The nurse provides care for a client receiving haloperidol for 3 days. The client's temperature is 103.5°F (39.7°C), blood pressure 200/100 mm Hg, and pulse 122 beats/min. The client is pale and sweating excessively. Which action does the nurse take first?
- A. Monitor vital signs every 15 minutes.
- B. Administer bromocriptine as prescribed.
- C. Administer the haloperidol as prescribed.
- D. Assess the client's level of consciousness.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The symptoms suggest neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening reaction to haloperidol. Administering bromocriptine, if prescribed, is the priority to reverse NMS. Monitoring, continuing haloperidol, or assessing consciousness delays critical intervention.
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The ED nurse is caring for a female client who was just brought in following a sexual assault. Which interventions by the nurse are appropriate for this client? Select all that apply.
- A. help the client bathe and change into fresh clothing before the examination begins
- B. preserve any evidence, including clothing, and take photographs of injuries as appropriate
- C. assure the client that surviving the assault is most important, and she did what was needed to stay alive
- D. take the client to a quiet, private room for assessment to assess stress levels before beginning examination or treatments
- E. tell the client that she should avoid wearing skimpy clothing in questionable areas of the city to avoid another incident
Correct Answer: B,C,D
Rationale: Bathing before examination destroys evidence, making A incorrect. Preserving evidence (B), providing reassurance (C), and ensuring a private setting (D) are appropriate. Blaming the victim's clothing (E) is inappropriate and victim-shaming.
A client who received an implanted port for intermittent chemotherapy says, 'I'm not sure if I can handle having a tube coming out of me. What will my friends think?' Which action should the nurse implement first?
- A. Show the client various central line catheters.
- B. Assure the client that his friends will understand.
- C. Explain that implanted ports are subcutaneous and not visible.
- D. Notify the primary health care provider of the client's concerns.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An implanted port is subcutaneous; it is not visible, and it has no external tubing. Tubing is used when an intravenous line is connected, and the port is accessed for therapy. The remaining options do not correct the client's confusion about the implanted port. Notifying the provider is not indicated. Inquiring about the client's friends is a reasonable response, but it can also provide false hope that the friends will be accepting. In addition, the nurse is likely to cause more anxiety and concern by providing information about the catheter's subcutaneous location. Showing various central line catheters is unlikely to be beneficial because the client will not be using them; in addition, this can heighten client anxiety and concerns.
The nurse is preparing a plan of care for a client demonstrating mania. Which interventions should be included in the plan of care?
- A. Place the client in seclusion.
- B. Ignore any client complaints.
- C. Use a firm and calm approach.
- D. Use short and concise explanations and statements.
- E. Remain neutral and avoid power struggles and value judgments.
- F. Firmly redirect energy into more appropriate and constructive channels.
Correct Answer: C,D,E,F
Rationale: A client with mania will be extremely restless, disorganized, and chaotic. Grandiose plans are extremely out of touch with reality, and judgment is poor. Interventions for the client in acute mania include using a firm and calm approach to provide structure and control, using short and concise explanations or statements because of the client's short attention span, remaining neutral and avoiding power struggles and value judgments, being consistent in approach and expectations and having frequent staff meetings to plan consistent approaches and to set agreed-on limits to avoid manipulation by the client, hearing and acting on legitimate client complaints, and redirecting energy into more appropriate and constructive channels.
A client experiencing urticaria (hives) and pruritus states to the nurse, 'What am I going to do? I'm getting married next week, and I'll probably be covered in this rash and itching like crazy.' Which statement made by the nurse is the most therapeutic?
- A. You're troubled that this will extend into your wedding?
- B. It's probably just due to prewedding jitters. You'll be fine.
- C. The antihistamine will help a great deal, just you wait and see.
- D. Do you think this would really be something that could ruin your wedding?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The therapeutic communication technique that the nurse uses in option 1 is reflection. In option 2, the nurse minimizes the client's anxiety and fears. In option 3, the nurse talks about antihistamines and asks the client to 'wait and see.' This is nontherapeutic because the nurse is making promises that may not be kept. In addition, the response is closed-ended and shuts off the client's expression of feelings. In option 4, the nurse responds without sensitivity.
While in the dining area, an adult client at the retirement center yells, 'This turkey is dry and cold! I can't stand the food here!' Which is the best response by the nurse to the client's behavior?
- A. Now look what you've done! You're ruining this meal for the whole community. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
- B. I think you had better return to your apartment now. I'll make arrangements for a new meal to be served to you there.
- C. Let me get you another serving that is more to your liking. Would you like to see the chef and select your own serving?
- D. One of the things that was agreed upon was that anyone who did not use appropriate behavior would be asked to leave the dining room. Please leave now.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Asking the client to accompany the nurse to the kitchen respects the client's need for control, removes the angry client from the dining room, and may offer the nurse an opportunity to assess what is happening with the client. Agency procedure should be followed regarding those who are allowed access to the facility kitchen. Option 1 is angry, aggressive, and nontherapeutic. Option 2 could provoke a regressive struggle between the nurse and the client and cause more anger in the client. In option 4, the nurse is authoritative, and it would not be appropriate to ask the client to leave. This action may set up an aggressive struggle between the nurse and the client.