Which nursing action is essential when administering a blood transfusion?
- A. Ensure the blood is administered within 4 hours.
- B. Check the patient's vital signs every 30 minutes during the transfusion.
- C. Administer the transfusion at a slow rate for the first 15 minutes.
- D. Document the transfusion in the patient's medical record immediately after administration.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is to administer the transfusion at a slow rate for the first 15 minutes. This practice is crucial as it helps in detecting any adverse reactions early on. Checking the patient's vital signs every 30 minutes (choice B) is important but not as essential as ensuring a slow rate at the beginning. Administering blood within 4 hours (choice A) is a standard practice but not directly related to the initial administration. Documenting the transfusion immediately (choice D) is necessary but does not directly impact the safety of the initial administration.
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The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of guided imagery for pain management in a patient with second- and third-degree burns requiring extensive dressing changes. Which finding best indicates the effectiveness of guided imagery?
- A. The patient's need for analgesic medication decreases during the dressing changes.
- B. The patient rates pain during the dressing change as a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10.
- C. The patient asks for pain medication during the dressing changes only once throughout the procedure.
- D. The patient's facial expressions remain stoic during the procedure.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. A reduction in the need for analgesic medication indicates that guided imagery is effective in managing the patient's pain. Choices B, C, and D do not directly measure the effectiveness of guided imagery. A patient rating pain as 6 on a scale of 0 to 10, asking for pain medication once, or having stoic facial expressions may not necessarily reflect the impact of guided imagery on pain management.
What is the most appropriate method for assessing a patient's pain level?
- A. Observe the patient's facial expressions.
- B. Use a standardized pain scale, such as 0-10.
- C. Ask the patient to rate their pain based on their mood.
- D. Ask the patient's family members to assess the pain.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most appropriate method for assessing a patient's pain level is to use a standardized pain scale, such as a 0-10 scale. This method provides an objective and consistent way to measure and communicate the intensity of pain experienced by the patient. Choice A, observing facial expressions, can be subjective and may not always accurately reflect the level of pain. Choice C, asking the patient to rate their pain based on their mood, may be influenced by various factors unrelated to pain. Choice D, involving the patient's family members in assessing the pain, is not ideal as pain is a subjective experience that should be reported by the patient themselves.
While providing care to a group of patients, which patient should the nurse see first?
- A. A patient after knee surgery who needs range of motion exercises
- B. A patient on bed rest who has renal calculi and needs to go to the bathroom
- C. A bedridden patient who has a reddened area on the buttocks who needs to be turned
- D. A patient with a hip replacement on prolonged bed rest reporting chest pain and dyspnea
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse should see the patient with a hip replacement experiencing chest pain and dyspnea first because these symptoms could indicate a pulmonary embolism, which is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate attention. The other patients also need care, but urgent assessment and intervention are crucial in the case of potential pulmonary embolism to prevent serious complications or death.
A patient with a left arm fracture reports severe pain unrelieved by medication. What should the nurse assess for?
- A. Check for compartment syndrome
- B. Increase the pain medication
- C. Prepare the patient for surgery immediately
- D. Administer a sedative to calm the patient
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct answer: When a patient with a left arm fracture reports severe pain unrelieved by medication, the nurse should assess for compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is a condition where increased pressure within a muscle compartment compromises circulation and can lead to tissue damage. It is a surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Choice B is incorrect because simply increasing pain medication without identifying the cause of the unrelieved pain may mask symptoms of a serious issue like compartment syndrome. Choice C is incorrect as surgery would only be necessary if compartment syndrome is confirmed. Choice D is incorrect as administering a sedative does not address the underlying issue of unrelieved pain and may delay appropriate treatment.
The nurse is admitting a patient with an infectious disease process. Which question will be most appropriate for a nurse to ask about the patient's susceptibility to this infectious process?
- A. Do you have any children living in your home?
- B. Do you have a spouse?
- C. Do you have a chronic disease?
- D. Do you have any religious beliefs that will influence your care?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Do you have a chronic disease?' Patients with chronic diseases are more susceptible to infections due to factors like general debilitation and nutritional impairment. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because having children in the home, having a spouse, or religious beliefs do not directly impact susceptibility to infectious diseases.