A high school nurse observes a 14-year-old female rubbing her scalp excessively in the gym. What is the most appropriate course of action for the nurse?
- A. Request the female’s parents for a private evaluation of her scalp
- B. Contact the female’s parents regarding the observations
- C. Observe the hairline and scalp for possible signs of lice
- D. Inform the student’s physician about the situation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most appropriate course of action for the nurse is to observe the hairline and scalp for possible signs of lice. The student's behavior of excessively rubbing her scalp raises concerns about a potential infestation, making it necessary to look for signs firsthand. Contacting the parents or the physician should be considered after observing for signs of lice to provide more information and take appropriate action. Requesting a private evaluation from the parents may not be required initially, as lice infestation is a common concern among children and observing for signs is the immediate step to address the situation.
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A one-month-old infant in the neonatal intensive care unit is dying. The parents request that the nurse administer an opioid analgesic to their infant, who is crying weakly. The infant's heart rate is 68 beats per minute, and the respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute. The infant is on room air, and the oxygen saturation is 92%. The nurse's response is based on which of the following principles?
- A. Providing analgesia during the last days and hours is an ethically appropriate nursing action.
- B. Withholding the opioid analgesia during the last days and hours is an ethical duty because administering it would represent assisted suicide.
- C. Administering analgesia during the last days and hours is the parents' ethical decision.
- D. Withholding the opioid analgesia is clinically appropriate because it will hasten the infant's death.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: All patients, regardless of age, have the right to die with dignity and be free from pain. In this case, the parents' request for an opioid analgesic to relieve the child's distress aligns with the principles of palliative care and ensuring comfort. Assisted suicide involves a conscious decision by the individual, which is not applicable to a 1-month-old infant. Both the nurse and the parents have an ethical duty to ensure the infant's comfort and well-being. Withholding opioid analgesia solely to hasten death is not appropriate, as providing pain relief is a crucial aspect of end-of-life care. Opioids can be administered to dying patients at any age to alleviate suffering without the intention of hastening death. Therefore, providing analgesia during the last days and hours is an ethically appropriate nursing action. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the decision to administer analgesia in this scenario is based on the best interest and comfort of the infant, not concerns about assisted suicide or hastening death. The ethical consideration is to provide compassionate care and alleviate suffering.
A nurse is caring for a client with an elevated urine osmolarity. The nurse should assess the client for:
- A. fluid volume excess.
- B. hyperkalemia.
- C. hypercalcemia.
- D. fluid volume deficit.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Elevated urine osmolarity indicates that the urine is concentrated, suggesting the body is trying to conserve water. This commonly occurs in conditions like dehydration or fluid volume deficit. Assessing the client for fluid volume excess, hyperkalemia, or hypercalcemia would not be the priority in this situation. Therefore, the correct answer is to assess the client for fluid volume deficit. Fluid volume excess is characterized by decreased urine osmolarity, while hyperkalemia and hypercalcemia are related to electrolyte imbalances and would not directly cause elevated urine osmolarity.
The nurse is caring for a 44-year-old client diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism. Which electrolyte imbalance is closely associated with hypoparathyroidism?
- A. Hypocalcemia.
- B. Hyponatremia.
- C. Hyperkalemia.
- D. Hypophosphatemia.
Correct Answer: A.
Rationale: The correct answer is Hypocalcemia. In hypoparathyroidism, where the parathyroid glands are not producing sufficient parathyroid hormone, calcium levels become inadequate. This leads to hypocalcemia, characterized by symptoms such as muscle spasms, anxiety, seizures, hypotension, and congestive heart failure. Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia are not typically associated with hypoparathyroidism. While hyperphosphatemia can be seen in hypoparathyroidism due to decreasing calcium levels, the question specifically asks about the primary electrolyte imbalance closely related to hypoparathyroidism, which is hypocalcemia.
A client had a Caesarean delivery and is postpartum day 1. She asks for pain medication when the nurse enters the room to do her shift assessment. The client states that her pain level is an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. What should be the nurse's priority of care?
- A. Give the pain medication and return in an hour for further assessment to allow time for the medication to work.
- B. Complete the postpartum assessment and then give the client pain medication.
- C. Give the pain medication first, do a quick assessment while administering the medication to ensure the pain is not caused by a complication, and return for the full assessment after the client's pain has subsided.
- D. Instruct the patient to do relaxation exercises to relieve her discomfort.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pain management is a priority, so the nurse should immediately provide pain medication. However, the nurse should conduct a quick assessment while administering the medication to ensure that a complication, such as hemorrhage, hasn't caused the increased pain. A complete assessment can wait until the pain subsides. Controlling pain will enable the client to move, eliminating other potential complications of delivery and facilitating bonding with the infant. Relaxation techniques can act as an adjunct therapy but by themselves are not usually effective for pain management during the early post-Caesarean period.
When teaching about preventable diseases, the importance of getting the following vaccines should be emphasized:
- A. human papillomavirus, genital herpes, measles.
- B. pneumonia, HIV, mumps.
- C. syphilis, gonorrhea, pneumonia.
- D. polio, pertussis, measles
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Vaccines are crucial in preventing communicable diseases. Smallpox has been eradicated globally, so its vaccine is no longer used. Polio, pertussis, and measles are diseases that are controlled by routine childhood immunization. While smallpox has been eradicated, these diseases still exist, making it essential for children to be vaccinated against them. Choices A, B, and C include diseases that are not prevented by vaccination or are not related to routine immunizations, making them incorrect choices.