Nokea
The perioperative nurse has admitted a patient who has just undergone a tonsillectomy. The nurses postoperative assessment should prioritize which of the following potential complications of this surgery?
- A. Difficulty ambulating
- B. Hemorrhage
- C. Infrequent swallowing
- D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hemorrhage is a potential complication of a tonsillectomy. Increased pulse, fever, and restlessness may indicate a postoperative hemorrhage. Difficulty ambulating and bradycardia are not common complications in a patient after a tonsillectomy. Infrequent swallowing does not indicate hemorrhage; frequent swallowing does.
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A patient states that her family has had several colds during this winter and spring despite their commitment to handwashing. The high communicability of the common cold is attributable to what factor?
- A. Cold viruses are increasingly resistant to common antibiotics.
- B. The virus is shed for 2 days prior to the emergence of symptoms.
- C. A genetic predisposition to viral rhinitis has recently been identified.
- D. Overuse of OTC cold remedies creates a rebound susceptibility to future colds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Colds are highly contagious because virus is shed for about 2 days before the symptoms appear and during the first part of the symptomatic phase. Antibiotic resistance is not relevant to viral illnesses and OTC medications do not have a rebound effect. Genetic factors do not exist.
A nurse practitioner has provided care for three different patients with chronic pharyngitis over the past several months. Which patients are at greatest risk for developing chronic pharyngitis?
- A. Patients who are habitual users of alcohol and tobacco
- B. Patients who are habitual users of caffeine and other stimulants
- C. Patients who eat a diet high in spicy foods
- D. Patients who have gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic pharyngitis is common in adults who live and work in dusty surroundings, use the voice to excess, suffer from chronic cough, and habitually use alcohol and tobacco. Caffeine and spicy foods have not been linked to chronic pharyngitis. GERD is not a noted risk factor.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a severe nosebleed. The physician inserts a nasal sponge and tells the patient it may have to remain in place up to 6 days before it is removed. The nurse should identify that this patient is at increased risk for what?
- A. Viral sinusitis
- B. Toxic shock syndrome
- C. Pharyngitis
- D. Adenoiditis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A compressed nasal sponge may be used. Once the sponge becomes saturated with blood or is moistened with a small amount of saline, it will expand and produce tamponade to halt the bleeding. The packing may remain in place for 48 hours or up to 5 or 6 days if necessary to control bleeding. Antibiotics may be prescribed because of the risk of iatrogenic sinusitis and toxic shock syndrome.
A 42-year-old patient is admitted to the ED after an assault. The patient received blunt trauma to the face and has a suspected nasal fracture. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform?
- A. Administer nasal spray and apply an occlusive dressing to the patients face.
- B. Position the patients head in a dependent position.
- C. Irrigate the patients nose with warm tap water.
- D. Apply ice and keep the patients head elevated.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Immediately after the fracture, the nurse applies ice and encourages the patient to keep the head elevated. The nurse instructs the patient to apply ice packs to the nose to decrease swelling. Dependent positioning would exacerbate bleeding and the nose is not irrigated. Occlusive dressings are not used.
The nurse is performing preoperative teaching with a patient who has cancer of the larynx. After completing patient teaching, what would be most important for the nurse to do?
- A. Give the patient his or her cell phone number.
- B. Refer the patient to a social worker or psychologist.
- C. Provide the patient with audiovisual materials about the surgery.
- D. Reassure the patient and family that everything will be alright.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Informational materials (written and audiovisual) about the surgery are given to the patient and family for review and reinforcement. The nurse never gives personal contact information to the patient. Nothing in the scenario indicates that a referral to a social worker or psychologist is necessary. False reassurance must always be avoided.