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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A patient with heart failure needs education on fluid restrictions. What is the most important information to provide?
- A. Monitor the patient's weight daily.
- B. Provide the patient with a fluid restriction plan.
- C. Instruct the patient to avoid salty foods.
- D. Encourage the patient to increase fluid intake.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most important information to provide to a patient with heart failure regarding fluid restrictions is to provide them with a fluid restriction plan. This plan helps the patient manage their fluid intake effectively, which is crucial in preventing complications associated with heart failure. Monitoring weight daily can be a part of the plan but is not the most important. Instructing the patient to avoid salty foods is beneficial but not as crucial as having a structured fluid restriction plan. Encouraging the patient to increase fluid intake would be counterproductive and potentially harmful in a patient with heart failure.
A client with a DNR order has requested resuscitation during a visit from the family. What is the nurse's best course of action?
- A. Follow the family's request and perform CPR.
- B. Explain to the family that the DNR must be honored.
- C. Call the healthcare provider to cancel the DNR order.
- D. Delay resuscitation until further clarification can be made.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct course of action for the nurse is to explain to the family that the DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order must be honored. It is essential for the nurse to uphold the client's wishes as documented in the DNR order. Performing CPR against the client's expressed wishes in the DNR order would violate ethical and legal standards. Calling the healthcare provider to cancel the DNR order without the client's consent is inappropriate and goes against the client's autonomy. Delaying resuscitation can be detrimental in an emergency situation and may not align with the client's wishes as outlined in the DNR order.
A patient has difficulty ambulating after surgery. Which action should the nurse take first?
- A. Encourage deep breathing exercises.
- B. Assist the patient in ambulating a short distance.
- C. Call for assistance with ambulation.
- D. Assess the patient's pain level before ambulation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse to take when a patient has difficulty ambulating after surgery is to call for assistance with ambulation. This is essential to ensure the safety of the patient and prevent any potential falls or injuries. Encouraging deep breathing exercises (Choice A) may be beneficial but should not be the first priority when the patient is having difficulty walking. Assisting the patient in ambulating a short distance (Choice B) may put both the patient and the nurse at risk if the patient is struggling. Assessing the patient's pain level before ambulation (Choice D) is important but should come after ensuring that the patient can safely ambulate with assistance.
A client with leukemia is considered for a bone marrow transplant. Which principle of healthcare ethics is being practiced by minimizing harm to the client?
- A. Justice
- B. Beneficence
- C. Nonmaleficence
- D. Autonomy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Nonmaleficence. Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that focuses on avoiding harm to the patient. In this scenario, by considering a bone marrow transplant for the client with leukemia, healthcare professionals are practicing nonmaleficence by aiming to minimize harm. Choice A, Justice, pertains to fairness in the distribution of resources and decisions, which is not the primary focus in this situation. Choice B, Beneficence, involves promoting the patient's well-being, which is related but not directly addressing the act of minimizing harm. Choice D, Autonomy, refers to respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own care, which is not the key principle at play when minimizing harm in this context.
A healthcare provider prescribes a higher-than-usual dose of medication. What is the nurse's first action?
- A. Administer the medication and monitor closely.
- B. Hold the medication and consult the pharmacist.
- C. Ask another nurse to verify the dose.
- D. Call the provider for clarification.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to call the provider for clarification. When faced with a higher-than-usual dose of medication, the nurse's first action should be to contact the prescribing healthcare provider to confirm the dosage. Administering the medication without clarifying the dose with the provider can pose serious risks to the patient's safety. Holding the medication and consulting the pharmacist may be appropriate after contacting the provider for clarification. Asking another nurse to verify the dose is not the most appropriate action when dealing with an unusual prescription; direct communication with the provider is essential in such situations.
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