Which of the following is the best indicator of a patient's nutritional status?
- A. Patient's weight
- B. Serum albumin levels
- C. Patient's food preferences
- D. Number of meals consumed per day
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Serum albumin levels. Serum albumin is a protein produced by the liver and is a key indicator of a patient's nutritional status. Low levels of serum albumin indicate malnutrition or protein deficiency. Monitoring serum albumin levels provides an objective measure of the patient's overall nutritional status.
Choice A (Patient's weight) can be influenced by factors other than nutrition, such as fluid retention or muscle mass. Choice C (Patient's food preferences) does not provide direct information on the patient's actual nutritional intake. Choice D (Number of meals consumed per day) does not account for the quality or quantity of nutrients consumed in those meals.
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When examining a patient, the nurse can assess mental health by:
- A. Examining the patient's electroencephalogram.
- B. Observing the patient as he or she performs an IQ test.
- C. Observing the patient and inferring health or dysfunction.
- D. Examining the patient's response to a specific set of questions.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because observing the patient and inferring health or dysfunction allows the nurse to assess mental health holistically. This method considers various factors such as behavior, emotions, communication, and overall functioning. It provides a comprehensive view of the patient's mental well-being.
A: Examining the patient's electroencephalogram is more related to brain activity rather than mental health assessment.
B: Observing the patient as he or she performs an IQ test is limited to cognitive abilities and does not capture the full spectrum of mental health.
D: Examining the patient's response to a specific set of questions may not provide a complete picture of mental health as it focuses on specific aspects rather than overall assessment.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of chronic liver disease. The nurse should monitor for which of the following complications?
- A. Anemia.
- B. Jaundice.
- C. Hypertension.
- D. Hypoglycemia.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Jaundice. In chronic liver disease, impaired liver function leads to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, causing jaundice. Jaundice is a common complication seen in patients with liver disease. Anemia (choice A) may occur in liver disease but is not as specific as jaundice. Hypertension (choice C) is not a direct complication of liver disease. Hypoglycemia (choice D) is more commonly associated with pancreatic disorders, not liver disease. Therefore, monitoring for jaundice is crucial in patients with chronic liver disease.
The nurse is planning to assess new memory with a patient. The best way to do this would be to:
- A. Administer the FACT test.
- B. Ask him to describe his first job to you.
- C. Give him the Four Unrelated Words Test.
- D. Ask him to describe the last TV show he watched before coming to the clinic.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Give him the Four Unrelated Words Test. This is the best way to assess new memory because it is a standardized test specifically designed to evaluate a patient's ability to form new memories. The test involves presenting the patient with four unrelated words and then asking them to recall those words after a delay. This test is reliable, valid, and widely used in clinical settings to assess new memory formation.
Other choices are incorrect because:
A: Administering the FACT test is not the best way to assess new memory as it is not specifically designed for this purpose.
B: Asking the patient to describe his first job does not directly evaluate new memory formation and may not provide a standardized assessment.
D: Asking the patient to describe the last TV show he watched does not focus on new memory and is not a standardized way to assess memory function.
Which of the following statements is an example of flight of ideas?
- A. My stomach hurts. Hurts, spurts, burts.
- B. Kiss, wood, reading, ducks, onto, maybe.
- C. Take this pill? The pill is red. I see red. Red velvet is soft, soft as a baby's bottom.
- D. I wash my hands, wash them, wash them. I usually go to the sink and wash my hands.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it demonstrates a rapid succession of loosely associated thoughts, typical of flight of ideas. The statement transitions from discussing a pill to the color red, then red velvet, and finally to a baby's bottom. This rapid and disjointed flow of thoughts is characteristic of flight of ideas, a symptom commonly seen in manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Choices A, B, and D do not exhibit the same level of rapid and tangential thoughts as choice C, making them incorrect.
The nurse has implemented several planned interventions to address the nursing diagnosis of acute pain. Which of the following would be the next appropriate action?
- A. Establishing priorities
- B. Identifying expected outcomes
- C. Evaluating the individual's condition and comparing actual outcomes with expected outcomes
- D. Interpreting data, identifying clusters of cues, and making inferences
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The next appropriate action is to evaluate the individual's condition and compare actual outcomes with expected outcomes (Choice C). This step is crucial in determining the effectiveness of the implemented interventions in addressing the nursing diagnosis of acute pain. By evaluating the individual's condition, the nurse can assess whether the interventions have been successful in alleviating the pain. Comparing actual outcomes with expected outcomes helps in identifying any discrepancies and adjusting the plan of care accordingly to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
Establishing priorities (Choice A) is important but would come before implementing interventions. Identifying expected outcomes (Choice B) is necessary before implementing interventions but does not directly address the need for evaluation. Interpreting data and making inferences (Choice D) is part of the assessment phase and not the next appropriate action after implementing interventions.
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