Nokea
The nurse is teaching a client with atrial fibrillation about the need to begin long-term anticoagulant therapy. Which explanation should the nurse use to best describe the reasoning for this therapy?
- A. Because of this dysrhythmia, blood backs up in the legs and puts you at risk for blood clots.
- B. This dysrhythmia decreases the volume of blood flowing from the heart, which can lead to blood clots forming in the brain.
- C. The antidysrhythmic medications you are taking cause blood clots as a side effect, so you need this medication to prevent them.
- D. Because the atria are quivering, blood flows sluggishly through them, and clots can form along the heart wall, which could then loosen and travel to the lungs or brain.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In atrial fibrillation, the quivering atria cause sluggish blood flow, leading to clot formation along the heart wall, which can dislodge and cause pulmonary or cerebral emboli. Options A, B, and C inaccurately describe the mechanism requiring anticoagulation.
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Which client does the nurse recognize as having the highest increased risk of developing breast cancer?
- A. a 68-year-old client with dense breasts
- B. a 34-year-old client pregnant with her first child
- C. an obese client with a body mass index of 30
- D. a client with two first-degree relatives with breast cancer
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Family history with two first-degree relatives significantly increases breast cancer risk more than age, pregnancy, or obesity.
The clinic nurse instructs a client diagnosed with diabetes mellitus about preventing diabetic ketoacidosis on days when the client is feeling ill. Which statement by the client indicates the need for further teaching?
- A. I need to stop my insulin if I am vomiting.
- B. I need to call my doctor if I am ill for more than 24 hours.
- C. I need to eat 10 to 15 g of carbohydrates every 1 to 2 hours.
- D. I need to drink small quantities of fluid every 15 to 30 minutes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus that develops when a severe insulin deficiency occurs. The client needs to be instructed to continue taking insulin, even if vomiting and unable to eat, to prevent ketoacidosis. It is important to self-monitor blood glucose more frequently during illness (every 2 to 4 hours). If the premeal blood glucose is more than 250 mg/dL, the client should test for urine ketones and contact the primary health care provider. Calling the doctor if ill for more than 24 hours, consuming 10 to 15 g of carbohydrates every 1 to 2 hours, and drinking small quantities of fluid every 15 to 30 minutes are accurate interventions to maintain hydration and glucose control during illness.
A nurse is caring for an 83-year-old man who has had swallowing difficulties. All of the following interventions are appropriate for this client EXCEPT:
- A. Keep the client in an upright position at all times
- B. Auscultate lung sounds every shift and after feedings
- C. Maintain suction equipment at the client's bedside
- D. Instruct the client about how to perform swallowing exercises
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When caring for a client with swallowing difficulties, it is crucial to prevent aspiration of food into the lungs. Appropriate interventions include auscultating lung sounds every shift and after feedings to assess for any changes in breathing patterns, maintaining suction equipment at the client's bedside in case of difficulties, and providing instruction on swallowing exercises. Keeping the client in an upright position at all times is not necessary and may not always be feasible or comfortable for the client. This rigid requirement is not part of the standard care protocol for managing swallowing difficulties.
A client is preparing to undergo a cystoscopy for stones. Which of the following statements indicates that the client understands the procedure?
- A. I better drink a lot of fluid now because I won't be able to after the test.
- B. I will probably see a little blood when I urinate.
- C. I will be able to go home after 3 days in the hospital.
- D. I won't need any pain medicine; this probably will not hurt.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is, 'I will probably see a little blood when I urinate.' During a cystoscopy, a scope is inserted into the client's bladder to inspect structures or remove objects like stones. This procedure is usually performed under local or general anesthesia. It is common for clients to experience a small amount of blood in their urine (hematuria) or have pink-colored urine after the procedure. The other choices are incorrect because drinking a lot of fluid before the test, staying in the hospital for 3 days, and assuming no pain will be experienced are not accurate statements related to a cystoscopy procedure.
Mrs. O is seen for follow-up after an episode of acute pancreatitis. Her physician orders a serum amylase level and the result is 200 U/L. Which of the following is a potential cause of this result?
- A. The client is pregnant
- B. The client has hypertension
- C. The client is in renal failure
- D. The client has pancreatitis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An elevated serum amylase level after pancreatitis may indicate another attack of the condition. It is common to order serum amylase as part of routine follow-up after pancreatitis. Elevated levels can also be seen in related gastrointestinal conditions like cholecystitis or an intestinal blockage. Therefore, in this case, the most likely cause of the elevated serum amylase level is a recurrence or ongoing pancreatitis. The other options, including pregnancy, hypertension, and renal failure, are not typically associated with an elevated serum amylase level in the context of follow-up after acute pancreatitis.