The nurse is caring for a hospice client with advanced heart failure who is having trouble breathing. Which comfort intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Administer PRN albuterol by nebulizer
- B. Assist with guided imagery to relieve anxiety
- C. Elevate the head of the bed
- D. Give PRN sublingual morphine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed (C) is the first non-pharmacologic intervention to ease breathing in heart failure by reducing pulmonary congestion. Albuterol (A) is for bronchospasm, imagery (B) is secondary, and morphine (D) is for severe distress.
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The practical nurse (PN) is assisting with a client who is undergoing labor induction with misoprostol. The PN notes late decelerations and minimal variability on the fetal heart rate monitor. After notifying the registered nurse, what should the PN do first?
- A. Administer 10 L/min oxygen by face mask
- B. Examine the perineum to check for bloody show
- C. Palpate the client's abdomen
- D. Reposition the client to a side-lying position
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Repositioning to a side-lying position (D) improves placental perfusion, addressing late decelerations. Oxygen (A) may follow, but repositioning is first. Perineal exam (B) and palpation (C) are less urgent.
The medical-surgical nurse cares for a group of clients. Which client situations would prompt the nurse to notify the health care provider during the middle of the night? Select all that apply.
- A. Client develops right-sided upper and lower extremity drift
- B. Client found lying unconscious on the floor
- C. Client has order for heparin with surgery planned for the morning
- D. Client has serum sodium of 124 mEq/L (124 mmol/L)
- E. Client refuses a prescribed, routine pain medication
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D
Rationale: Extremity drift (A), unconsciousness (B), heparin before surgery (C), and severe hyponatremia (D) are urgent and require notification. Refusing pain medication (E) is not critical.
A client is admitted with infective endocarditis (IE). Which finding would alert the nurse to a complication of this condition?
- A. dyspnea
- B. heart murmur
- C. macular rash
- D. Hemorrhage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Large, soft, rapidly developing vegetations attach to the heart valves. They have a tendency to break off, causing emboli and leaving ulcerations on the valve leaflets. These emboli produce findings of cardiac murmur, fever, anorexia, malaise and neurologic sequelae of emboli.
The nurse is talking with a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus and is receiving newly prescribed continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy via an infusion pump. Which of the following statements by the client would indicate a correct understanding of the therapy?
- A. I will no longer need to test my blood glucose level throughout the day.
- B. I will no longer require an extra dose of insulin before my meals.
- C. My blood glucose levels should be more consistent throughout the day.
- D. The infusion set of my insulin pump should be changed daily.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Insulin pumps (C) provide steady insulin delivery, improving glucose stability. Glucose monitoring (A) and bolus doses (B) are still needed, and infusion sets are changed every 2-3 days, not daily (D).
A client with a fractured hip asks the nurse about activity after discharge. The nurse should explain to the client that she should refrain from which of the following activities?
- A. Crossing her legs at the knee
- B. Sitting in a recliner
- C. Walking up stairs
- D. Carrying objects that weigh more than 10 pounds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Crossing legs at the knee can cause hip adduction, risking dislocation in a fractured hip. Other activities are generally safe with proper precautions.