surgery?
- A. Difficulty ambulating
- B. Hemorrhage
- C. Infrequent swallowing
- D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hemorrhage is a potential complication of a tonsillectomy. Increased pulse, fever, and restlessness may indicate a postoperative hemorrhage. Difficulty ambulating and bradycardia are not common complications in a patient after a tonsillectomy. Infrequent swallowing does not indicate hemorrhage; frequent swallowing does.
A patients total laryngectomy has created a need for alaryngeal speech which will be achieved through the use of tracheoesophageal puncture. What action should the nurse describe to the patient when teaching him about this process?
- A. Training on how to perform controlled belching
- B. Use of an electronically enhanced artificial pharynx
- C. Insertion of a specialized nasogastric tube
- D. Fitting for a voice prosthesis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In patients receiving transesophageal puncture, a valve is placed in the tracheal stoma to divert air into the esophagus and out the mouth. Once the puncture is surgically created and has healed, a voice prosthesis (Blom-Singer) is fitted over the puncture site. A nasogastric tube and belching are not required. An artificial pharynx is not used.
A mother calls the clinic asking for a prescription for Amoxicillin for her 2-year-old son who has what the nurse suspects to be viral rhinitis. What should the nurse explain to this mother?
- A. I will relay your request promptly to the doctor, but I suspect that she wont get back to you if its a cold.
- B. Ill certainly inform the doctor, but if it is a cold, antibiotics wont be used because they do not affect the virus.
- C. Ill phone in the prescription for you since it can be prescribed by the pharmacist.
- D. Amoxicillin is not likely the best antibiotic, but Ill call in the right prescription for you.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Antimicrobial agents (antibiotics) should not be used because they do not affect the virus or reduce the incidence of bacterial complications. In addition, their inappropriate use has been implicated in development of organisms resistant to therapy. It would be inappropriate to tell the patient that the physician will not respond to her request.