The nurse cares for an unconscious client with a dissecting aortic aneurysm that needs urgent surgery. The client's family cannot be tracked. The nurse's priority action is:
- A. Send the client to surgery.
- B. Call the hospital lawyer.
- C. Search for all the client's contacts who can provide informed consent.
- D. Notify the nursing supervisor on-call and request their permission to waive informed consent.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a life-threatening dissecting aortic aneurysm requiring urgent surgery, sending the client to surgery (A) is the priority under implied consent, as delay could be fatal. Contacting a lawyer (B), searching for contacts (C), or notifying the supervisor (D) delays critical intervention.
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The nurse has become aware of the following client situations. The nurse should first follow up with which client? A client
- A. with a chest tube that has tidaling in the water seal chamber.
- B. that is receiving mechanical ventilation and is occasionally biting on the tube.
- C. that is receiving albuterol via a nebulizer and reports headache and nervousness.
- D. with pneumonia that has become restless and confused.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Restlessness and confusion in pneumonia (D) suggest hypoxia or worsening infection, requiring immediate follow-up to prevent deterioration. Chest tube tidaling (A) is normal, tube biting (B) is concerning but less acute, and albuterol side effects (C) are expected.
The nurse is reviewing tasks for assigned clients. Which action is a priority to implement?
- A. Visual acuity test for a client reporting blurred vision in one eye.
- B. 12-lead electrocardiogram for a client reporting chest pain.
- C. Orthostatic vital signs for a client complaining of syncope.
- D. Discharge teaching for a client newly diagnosed with hypertension.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A 12-lead ECG for chest pain (B) is the priority to rule out life-threatening cardiac events like myocardial infarction. Blurred vision (A), syncope (C), and discharge teaching (D) are less urgent, as they are not immediately life-threatening.
The nurse is planning a staff developmental conference about confidentiality. Which of the following scenarios should the nurse include as a violation of client confidentiality?
- A. Informing a visitor of the room number of a client admitted with pneumonia
- B. Telling a police officer who brought a client into the emergency department (ED) the urine drug screen results
- C. Notifying the pharmacist that a client is HIV positive and may have a potential drug interaction
- D. Informing local authorities that a client is suspected of being a victim of domestic violence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sharing drug screen results with police (B) violates confidentiality without consent or legal mandate, per HIPAA. Room number (A) is not protected, HIV disclosure for care (C) is permitted, and reporting suspected abuse (D) is legally required.
A client with a terminal illness asks the nurse about their prognosis. The nurse discusses the prognosis with the client, which the physician had previously divulged. Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating?
- A. Fidelity
- B. Confidentiality
- C. Beneficence
- D. Veracity
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Discussing the prognosis truthfully (D) demonstrates veracity, the ethical principle of truth-telling. Fidelity (A) is keeping promises, confidentiality (B) protects information, and beneficence (C) promotes well-being, but veracity is most relevant here.
The nurse has become aware of the following client situations. The nurse should first see the client who is receiving
- A. chemotherapy via a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and reports blistering at the site.
- B. a chemotherapy infusion and develops nausea and vomiting.
- C. oral chemotherapy and reports burning in their mouth while drinking orange juice.
- D. external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and sitting with visitors in the family waiting room.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Blistering at a PICC site during chemotherapy (A) suggests extravasation, a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent tissue damage. Nausea and vomiting (B) and oral burning (C) are less urgent side effects. Sitting with visitors (D) is a normal activity and not concerning.
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