What action should be taken to maintain the patency of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)?
- A. Flush the catheter with heparin solution daily.
- B. Change the dressing at the insertion site daily.
- C. Use sterile technique when changing the dressing.
- D. Keep the insertion site dry at all times.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is to use sterile technique when changing the dressing. This practice is essential for preventing infections that can compromise the patency of the PICC line. While flushing the catheter with heparin solution helps prevent clot formation, it does not directly maintain patency. Changing the dressing daily is important for hygiene but does not have a direct impact on catheter patency. Keeping the insertion site dry is crucial to prevent infections but does not specifically address patency maintenance.
You may also like to solve these questions
A female UAP is assigned to take the vital signs of a client with pertussis for whom droplet precautions have been implemented. The UAP requests a change in assignment as she has not yet been fitted for a particulate filter mask. Which action should the nurse take?
- A. Advise the UAP to wear a standard face mask to take vital signs, and then get fitted for a filter mask before providing personal care
- B. Send the UAP to be fitted for a particulate filter mask immediately so she can provide care to this client
- C. Instruct the UAP that a standard mask is sufficient for the provision of care for the assigned client
- D. Before changing assignments, determine which staff members have fitted particulate filter masks
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct course of action for the nurse is to determine which staff members have already been fitted for particulate filter masks before changing assignments. This ensures safety and compliance with infection control protocols. Option A is incorrect as wearing a standard face mask before being fitted for a filter mask does not address compliance with droplet precautions. Option B is incorrect because the priority is to ensure all staff members have appropriate equipment before providing care. Option C is incorrect as a standard mask may not offer sufficient protection when dealing with clients under droplet precautions.
An 18-year-old client is admitted to the intensive care unit from the emergency room following a diving accident. The injury is suspected to be at the level of the 2nd cervical vertebra. The nurse's priority assessment should be
- A. Response to stimuli
- B. Bladder control
- C. Respiratory function
- D. Muscle strength
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Injuries at the level of the 2nd cervical vertebra can affect the phrenic nerve, leading to potential impairment of respiratory function. Assessing respiratory function is crucial as compromised breathing can quickly escalate to life-threatening situations. While response to stimuli is important, ensuring adequate oxygenation takes precedence due to the immediate threat to life. Bladder control may be affected by spinal cord injuries at higher levels, but it is not the priority in this scenario. Muscle strength is a potential consequence of cervical spinal cord injury, but assessing respiratory function is more critical in the acute phase.
While observing a student nurse administering a narcotic analgesic IM injection without aspirating, what should the nurse do?
- A. Ask the student, 'What did you forget to do?'
- B. Stop and explain why aspiration is needed.
- C. Quietly state, 'You forgot to aspirate.'
- D. Walk up and whisper in the student's ear, 'Stop. Aspirate. Then inject.'
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When the nurse observes a student nurse making a mistake during a procedure, such as not aspirating before administering a medication, the nurse should provide immediate, discreet feedback to correct the error. Walking up and whispering in the student's ear to stop, aspirate, and then inject is appropriate as it corrects the mistake while maintaining the student's dignity and confidence. Option A is not as effective as it indirectly addresses the issue. Option B is not the best approach as the student needs immediate correction. Option C is not ideal as loudly stating the mistake may embarrass the student and is not necessary for a discreet correction.
A nurse in an outpatient clinic is caring for a client who has a new prescription for an antihypertensive medication. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the client?
- A. "Get up and change positions slowly."
- B. "Avoid eating aged cheese and smoked meat."
- C. "Report any unusual bruising or bleeding to the doctor immediately."
- D. "Eat the same amount of foods that contain vitamin K every day."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct instruction for the nurse to give the client who is starting on antihypertensive medication is to 'Get up and change positions slowly.' Antihypertensive medications can cause orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure when changing positions, so changing positions slowly helps prevent this adverse effect. Choice B about avoiding aged cheese and smoked meat is more relevant for clients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) due to potential interactions. Choice C regarding reporting unusual bruising or bleeding is more applicable for clients on anticoagulants. Choice D about consuming consistent amounts of vitamin K-containing foods daily is important for clients taking warfarin, not antihypertensive medications.
The nurse is caring for an adult who has fluid volume excess. When weighing the client, the nurse should:
- A. Weigh the client upon rising
- B. Weigh the client at different times of the day
- C. Weigh the client after meals
- D. Weigh the client weekly
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Weighing the client upon rising is the correct approach when caring for a client with fluid volume excess. Weighing the client in the morning upon rising provides a consistent and accurate measure of weight, as it helps to eliminate the influence of daily fluctuations that can occur throughout the day. Weighing at different times of the day (choice B) may lead to inconsistent measurements due to variations in food intake, hydration status, and other factors. Weighing the client after meals (choice C) can also lead to inaccurate readings as food and fluid intake can affect weight. Weighing the client weekly (choice D) is not frequent enough to monitor changes in weight accurately for a client with fluid volume excess.