The nurse reviews a client’s laboratory data before a scheduled surgery. Which laboratory data requires immediate follow-up?
- A. Sodium level
- B. Potassium level
- C. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- D. Creatinine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Abnormal potassium levels can cause cardiac arrhythmias, a critical risk during surgery, requiring immediate follow-up. Sodium, BUN, and creatinine abnormalities are less immediately life-threatening but still important.
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The nurse is caring for a post-operative client at risk for a pressure ulcer. Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
- A. Apply sequential compression devices
- B. Apply an extra sheet to the bed
- C. Position the client on a donut pillow
- D. Encourage the consumption of high-protein foods
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: High-protein foods support tissue repair and collagen synthesis, critical for preventing pressure ulcers in at-risk clients. Sequential compression devices prevent thromboembolism, not pressure ulcers. An extra sheet does not reduce pressure, and donut pillows can increase pressure on surrounding tissues, worsening the risk.
The nurse is providing patient teaching to the mother of a child with a banana allergy. The nurse would be most correct in informing the mother that this child is at an increased risk of developing an allergy to which of the following?
- A. Penicillin
- B. Cat dander
- C. Latex
- D. Peanuts
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Banana allergy is associated with latex-fruit syndrome, increasing latex allergy risk. Penicillin, cat dander, and peanuts are unrelated.
A client with a history of falls is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. The nurse should plan to implement which intervention to reduce this client's risk of falling?
- A. Encouraging the client to ambulate independently to improve muscle strength.
- B. Verify that the bed alarm is enabled during client rounding.
- C. Implementing a fall risk assessment every two days
- D. Implementing a restrictive mobility policy to minimize the potential of falls.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Verifying the bed alarm ensures immediate notification of movement, reducing fall risk for a client with a fall history.
The nurse is observing a student collect vital signs on a client. Which action by the student requires the nurse to intervene? Select all that apply.
- A. Obtains the blood pressure with a cuff bladder width of at least 40% of arm circumference.
- B. Places the BP cuff over the client's clothing garment.
- C. Requests the client remove their hearing aid before obtaining a tympanic temperature.
- D. Assesses the client's respirations after obtaining the pulse rate.
- E. Obtains blood pressure by placing the client's upper extremity at the level of their heart.
- F. Places the pulse oximeter probe on the client's finger that has edema.
Correct Answer: B,F
Rationale: Placing the BP cuff over clothing and using an edematous finger for pulse oximetry can yield inaccurate readings. Other actions are correct.
The nurse is assessing a client who just returned from surgery. The nurse checks preoperative vital signs at 0830 to compare them with the current vital signs at 1030 . What action should the nurse take?
- A. Assess the surgical wound
- B. Collect blood cultures
- C. Administer oxygen at 2 L/minute
- D. Encourage by-mouth (PO) fluids
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Changes in vital signs post-surgery may indicate respiratory or circulatory compromise. Administering oxygen at 2 L/minute is a prudent initial action to support oxygenation while further assessment occurs. Wound assessment, blood cultures, or fluids require specific clinical indications.
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