The nurse is providing care for a client with heart failure who is prescribed furosemide. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely?
- A. Calcium level
- B. Sodium level
- C. Magnesium level
- D. Potassium level
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Potassium level. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss, leading to hypokalemia. Monitoring potassium levels is crucial to prevent complications such as cardiac arrhythmias. While calcium, sodium, and magnesium levels are important in various conditions and treatments, they are not the primary electrolyte affected by furosemide.
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The nurse is performing a functional assessment for a client requiring nursing home care. Which action should the nurse implement?
- A. Question the client about the frequency of falls.
- B. Request the client to lie still during the assessment.
- C. Ask how often episodes of sundowning are experienced.
- D. Assist the client with values clarification about end-of-life care.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Question the client about the frequency of falls. In the elderly population, falls are a significant risk factor that can impact their functional abilities and safety. By assessing the frequency of falls, the nurse can identify potential risks and implement interventions to prevent future falls. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not directly address the primary focus of a functional assessment for nursing home care, which is to evaluate the client's functional status and identify areas that may require assistance or intervention.
Which of the following statements reflects appropriate teaching to prevent injury in a client with rheumatoid arthritis?
- A. Use heat applications to relieve swelling and stiffness.
- B. Take warm showers before activity.
- C. Use cold packs to relieve joint pain.
- D. Take prescribed anti-inflammatory medications with meals.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Using cold packs to relieve joint pain is appropriate for clients with rheumatoid arthritis as cold therapy is more effective at reducing inflammation and pain in these conditions. Heat applications may exacerbate the symptoms by increasing swelling. Taking warm showers before activity may provide comfort but does not directly address joint pain or prevent injury. While anti-inflammatory medications are commonly prescribed, they are not directly related to preventing injury in clients with rheumatoid arthritis.
After an older client receives treatment for drug toxicity, the healthcare provider prescribes a 24-hour creatinine clearance test. Before starting the urine collection, the nurse noted that the client's serum creatinine was 0.3 mg/dL. Which action should the nurse implement?
- A. Check the client's urine output hourly
- B. Instruct the client to increase fluid intake
- C. Notify the healthcare provider of the results
- D. Start the 24-hour urine collection
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A serum creatinine level of 0.3 mg/dL is abnormally low, indicating potential issues with the interpretation of the creatinine clearance test. It is crucial for the nurse to notify the healthcare provider of this result before proceeding with the 24-hour urine collection. Checking urine output, instructing the client to increase fluid intake, or starting the urine collection without consulting the healthcare provider could lead to incorrect test results and misinterpretation of the client's renal function.
A client with diabetes mellitus reports tingling in their feet. What is the nurse's best intervention?
- A. Advise the client to avoid wearing tight shoes.
- B. Refer the client to a podiatrist for foot care.
- C. Teach the client about blood sugar control and foot care.
- D. Administer insulin as prescribed.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct intervention for a client with diabetes mellitus experiencing tingling in their feet is to teach the client about blood sugar control and foot care. This is essential because tingling in the feet can be a sign of neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes. Educating the client on maintaining proper blood sugar levels and foot care practices can help manage neuropathy symptoms and prevent complications like ulcers or infections. Advising the client to avoid tight shoes (Choice A) may help with comfort but does not address the underlying issue. Referring the client to a podiatrist (Choice B) is important for foot care but does not directly address blood sugar control. Administering insulin (Choice D) is not the priority for managing tingling in the feet related to neuropathy.
While changing a client's chest tube dressing, the nurse notes a cracking sensation when gentle pressure is applied to the skin at the insertion site. What is the best action for the nurse to take?
- A. Apply a pressure dressing around the chest tube site.
- B. Administer an oral antihistamine.
- C. Assess for allergies to topical cleaning agents.
- D. Measure the area of swelling and crackling.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When a nurse observes crepitus around a chest tube site, it could indicate subcutaneous emphysema, a potentially serious condition where air gets trapped under the skin. Measuring the area of swelling and crackling is important as it helps monitor the progression of subcutaneous emphysema. Applying a pressure dressing (choice A) might not address the underlying cause and could potentially worsen the condition. Administering an oral antihistamine (choice B) is not indicated for crepitus at a chest tube site. Assessing for allergies to topical cleaning agents (choice C) is important but not the immediate priority when crepitus is observed.
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