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When caring for a patient with a colostomy, which nursing action is most important?
- A. Monitor the colostomy for signs of infection.
- B. Empty the colostomy bag when it is half full.
- C. Encourage the patient to eat smaller, more frequent meals.
- D. Apply a skin barrier to prevent irritation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emptying the colostomy bag when it is half full is the most important nursing action when caring for a patient with a colostomy. This practice helps prevent leakage, reduces the risk of skin irritation, and promotes patient comfort. Monitoring for signs of infection (Choice A) is essential but not as crucial as maintaining proper colostomy care. Encouraging the patient to eat smaller, more frequent meals (Choice C) can be beneficial for colostomy patients but is not as critical as ensuring timely emptying of the colostomy bag. Applying a skin barrier to prevent irritation (Choice D) is important, but ensuring timely emptying of the colostomy bag takes precedence in preventing complications associated with a colostomy.
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A patient is experiencing shortness of breath. What is the nurse's immediate action?
- A. Assist the patient into a high Fowler's position.
- B. Administer oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula.
- C. Encourage the patient to take deep breaths and cough.
- D. Assess the patient's lung sounds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Administering oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula is the immediate action for a patient experiencing shortness of breath. This intervention helps to improve oxygenation and relieve respiratory distress promptly. Placing the patient in a high Fowler's position (choice A) may also be beneficial but providing oxygen takes precedence in this scenario to address the underlying hypoxemia. Encouraging deep breaths and coughing (choice C) may not be appropriate as the first action, especially without assessing the patient first. Assessing lung sounds (choice D) is essential but should follow the initial intervention of administering oxygen.
While reviewing notes from a previous shift, a nurse finds incomplete documentation. What is the most appropriate action?
- A. Complete the missing documentation
- B. Notify the nurse manager of the issue
- C. Ask the nurse to complete the documentation
- D. Confront the nurse about the incomplete notes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most appropriate action when finding incomplete documentation is to notify the nurse manager of the issue. This ensures that accurate records are maintained and the situation can be addressed properly. Completing the missing documentation on behalf of someone else may lead to inaccuracies, asking the nurse to complete it may not guarantee timely correction, and confronting the nurse could create a confrontational situation that is not conducive to effective teamwork.
A nurse notices that a colleague has an odor of alcohol while on duty. What is the most appropriate action?
- A. Speak to the colleague in private.
- B. Report the behavior to the nurse manager immediately.
- C. Confront the colleague directly on the floor.
- D. Do nothing and document the situation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reporting the behavior to the nurse manager immediately is the most appropriate action when a nurse suspects a colleague of being impaired while on duty. This is crucial to ensure patient safety and maintain a professional and safe work environment. Speaking to the colleague in private may not address the issue effectively and could potentially put patients at risk if the colleague is indeed impaired. Confronting the colleague directly on the floor may lead to a confrontation and is not the most professional way to handle the situation. Doing nothing and documenting the situation without taking immediate action can jeopardize patient safety and is not an appropriate response when substance use is suspected.
A nurse manager assigns a nursing assistant a task outside of their role. What should the nursing assistant do?
- A. Follow the manager's directive
- B. Report the task to the charge nurse
- C. Refuse to perform the task
- D. Perform the task and document later
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: If a nurse manager assigns a nursing assistant a task that is outside of their role, the nursing assistant should report the task to the charge nurse. This is important because the charge nurse can provide guidance on whether the task is appropriate for the nursing assistant to perform. Choice A is incorrect because blindly following a directive that is outside of the nursing assistant's scope could lead to negative consequences. Choice C might not be the best course of action initially, as it's important to seek clarification first. Choice D is also not the best option because performing a task outside of one's role without proper authorization can pose risks to both the patient and the nursing assistant.
A patient is receiving enteral feedings through a nasogastric (NG) tube. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention?
- A. Flush the NG tube with water before and after each feeding.
- B. Check the placement of the NG tube before each feeding.
- C. Administer medications through the NG tube every 4 hours.
- D. Increase the feeding rate if the patient is tolerating well.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Checking the placement of the NG tube before each feeding is crucial as it ensures the tube is correctly positioned, reducing the risk of complications such as aspiration or improper delivery of feedings. Flushing the NG tube with water before and after each feeding can disrupt the feeding schedule and is not a standard procedure. Administering medications through the NG tube every 4 hours may not be necessary for all patients and should be based on specific medication requirements. Increasing the feeding rate without proper assessment and monitoring can lead to feeding intolerance or complications, making it an inappropriate intervention.