The nurse notes that a client who has undergone a thoracotomy has an increase in a large amount of dark red blood in the chest tube collection chamber. What action should the nurse take?
- A. Document the findings for this procedure as expected
- B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
- C. Check the tube for kinks or dependent loops
- D. Increase the suction to the chest drainage system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An increase in a large amount of dark red blood in the chest tube collection chamber may indicate active bleeding. The nurse should notify the healthcare provider immediately to address the situation promptly and prevent further complications. Documenting the findings without taking immediate action could delay necessary interventions. Checking the tube for kinks or dependent loops is a good practice but not the priority when dealing with a potentially life-threatening situation like active bleeding. Increasing the suction without healthcare provider's orders can lead to complications and is not appropriate in this scenario.
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When planning care for a 10-year-old child with pneumonia receiving oxygen at 5l/min per nasal cannula, what principle of oxygen administration should the nurse consider?
- A. Avoid administration of oxygen at high levels for extended periods.
- B. Increase oxygen flow rate if the child is still tachypneic.
- C. Reduce oxygen levels gradually after symptoms improve.
- D. Humidify the oxygen to prevent drying of mucous membranes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct principle of oxygen administration to consider is to avoid administering oxygen at high levels for extended periods. High levels of oxygen for prolonged periods can lead to oxygen toxicity, especially in pediatric patients. Increasing the oxygen flow rate based on tachypnea may not be necessary and can potentially lead to oxygen toxicity. Gradually reducing oxygen levels after symptoms improve may compromise the child's oxygenation. While humidifying oxygen is important to prevent drying of mucous membranes, the primary concern in this case is to avoid high oxygen levels for an extended duration to prevent oxygen toxicity.
A client with newly diagnosed peptic ulcer disease is being taught about lifestyle modifications. Which client statement indicates that further teaching is needed?
- A. 'I should avoid eating spicy foods to prevent irritation of my ulcer.'
- B. 'I should take my antacids regularly, even if I don't have symptoms.'
- C. 'I should avoid smoking to prevent exacerbation of my symptoms.'
- D. 'I should avoid drinking alcohol to prevent irritation of my ulcer.'
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The corrected question assesses the client's understanding of lifestyle modifications for peptic ulcer disease. Choice D, 'I should avoid drinking alcohol to prevent irritation of my ulcer,' is the correct answer. This statement demonstrates that the client has a good grasp of the teaching provided, as alcohol can indeed irritate peptic ulcers. Choices A, B, and C are all accurate statements that reflect appropriate understanding of managing peptic ulcer disease and do not indicate a need for further teaching.
A healthcare provider is assessing a client with a history of hypertension who is currently taking a diuretic. Which assessment finding is most important to report to the healthcare provider?
- A. Potassium level of 3.2 mEq/L
- B. Blood pressure of 148/90 mmHg
- C. Pulse rate of 62 beats per minute
- D. Blood glucose level of 130 mg/dl
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A potassium level of 3.2 mEq/L is low and places the client at risk for cardiac arrhythmias, requiring immediate intervention. Hypokalemia can result from diuretic use and can lead to serious complications such as irregular heart rhythms. Monitoring and correcting potassium levels are crucial in preventing adverse cardiac events. The other options, though important, do not pose an immediate life-threatening risk compared to the low potassium level.
A client with rapid respirations and audible rhonchi is admitted to the intensive care unit because of a pulmonary embolism (PE). Low-flow oxygen by nasal cannula and weight-based heparin protocol are initiated. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in this client's plan of care?
- A. Evaluate blood clotting factors daily.
- B. Encourage incentive spirometry use.
- C. Administer pain medication as needed.
- D. Monitor for signs of bleeding.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Evaluating blood clotting factors daily is crucial when a client is on heparin therapy to monitor for potential complications such as bleeding or clotting issues. This monitoring helps ensure that the heparin dose is within the therapeutic range and reduces the risk of bleeding or clotting complications. Encouraging incentive spirometry use is beneficial for preventing atelectasis and improving lung function, but in this scenario, monitoring blood clotting factors takes precedence. Administering pain medication as needed is important for the client's comfort but is not the priority in managing a pulmonary embolism. Monitoring for signs of bleeding is important due to heparin therapy, but evaluating blood clotting factors provides more specific information on the client's response to treatment.
To reduce staff nurse role ambiguity, which strategy should the nurse-manager implement?
- A. Review the staff nurse job description to ensure that it is clear, accurate, and current.
- B. Conduct regular meetings to clarify roles.
- C. Increase communication between team members.
- D. Provide additional training for new nurses.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Review the staff nurse job description to ensure that it is clear, accurate, and current. By ensuring that job descriptions are clear and up-to-date, nurse-managers can reduce ambiguity and confusion about roles and responsibilities. Choice B, conducting regular meetings to clarify roles, may help but may not address the root cause of ambiguity. Choice C, increasing communication between team members, is important but may not specifically target role ambiguity. Choice D, providing additional training for new nurses, is valuable but may not directly address role ambiguity among existing staff.