What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with a new tracheostomy?
- A. Suction the tracheostomy as needed to maintain a patent airway.
- B. Monitor the patient's oxygen saturation.
- C. Provide humidified air to prevent drying of the airway.
- D. Administer pain medication as prescribed.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to suction the tracheostomy as needed to maintain a patent airway. After a tracheostomy procedure, the immediate concern is airway patency to prevent respiratory compromise. Suctioning helps clear secretions and maintains a clear airway, reducing the risk of respiratory distress. Monitoring the patient's oxygen saturation (choice B) is important but not the priority compared to ensuring a clear airway. Providing humidified air (choice C) and administering pain medication (choice D) are also essential aspects of care for a patient with a tracheostomy, but they are not the priority when immediate airway management is required.
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What should be done to ensure safety during the transfer of a patient with limited mobility?
- A. Have the patient use a gait belt for support.
- B. Encourage the patient to hold onto a walker.
- C. Lock the wheels on the bed and wheelchair.
- D. Ask the patient to transfer independently.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is to lock the wheels on the bed and wheelchair. This action helps prevent accidents by stabilizing the equipment during the transfer process. Having the patient use a gait belt for support (choice A) can be helpful but is not directly related to equipment safety. Encouraging the patient to hold onto a walker (choice B) is beneficial for ambulation but does not address the safety of equipment. Asking the patient to transfer independently (choice D) can pose risks, especially for a patient with limited mobility, and may not ensure safety during the transfer.
The healthcare provider is assessing how a patient's pain is affecting mobility. Which assessment question is most appropriate?
- A. What activities, if any, has your pain prevented you from doing?
- B. When does your pain medication typically take effect on your pain?
- C. Would you please rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10 for me?
- D. Have you considered working with a physical therapist?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most appropriate assessment question in this scenario is asking the patient, 'What activities, if any, has your pain prevented you from doing?' This question helps the healthcare provider understand how pain is impacting the patient's daily activities and mobility, providing valuable insight into the limitations caused by the pain. Choice B focuses on pain medication effectiveness, which is not directly related to mobility assessment. Choice C aims at pain intensity assessment but does not directly address mobility issues. Choice D suggests a solution rather than gathering information about the current impact of pain on mobility.
A healthcare provider notices a discrepancy in the narcotics log. What is the appropriate response?
- A. Correct the narcotics log and move on.
- B. Report the discrepancy to the supervisor.
- C. Confront the provider responsible for the discrepancy.
- D. Dispose of the medication and ignore the discrepancy.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When a healthcare provider notices a discrepancy in the narcotics log, the appropriate response is to report the issue to the supervisor. Reporting discrepancies is crucial to maintain accountability and prevent potential misuse. Choice A is incorrect because simply correcting the log without addressing the underlying issue does not ensure accountability. Choice C is inappropriate as confronting the provider directly may not be the best approach and could lead to a confrontational situation. Choice D is highly inappropriate as ignoring the discrepancy and disposing of medication without proper documentation can lead to serious consequences.
A nurse is observing a nursing student practicing standard precautions. Which observation by the instructor indicates that further teaching is necessary?
- A. The nursing student wears gloves when changing bed linens.
- B. The nursing student wears gloves to remove a wound dressing.
- C. The nursing student washes hands after removing gloves.
- D. The nursing student touches the patient's skin with sterile gloves.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because touching a patient's skin with sterile gloves compromises the sterility of the gloves, increasing the risk of contamination. Choices A, B, and C demonstrate correct practices in standard precautions. Wearing gloves when changing bed linens and to remove a wound dressing, as well as washing hands after removing gloves, are all appropriate and necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection.
If a client refuses surgery, but the family insists, what should the nurse do in this situation?
- A. Respect the family's decision and proceed with the surgery.
- B. Respect the client's decision and notify the healthcare provider.
- C. Try to mediate between the family and the client.
- D. Encourage the client to follow their family's wishes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In this situation, the nurse should respect the client's decision and notify the healthcare provider. The client has the right to refuse treatment, and the nurse must advocate for the client's autonomy. Proceeding with the surgery against the client's wishes would violate their autonomy and ethical principles. Trying to mediate between the family and the client may be appropriate, but ultimately, the client's decision should be respected. Encouraging the client to follow their family's wishes disregards the client's autonomy and is not ethically appropriate.