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The nurse is admitting a patient with a head injury after a motor vehicle accident who has shortness of breath and severe eye pain. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Elevate the head to 45 degrees.
- B. Administer the ordered analgesic.
- C. Check the patient's oxygen saturation.
- D. Examine the eye for evidence of trauma.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The priority action for a patient after a head injury is to assess and maintain airway and breathing. Because the patient is complaining of shortness of breath, it is essential that the nurse assess the oxygen saturation. The other actions also are appropriate but are not the first action the nurse will take.
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An older-adult patient with presbycusis is fitted with binaural hearing aids. Which of the following information should the nurse include when teaching the patient how to use the hearing aids?
- A. Experiment with volume and hearing ability in a quiet environment initially.
- B. Keep the volume low on the hearing aids for the first week while adjusting to them.
- C. Add the second hearing aid after making the initial adjustment to the first hearing aid.
- D. Wear the hearing aids for about an hour a day at first, gradually increasing the time of use.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Initially the patient should use the hearing aids in a quiet environment like the home, experimenting with increasing and decreasing the volume as needed. There is no need to gradually increase the time of wear. The patient should experiment with the level of volume to find what works well in various situations. Both hearing aids should be used.
The nurse is assessing a patient in the outpatient eye clinic who has myopia and presbyopia. Which of the following assessments should the nurse implement to evaluate the effectiveness of the prescribed bifocals?
- A. Strength of the eye muscles
- B. Both near and distant vision
- C. Cloudiness in the eye lenses
- D. Intraocular pressure changes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The lenses are prescribed to correct the patient's near and distant vision. The nurse also may assess for cloudiness of the lenses, increased intraocular pressure, and eye movement, but these data will not evaluate whether the patient's bifocals are effective.
The nurse is assessing a patient who has recently been treated with amoxicillin for acute otitis media of the right ear. Which of the following assessment data obtained by the nurse is of most concern?
- A. The patient has a temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F).
- B. The patient reports mild ear pain.
- C. The patient has slight redness in the ear canal.
- D. The patient reports decreased hearing in the right ear.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F) after treatment for acute otitis media may indicate a persistent or worsening infection, requiring immediate attention. Mild ear pain, slight redness, and decreased hearing may be residual symptoms but are less concerning unless persistent or severe.
The nurse is assessing the presence or absence of contact lenses in an unconscious patient. Which of the following directions should the nurse shine a pen light?
- A. Parallel to the eye
- B. At a 90-degree angle to the eye
- C. Obliquely into the eye
- D. Toward the centre of the nasal bridge
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse must know whether the patient has contact lenses in and assesses the eye by shining a light obliquely on the eyeball to help the nurse visualize a contact lens.
The nurse is caring for a patient who had a stapedotomy yesterday. Which of the following findings is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider?
- A. The patient complains of 'congestion' in the ear.
- B. The patient's oral temperature is 38°C (100.4°F).
- C. The patient reports mild dizziness when standing.
- D. The patient has slight redness at the surgical site.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An oral temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) after a stapedotomy may indicate a postoperative infection, which requires prompt reporting to the healthcare provider. Congestion, mild dizziness, and slight redness are less urgent, as they may be expected postoperative symptoms unless severe or persistent.