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What is the first action the nurse should take when a patient complains of acute chest pain and dyspnea soon after insertion of a centrally inserted IV catheter?
- A. Notify the health care provider.
- B. Offer reassurance to the patient.
- C. Auscultate the patient's breath sounds
- D. Give the prescribed PRN morphine sulfate IV
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse to take when a patient complains of acute chest pain and dyspnea after the insertion of a centrally inserted IV catheter is to auscultate the patient's breath sounds. This is important to assess for any potential complications such as embolism or pneumothorax, which can present with such symptoms. Auscultation can provide immediate information on the patient's respiratory status and guide further interventions. Notifying the health care provider, offering reassurance, or administering morphine should only be considered after assessing the patient's condition through auscultation.
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The nurse notes a serum calcium level of 7.9 mg/dL for a patient who has chronic malnutrition. Which action should the nurse take next?
- A. Monitor ionized calcium level.
- B. Give oral calcium citrate tablets.
- C. Check parathyroid hormone level.
- D. Administer vitamin D supplements.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This patient with chronic malnutrition is likely to have a low serum albumin level, which will affect the total serum calcium. A more accurate reflection of calcium balance is the ionized calcium level. Most of the calcium in the blood is bound to protein (primarily albumin). Alterations in serum albumin levels affect the interpretation of total calcium levels. Low albumin levels result in a drop in the total calcium level, although the level of ionized calcium is not affected. The nurse should monitor the ionized calcium level to get a clearer picture of the patient's calcium status. Giving oral calcium citrate tablets, checking parathyroid hormone level, or administering vitamin D supplements may be necessary based on the ionized calcium results, but they are not the immediate next step in assessment and management.
A client who has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 is requesting information on the initial approach to a weight loss plan. Which action should the nurse recommend first?
- A. Plan low-carbohydrate and high-protein meals
- B. Engage in moderate physical activity for an hour daily
- C. Keep a record of food and drinks consumed daily
- D. Participate in a group exercise class 3 times a week
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A BMI of 30 indicates the patient is obese. The first step in a weight loss plan should be to keep a food journal to track calorie intake, which can help in meal planning and creating a workout routine. Choice (A) suggests a dietary approach, which is important but not the first step. Choice (B) recommends strenuous activity, which may not be suitable for everyone and is not the initial step. Choice (D) involves group exercise, which can be beneficial but is not the primary action to take at the beginning of a weight loss plan.
Which task can the registered nurse (RN) caring for a critically ill patient with multiple IV lines delegate to an experienced licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?
- A. Administer IV antibiotics through the implantable port.
- B. Monitor the IV sites for redness, swelling, or tenderness.
- C. Remove the patient's nontunneled subclavian central venous catheter.
- D. Adjust the flow rate of the 0.9% normal saline in the peripheral IV line.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An experienced LPN/LVN can monitor IV sites for signs of infection because it falls within their education, experience, and scope of practice. Administering IV antibiotics through an implantable port, adjusting infusion rates, and removing central catheters are tasks that require RN level education and scope of practice. These activities involve a higher level of assessment, critical thinking, and potential complications that are typically within the RN's domain.
Following a thyroidectomy, a patient complains of "a tingling feeling around my mouth." Which assessment should the nurse complete immediately?
- A. Presence of the Chvostek's sign
- B. Abnormal serum potassium level
- C. Decreased thyroid hormone level
- D. Bleeding on the patient's dressing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct assessment the nurse should complete immediately is checking for the presence of the Chvostek's sign. The patient's complaint of tingling around the mouth is indicative of hypocalcemia, which can result from parathyroid injury/removal during thyroidectomy. The Chvostek's sign is a clinical indication of hypocalcemia, where facial muscle twitching occurs when the facial nerve is tapped. Assessing serum potassium levels (choice B) is not the priority in this situation. While thyroid hormone levels (choice C) play a role in overall health, they do not directly relate to the patient's current symptoms. Checking for bleeding on the dressing (choice D) is important but not the immediate priority when addressing potential hypocalcemia.
At 01:00 on a male client's second postoperative night, the client states he is unable to sleep and plans to read until feeling sleepy. What action should the nurse implement?
- A. Leave the room and close the door to the client's room
- B. Assess the appearance of the client's surgical dressing
- C. Bring the client a prescribed PRN sedative-hypnotic
- D. Discuss symptoms of sleep deprivation with the client
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The client has a plan to read until feeling sleepy, indicating an intention to sleep. Therefore, offering a PRN sedative-hypnotic (C) is unnecessary, especially since it is a stronger sleep aid. Option (D) is not needed as the client already has a plan to address his sleeplessness. Assessing the surgical dressing (B) is not relevant to the client's immediate need for sleep. Leaving the room and closing the door (A) is the appropriate action to provide a conducive environment for the client to rest.