The nurse is triaging phone calls at the mental health clinic. Which client situation requires immediate follow-up? A client prescribed
- A. olanzapine reporting muscle stiffness and feeling hot.
- B. haloperidol reporting blurred vision and constipation.
- C. clozapine reporting occasional twitches of the mouth.
- D. aripiprazole reporting feeling very restless.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Muscle stiffness and feeling hot with olanzapine (A) suggest neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate follow-up. Blurred vision/constipation (B), mouth twitches (C), and restlessness (D) are less urgent side effects.
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The emergency department (ED) nurse is caring for a client brought in after being found walking around a neighborhood without shoes, confused and disoriented. The nurse should initially
- A. obtain vital signs.
- B. perform a mental status exam.
- C. attempt to locate the client’s family.
- D. request an order for a psychiatry consultation.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Obtaining vital signs (A) is the initial priority to assess for physiological instability (e.g., hypothermia, hypoglycemia) in a confused client. Mental status exam (B), family contact (C), and psychiatry consult (D) follow after ensuring medical stability.
The nurse is caring for a client with congestive heart failure. Using the ISBAR format, Select the text that expresses the nurses' recommendation to the physician.
- A. Client reported a cough and shortness of breath while resting.
- B. The onset of symptoms was sudden and not relieved, with the client being positioned with the head of the bed at 90 degrees.
- C. Vital signs were obtained: 156/98; P 108; RR 26/minute; Oxygen saturation 91% on room air.
- D. Lung sounds had crackles in all fields.
- E. A rapid response was called because of the unstable vital signs.
- F. Dr. Thomas Smith was notified to obtain diuretics and critical care monitoring orders.
Correct Answer: B,F
Rationale: Notifying Dr. Smith for diuretics and critical care monitoring (F) is the recommendation in the ISBAR format, proposing specific actions for the physician to address the client’s worsening heart failure. Other options provide situation (A, B), background (C, D), or assessment (E) details.
A nurse observes a colleague failing to perform hand hygiene before entering multiple client rooms and administering medications. What is the most appropriate action by the nurse?
- A. Confront the colleague immediately in a client's room to stop the behavior
- B. Document the incident in the nurse's notes while monitoring for further issues
- C. Immediately report the behavior to the nurse manager for follow-up
- D. Assume the colleague is having a busy shift, and address it at a later time
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reporting to the nurse manager (C) ensures prompt follow-up on a serious infection control breach that risks client safety. Confronting in a client’s room (A) is unprofessional, documenting without action (B) delays intervention, and assuming busyness (D) ignores the safety violation.
The registered nurse (RN) is orienting a new RN to the charge nurse role. When delegating tasks, which task delegated to the licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN) would require follow-up from the charge nurse?
- A. Obtaining an occult stool sample for a client with ulcerative colitis.
- B. Assessing a newly admitted client with chest pain.
- C. Reinforcing teaching to a client newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.
- D. Providing pin care for a client with external fixation of the wrist.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessing a new client with chest pain (B) requires RN-level judgment due to potential life-threatening conditions, necessitating follow-up if delegated to an LPN. Stool sample collection (A), reinforcing teaching (C), and pin care (D) are within LPN scope.
The nurse is caring for assigned clients. The nurse should first assess the client
- A. with a right femur fracture who reports pain rated as 4 on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain).
- B. with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is reporting shortness of breath while ambulating in the hallway.
- C. with a history of T6 spinal injury 6 months ago, now reports a severe headache and is diaphoretic.
- D. one day postoperative from an open cholecystectomy with green drainage from the t-tube.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe headache and diaphoresis in a T6 spinal injury (C) suggest autonomic dysreflexia, a life-threatening emergency. COPD shortness of breath (B), femur fracture pain (A), and t-tube drainage (D) are less urgent.
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