The nurse is caring for a patient following insertion of a left subclavian central venous catheter (CVC). Which assessment finding 2 hours after insertion by the nurse warrants immediate action?
- A. Diminished breath sounds over left lung field
- B. Localized pain at catheter insertion site
- C. Measured central venous pressure of 5 mm Hg
- D. Slight bloody drainage around insertion site
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Diminished breath sounds over the left lung field. This finding could indicate a pneumothorax, a serious complication of subclavian CVC insertion. Immediate action is required to prevent respiratory distress.
Incorrect answers:
B: Localized pain at insertion site is common post-procedure and may not indicate a serious issue.
C: A central venous pressure of 5 mm Hg is within the normal range and does not require immediate action.
D: Slight bloody drainage is expected initially and can be managed with routine care.
You may also like to solve these questions
As part of nursing management of a critically ill patient, o rders are written to keep the head of the bed elevated at 30 degrees, awaken the patient from se dation each morning to assess readiness to wean from mechanical ventilation, and implement oral care protocols every 4 hours. These interventions are done as a group to reduce thabei rrbi.csokm o/tef svt entilator-associated pneumonia. This group of evidence-based interventions is often referred to using what term?
- A. Bundle of care.
- B. Clinical practice guideline.
- C. Patient safety goal.
- D. Quality improvement initiative.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bundle of care. A bundle of care refers to a set of evidence-based interventions that, when implemented together, have been shown to improve patient outcomes. In this scenario, keeping the head of the bed elevated, daily awakening from sedation, and oral care protocols are bundled together to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. This approach is based on the idea that implementing multiple interventions simultaneously is more effective than individual interventions alone.
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because:
B: Clinical practice guidelines provide recommendations for healthcare providers based on evidence but do not necessarily involve a group of interventions bundled together.
C: Patient safety goals are specific objectives aimed at improving patient safety outcomes, but they do not specifically refer to a group of interventions bundled together.
D: Quality improvement initiatives focus on improving processes and outcomes in healthcare settings but do not necessarily involve a group of interventions bundled together for a specific purpose like in this case.
A patient nearing death experiences increased secretions and noisy breathing. What is the nurse’s priority intervention?
- A. Provide suctioning every hour.
- B. Administer anticholinergic medications as prescribed.
- C. Elevate the head of the bed and reposition frequently.
- D. Restrict oral intake to minimize secretions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer anticholinergic medications as prescribed. Anticholinergic medications can help dry up secretions and improve breathing in a patient nearing death. This intervention targets the underlying cause of increased secretions. Suctioning (choice A) may provide temporary relief but does not address the root issue. Elevating the head of the bed and repositioning (choice C) can help with comfort but do not directly address the secretions. Restricting oral intake (choice D) may lead to dehydration and discomfort without effectively managing the secretions. Administering anticholinergic medications is the priority as it directly targets the symptom of increased secretions, improving the patient's comfort and quality of life.
The urgent care center protocol for tick bites includes the following actions. Which action will the nurse take first when caring for a patient with a tick bite?
- A. Use tweezers to remove any remaining ticks.
- B. Check the vital signs, including temperature.
- C. Give doxycycline (Vibramycin) 100 mg orally.
- D. Obtain information about recent outdoor activities.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Use tweezers to remove any remaining ticks. The first step is to remove the tick to prevent further transmission of any potential pathogens. This is crucial in preventing tick-borne illnesses. Checking vital signs (B) can be done after the tick is removed. Administering doxycycline (C) should be based on guidelines and individual factors. Obtaining information about recent outdoor activities (D) is important but not the immediate priority.
The patient has just returned from having an arteriovenous fistula placed. The patient asks, “When will they be able to use this and take this other catheter out?” The nurse should reply,
- A. “It can be used immediately, so the catheter can come out anytime.”
- B. “It will take 2 to 4 weeks to heal before it can be used.”
- C. “The fistula will be usable in about 4 to 6 weeks.”
- D. “The fistula was made using graft material, so it depends on the manufacturer.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: “The fistula will be usable in about 4 to 6 weeks.” The rationale for this is that an arteriovenous fistula typically requires 4 to 6 weeks to mature and be ready for use. During this time, the fistula develops the necessary blood flow for efficient dialysis.
Choice A is incorrect because immediate use of the fistula is not recommended as it needs time to mature. Choice B is incorrect as it underestimates the time needed for the fistula to heal and mature. Choice D is incorrect as the usability of the fistula is not dependent on the manufacturer but rather on the patient's individual healing process.
The patient is receiving neuromuscular blockade. Which nursing assessment indicates a target level of paralysis?
- A. Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3
- B. Train-of-four yields two twitches
- C. Bispectral index of 60
- D. CAM-ICU positive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Train-of-four yields two twitches. This assessment indicates a target level of paralysis because a train-of-four ratio of 2 twitches out of 4 suggests a 50% neuromuscular blockade, which is often the goal for patients receiving paralysis for procedures or ventilation.
A: A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 assesses consciousness, not neuromuscular blockade.
C: A Bispectral index of 60 measures depth of anesthesia, not paralysis level.
D: CAM-ICU assesses delirium, not neuromuscular blockade.