When printing out an EKG, a nurse notices that the QRS complexes are extremely small. What should be the next step?
- A. Alert the physician immediately as this is a sign of impending cardiac arrest.
- B. Check to see that all leads are attached and rerun the EKG.
- C. Increase the sensitivity control to 20 mm deflection.
- D. Decrease the run speed to 50.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Increasing the sensitivity control to 20 mm deflection will double the sensitivity, allowing for better observation of the small QRS complexes. This step is crucial in obtaining a clearer EKG reading. Choice A is incorrect because small QRS complexes do not necessarily indicate impending cardiac arrest; it's more likely a technical issue. Choice B is not the first step to take when small QRS complexes are observed; it's important to adjust the settings first. Choice D is incorrect because decreasing the run speed to 50 is not the appropriate action for this situation; adjusting the sensitivity control is more relevant to improve the visualization of the complexes.
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The rehabilitation nurse wishes to make the following entry into a client's plan of care: 'Client will reestablish a pattern of daily bowel movements without straining within two months.' The nurse would write this statement under which section of the plan of care?
- A. Nursing diagnosis/problem list
- B. Nursing orders
- C. Short-term goals
- D. Long-term goals
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Long-term goals.' Long-term goals are designed to describe changes in client behavior expected over a time frame greater than one week. In this case, the goal of reestablishing a pattern of daily bowel movements without straining within two months falls under a long-term goal. Long-term goals are aimed at restoring normal functioning in a problem area and are beneficial for healthcare workers caring for the client across different settings. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because nursing diagnosis/problem list, nursing orders, and short-term goals do not encompass the desired timeframe or level of expected change in this scenario.
A patient with Parkinson's disease is experiencing difficulty swallowing. What potential problem associated with dysphagia has the greatest influence on the plan of care?
- A. Anorexia
- B. Aspiration
- C. Self-care deficit
- D. Inadequate intake
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When a person experiences dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), the greatest concern is aspiration. Aspiration occurs when food or fluids enter the trachea and lungs instead of going down the esophagus. This can lead to serious complications such as choking, airway obstruction, and aspiration pneumonia. Anorexia (Choice A) refers to a loss of appetite, which is not the primary concern with dysphagia. Self-care deficit (Choice C) and inadequate intake (Choice D) are important considerations but do not have as direct an impact on the immediate safety and health risks associated with aspiration in dysphagia.
Which of the following descriptors is most appropriate to use when stating the 'problem' part of a nursing diagnosis?
- A. Grimacing
- B. Anxiety
- C. Oxygenation saturation 93%
- D. Output 500 mL in 8 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The problem part of a nursing diagnosis in the context of nursing care plans should focus on the client's response to a life process, event, or stressor. This response is what is used to identify the nursing diagnosis. 'Anxiety' is the most appropriate descriptor for the problem part of a nursing diagnosis as it reflects a psychological response that can be addressed by nursing interventions. 'Grimacing' is a physical manifestation and not the problem itself. 'Oxygenation saturation 93%' and 'Output 500 mL in 8 hours' are data points or cues that a nurse would use to formulate the nursing diagnostic statement, not the actual problem being addressed.
Before allowing the client's infant granddaughter to visit before the client's scheduled heart transplant, the nurse decides it would be beneficial to collaborate with which of the following? Select all that apply.
- A. Client and Family
- B. Other nursing staff on the unit
- C. Security department
- D. Hospital administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Collaborating with the client and family is crucial as it fosters a sense of autonomy and active involvement in the healthcare process for the client. Involving other nursing staff ensures the successful implementation of the planned intervention and provides support for the client's needs. Collaboration with the security department or hospital administration is not necessary in this situation, as the focus should be on the client's well-being and family involvement during a sensitive time.
The Sinoatrial Node (SA) is located within which of the following heart structures?
- A. Mitral Valve
- B. Right Ventricle
- C. Right Atrium
- D. Left Atrium
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Sinoatrial (SA) Node, often called the heart's natural pacemaker, is situated within the upper wall of the Right Atrium. It initiates the electrical impulses that regulate the heartbeat. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the SA node is not located in the Mitral Valve, Right Ventricle, or Left Atrium. It is specifically positioned in the Right Atrium to coordinate the heart's rhythm and timing.
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