Nokea
While assessing the patient at the beginning of the shift, the nurse inspects a surgical dressing covering the operative site after the patients cervical diskectomy. The nurse notes that the drainage is 75% saturated with serosanguineous discharge. What is the nurses most appropriate action?
- A. Page the physician and report this sign of infection.
- B. Reinforce the dressing and reassess in 1 to 2 hours.
- C. Reposition the patient to prevent further hemorrhage.
- D. Inform the surgeon of the possibility of a dural leak.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most appropriate action for the nurse to take when observing the surgical dressing saturated with serosanguineous drainage is to reinforce the dressing and reassess in 1 to 2 hours. Serosanguineous discharge is a common type of drainage following surgery, as it is a mixture of blood and serum. It is expected in the early stages of wound healing and does not necessarily indicate infection. By reinforcing the dressing and closely monitoring the drainage over the next couple of hours, the nurse can assess if the amount of drainage is decreasing or escalating. If there are any signs of infection, such as increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or excessive purulent discharge, then the nurse should notify the physician promptly. Until then, it is appropriate to continue observing and managing the drainage within the expected range.
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A nurse is evaluating a nursing assistive personnel’s(NAP) care for a patient with an indwelling catheter. Which action by the NAP will cause the nurse to intervene?
- A. Emptying the drainage bag when half full
- B. Kinking the catheter tubing to obtain a urine specimen
- C. Placing the drainage bag on the side rail of the patient’s bed
- D. Securing the catheter tubing to the patient’s thigh
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Placing the drainage bag on the side rail of the bed could allow the bag to be raised above the level of the bladder and urine to flow back into the bladder. The urine in the drainage bag is a medium for bacteria; allowing it to reenter the bladder can cause infection. A key intervention to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections is prevention of urine back flow from the tubing and bag into the bladder. All the other actions are correct procedures and do not require immediate follow-up. The drainage bag should be emptied when it is half full to prevent tension and pulling on the catheter, which could result in trauma to the urethra and increase the risk for urinary tract infections. Urine specimens are traditionally obtained by temporarily kinking the tubing, while securing the catheter tubing to the patient’s thigh prevents catheter dislodgment and tissue injury.
A nurse is providing care to a group of patients.Which situation will require the nurse to obtain a telephone order?
- A. As the nurse and health care provider leave a patient’s room, the primary care provider gives the nurse an order.
- B. At 0100, a patient’s blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/50, and the incision dressing is saturated with blood.
- C. At 0800, the nurse and health care provider make rounds, and the primary care provider tells the nurse a diet order.
- D. A nurse reads an order correctly as written by the health care provider in the patient’s medical record
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In this situation, the nurse needs to obtain a telephone order because the patient's condition has changed significantly. The drop in blood pressure from 120/80 to 90/50 along with the saturated incision dressing indicates a potential complication or need for immediate intervention. The nurse must act quickly to address the situation and may require additional orders from the primary care provider over the phone to manage the patient's condition effectively. The urgency and critical nature of the situation necessitate obtaining a telephone order promptly to ensure the best outcome for the patient.
The patient asks the nurse what these numbers specifically mean. What is a correct response by the nurse?
- A. A person whose vision is 20/40 can see an object from 40 feet away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 20 feet away.
- B. A person whose vision is 20/40 can see an object from 20 feet away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 40 feet away.
- C. A person whose vision is 20/40 can see an object from 40 inches away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 20 inches away.
- D. A person whose vision is 20/40 can see an object from 20 inches away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 40 inches away.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A person whose vision is measured at 20/40 can see an object from 40 feet away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 20 feet away. In this measurement system, the first number represents how far away the person is from the eye chart (the testing distance), and the second number indicates how far away a person with normal vision can be from the chart to see the same line of letters or objects. Therefore, if someone has 20/40 vision, it means they need to be at 20 feet to see what a person with 20/20 vision can see at 40 feet.
A hospitalized patient with impaired vision must get a picture in his or her mind of the hospital room and its contents in order to mobilize independently and safely. What must the nurse monitor in the patients room?
- A. That a commode is always available at the bedside
- B. That all furniture remains in the same position
- C. That visitors do not leave items on the bedside table
- D. That the patients slippers stay under the bed
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: It is crucial for the nurse to monitor that all furniture remains in the same position in the hospitalized patient's room. For a patient with impaired vision who needs to create a mental picture of the room to mobilize independently and safely, any changes in the position of furniture can disrupt this mental map and potentially lead to accidents or falls. By ensuring that all furniture remains unchanged, the nurse supports the patient's ability to navigate the room confidently and without obstacles. This monitoring helps promote the patient's safety and independence during their stay in the hospital.
A patients daughter has asked the nurse about helping him end his terrible suffering. The nurse is aware of the ANA Position Statement on Assisted Suicide, which clearly states that nursing participation in assisted suicide is a violation of the Code for Nurses. What does the Position Statement further stress?
- A. Educating families about the moral implications of assisted suicide
- B. Identifying patient and family concerns and fears
- C. Identifying resources that meet the patients desire to die
- D. Supporting effective means to honor the patients desire to die
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ANA Position Statement on Assisted Suicide stresses the importance of identifying patient and family concerns and fears. This reflects the nurse's responsibility to provide holistic care and support to patients and their families who may be struggling with end-of-life decisions. By identifying concerns and fears, the nurse can address these issues through compassionate communication, education, and appropriate interventions. This proactive approach aligns with the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in nursing practice.