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The healthcare provider is caring for a client with a chest tube. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
- A. Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber.
- B. Drainage of 75 ml in the first hour post-insertion.
- C. Crepitus around the insertion site.
- D. Fluctuation of the water level in the water seal chamber with respiration.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Crepitus around the insertion site. Crepitus suggests subcutaneous emphysema, which can indicate a pneumothorax or air leak. Immediate intervention is needed to prevent further complications.
A: Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber is expected and indicates a functioning chest tube system.
B: Drainage of 75 ml in the first hour post-insertion is within the normal range and should be monitored.
D: Fluctuation of the water level in the water seal chamber with respiration is a normal finding indicating the chest tube is functioning correctly.
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In which situation is it most important for the registered nurse (RN) working on a medical unit to provide direct supervision?
- A. A graduate nurse needs to access a client's implanted port to start an infusion of Ringer's Lactate.
- B. A postpartum nurse pulled to the unit needs to start a transfusion of packed red blood cells.
- C. A practical nurse is preparing to assist the healthcare provider with a lumbar puncture at the bedside.
- D. An unlicensed assistive personnel is preparing to weigh an obese bedfast client using a bed scale.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because accessing an implanted port for infusion is a specialized skill that requires direct supervision to ensure the safety and accuracy of the procedure. Step 1: A graduate nurse may not have sufficient experience with accessing ports. Step 2: The RN needs to ensure proper technique and prevent complications. Step 3: Direct supervision allows for immediate intervention if any issues arise. Other choices are incorrect because B: starting a transfusion is within the scope of practice for a nurse, C: assisting with a lumbar puncture can be done under indirect supervision, and D: weighing a client is a task that can be delegated to unlicensed personnel with proper training.
A client is admitted with suspected meningitis. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
- A. Headache.
- B. Fever.
- C. Nuchal rigidity.
- D. Seizures.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Seizures. Seizures in a patient with suspected meningitis indicate increased intracranial pressure, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent brain damage or herniation. Headache (A), fever (B), and nuchal rigidity (C) are common symptoms of meningitis but do not pose an immediate threat to life like seizures do. Addressing the seizures first is crucial to prevent further complications and ensure the patient's safety.
The healthcare provider prescribes naproxen (Naprosyn) 500 mg PO twice a day for a client with osteoarthritis. During a follow-up visit one month later, the client tells the nurse, 'The pills don't seem to be working. They are not helping the pain at all.' Which factor should influence the nurse's response?
- A. Noncompliance is probably affecting optimal medication effectiveness.
- B. Drug dosage is inadequate and needs to be increased to three times a day.
- C. The drug needs 4 to 6 weeks to reach therapeutic levels in the bloodstream.
- D. NSAID response is variable, and trying another NSAID may be more effective.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step 1: NSAID response is variable - Different individuals respond differently to NSAIDs like naproxen due to genetic and physiological differences.
Step 2: Trying another NSAID may be more effective - If the current NSAID is not effective, switching to a different one with a different mechanism of action may provide better pain relief.
Step 3: Individualized approach - Tailoring the treatment to the individual's response is key in managing osteoarthritis pain effectively.
Summary: Choice D is correct as it acknowledges the variability in NSAID response and suggests trying another NSAID if the current one is ineffective. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not address the variable response to NSAIDs and do not provide a solution to address the lack of pain relief.
Because the census is currently low in the Obstetrics (OB) unit, one of the nurses is sent to work on a medical-surgical unit for the day, or until the OB unit becomes busy. Which client assessment is best for the charge nurse to assign to the OB nurse?
- A. An adult who had a colon resection yesterday and has an IV.
- B. An older adult who has a fever of unknown origin.
- C. A woman who had an acute brain attack (stroke, CVA) 6 hours ago.
- D. A teenager with a femoral fracture who is in traction.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the OB nurse's background in obstetrics makes them most suitable to care for a post-operative patient with an IV. This assignment aligns with the nurse's skill set and ensures safe and competent care. Choices B, C, and D involve medical-surgical conditions that may require specialized knowledge and skills beyond the OB nurse's expertise, potentially compromising patient care. Assigning the OB nurse to care for a post-operative patient with an IV is the most appropriate choice given the circumstances.
A male client is admitted to the neurological unit. He has just sustained a C-5 spinal cord injury. Which assessment finding of this client warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?
- A. Is unable to feel sensation in the arms and hands.
- B. Has flaccid upper and lower extremities.
- C. Blood pressure is 110/70 and the apical pulse is 68.
- D. Respirations are shallow, labored, and 14 breaths/minute.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because shallow, labored respirations at 14 breaths/minute indicate potential respiratory distress in a client with a C-5 spinal cord injury. This level of injury compromises the function of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, leading to impaired respiratory effort. Immediate intervention is crucial to prevent respiratory failure and subsequent complications. Choices A and B are common findings in clients with spinal cord injuries and do not require immediate intervention. Choice C indicates stable vital signs within normal range, which do not necessitate immediate action.