Everything Flashcards
(167 cards)
A client is prescribed bed rest by the physician after surgery. The nurse that takes care of the patient always avoids putting pressure on the back of the client’s knees. This is done in order to prevent which complication?
A. Cerebral embolism
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Limb gangrene
D. Coronary vessel occlusion
B. Pulmonary embolism
Once a thrombus is dislodged and travels through the circulatory system, the pulmonary capillary beds are the first small vessels that the embolus will encounter, resulting in pulmonary embolism.
A client is about to go for a CT angiogram, which involves the administration of an intravenous radiopaque dye. In preparing the client for the procedure, the nurse’s responsibility is to educate him by saying:
A. “You should expect some chest tightness during the procedure.”
B. “You should expect a burning sensation at the intravenous site.”
C. “You will likely experience flushing of the face.”
D. “An allergic reaction may cause a decline in your kidney function.”
C. “You will likely experience flushing of the face.”
Flushing of the face is an expected response to the intravenous administration of contrast dye (Iodine). Most patients experience a warm sensation throughout the body shortly after contrast dye infusion. This is more pronounced in the face and throat and moves to the pelvic area after that.
A: Chest tightness may be experienced during a moderate to severe hypersensitivity reaction and is not an expected response.
B: Burning at the intravenous site is not a usual expected response with the use of IV contrast dye.
C: Iodine contrast is toxic to the kidneys, and directly harmful, not an allergy.
Lamotrigine - What is this med? What does it treat? Adverse reactions?
Lamotrigine is a mood stabilizer used for bipolar, also an anti-epileptic med.
This med may cause Steven Johnson Syndrome, manifested by tender skin lesions as blisters.
A 30-year old female on a cardiac unit states to the nurse, “I’m just not sure my incision is ever going to look right. I don’t want to look like a freak.” What should the nurse say to comfort her?
A. “It will heal fine.”
B. “Why are you worrying?”
C. “What do you think you will look like?”
D. “Tell me more.”
C. “What do you think you will look like?”
This encourages the patient to explain what they think they will look like, which in turn leads to open conversation.
Not A or B
I picked D, but it does not acknowledge the patient’s feelings of disfigurement but only tells the patient to keep talking.
You are caring for a newly admitted obese patient in the ICU. The patient has a history of smoking. She states that her symptoms started early in life and are worse at night. She denies any history of recent fever or chills. You notice wheezing and stridor upon assessment. You expect the diagnosis for this patient will be:
A. Asthma
B. Bronchiectasis
C. Congestive heart failure (CHF)
D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A. Asthma
Asthma typically begins in early life, whereas symptoms of CHF and COPD usually develop later in life.
Asthma symptoms tend to come and go with symptoms being worse at night. There is often a family history of asthma, and it usually occurs in obese patients.
Bronchiectasis typically presents with signs and symptoms of a recent infection, including large amounts of bronchial secretions. (Option B)
Your client is expressing feelings of dread and impending danger. As you allow the client to freely express these feelings, you attempt to determine the cause of these feelings but are unable to identify the source. What is the most likely nursing diagnosis for this client?
A. Fear related to an unidentifiable source
B. Anxiety related to an unidentifiable source
C. Ineffective coping related to a source that is not based on reality
D. Maladaptive coping related to a source that is based on reality
B. Anxiety related to an unidentifiable source
The most likely nursing diagnosis for this client is “anxiety related to an unidentifiable source”. Unlike fear, anxiety can result from an unidentifiable source as well as one that is identifiable. Fear is related to an identifiable source.
What is medical battery?
Battery is the intentional touching of a person that is legally defined as unacceptable or occurs without the person’s consent. Many routine actions that are permissible when proper consent is obtained would otherwise be considered medical battery. Furthermore, actions can be considered battery even if no physical injury results.
Ex:
Administering morphine when the nurse tells the client that it’s NS
Inserts a urinary catheter even though a client refuses it
The nurse receives report on 4 clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?
- Client with end stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis who reports fever with chills and nausea
- Client taking ibuprofen for ankylosing spondylitis who reports black colored stools
- Client with altered mental status who is not following commands starts vomiting
- Client with acute diverticulitis receiving antibiotics who reports increasing abdominal pain
- Client with altered mental status who is not following commands starts vomiting
This client with altered mental status and not following commands is at risk for aspiration and airway compromise from vomiting. This client should be assessed first; the client needs to be placed in the lateral position with head elevated and may need emergent intubation if airway cannot be protected.
The nurse receives reports on 4 clients, which one should the nurse see first?
- Client with cellulitis of the right foot, medicated with hydromorphone IV 1 hr ago, reports pain 6/10
- Client with chronic kiney disease with hgb of 8 and hematocrit of 24% reports s.o.b with activity
- Client with HF exacerbation and a large pleural effusion with sodium of 132 reports headache
- Client w/ pneumonia and asthma just relieved nebulized albuterol, now appears to be resting after a sudden decrease in wheezing.
- Client w/ pneumonia and asthma just relieved nebulized albuterol, now appears to be resting after a sudden decrease in wheezing.
The client with pneumonia and asthma is at risk for problems related to airway management and should be assessed first. Clients with symptomatic asthma will receive inhaled beta agonists (eg, albuterol); however, even after medication, it is a priority to assess this client’s lung sounds, work of breathing, and level of consciousness to determine respiratory status.
A sudden decrease in wheezing may signal the development of silent chest, where airflow is rapidly reduced due to increased bronchial constriction. This scenario can quickly progress to status asthmaticus, respiratory failure, unconsciousness, and death.
Unresolved pain can be checked later (Option 1)
S.o.b after activity is common with anemia (Option 2)
Dilutional hyponatremia < 135 is expected in HF, but a borderline value of 132 does not require immediate attention. (Option 3)
After making initial rounds on all the assigned clients by 8:00 AM, which client should the nurse care for first?
- Post op client medicated w/ tramadol 50 mg 1.5 hrs ago
- Post op client w/ pink colored urine after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
- Client scheduled for discharge today who needs instruction on how to change a sterile dressing
- Client with adenocarcinoma scheduled for a lobectomy at 9:00 AM was restless and awake all night.
- Client with adenocarcinoma scheduled for a lobectomy at 9:00 AM was restless and awake all night.
The nurse should care for the client with adenocarcinoma scheduled for a lobectomy at 9:00 AM first. Not being able to sleep the night before surgery is a common manifestation of anxiety and fear; these emotions can negatively affect recovery.
For this reason, it is important to identify and listen to the client’s concerns (eg, diagnosis of cancer, fear of death, pain, anesthesia), teach the client about what to expect following surgery (eg, pain control, tubes, intensive care environment), and provide emotional support to help alleviate the fear and anxiety. The nurse can provide for the physical preparation of the client and complete the preoperative checklist as well.
A client is being discharged with plans to return home alone. The client cannot get up from a chair without help and is very unsteady when standing, even with a walker. The nurse expresses concern, but the primary health care provider is adamant that the client be discharged today. Which team member would be most appropriate to assist the nurse in advocating for this client?
- Clinical psychologist
- Occupational therapist
- Physical therapist
- Social worker
- Social worker
The case manager and social worker on the interdisciplinary team have expertise in discharge planning and health care finance. They can assess the adequacy of the discharge setting and support systems, arrange for resources at home, or discharge to an alternate setting, such as a rehabilitation facility. They can also help advocate for safe, effective discharge planning.
The charge nurse on the orthopedic unit has 4 semiprivate room beds available. Which room should the nurse assign to a client being transferred from the post anesthesia recovery unit following a total knee replacement?
- Client w/ skeletal traction following a fracture of the femur, who has eythema at the pin sites
- Client w/ cellulitis and osteomyelitis following blunt trauma of the tibia
- Client with compartment syndrome, 1 day post fasciotomy
- Client with long leg cast following open reduction of a fractured tibia
A client who is postoperative total knee replacement is at risk for infection. No postoperative client should be assigned to a room with a client who has an actual infection or the potential for infection.
This client should be assigned to room 4 as the client with the cast has the lowest potential risk for infection (Option 4).
(Option 1) This client has erythema at the pin sites; this can be a sign of infection, a complication of skeletal traction.
(Option 2) This client has cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the skin, and osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone.
(Option 3) This client has a fasciotomy wound, which is usually kept open for several days to relieve the pressure in the myofascial compartment. This client is a potential source of infection and is susceptible to infection as well.
Which client event would be considered an adverse event and would require completion of an incident/event/irregular occurrence/variance report? Select all that apply.
- Admin a 9:00 AM med at 9:30 AM
- Developed worsening cellulitis after missing antibiotics for 1 day
- Has a seizure and a hx of epilepsy
- Slides off the edge of the bed and ends up sitting on the floor
- Waits 4 hours to be transported for STAT diagnostic CT scan
Answer: 2, 4, 5
Option 2 is a failure to provide appropriate treatment and has a direct correlation for worsening cellulitis.
Option 4 is a fall, although the mechanism probably results in a lesser chance of serious injury. The risk fall assessment should be adjusted.
Option 5 is an avoidable delay in application of a test, which will affect timely diagnosis. The nurse should advocate for a more timely completion of the test.
An 84-year-old client with oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is admitted with an exacerbation and steady weight loss. The client has been in the hospital 4 times over the last several months and is “tired of being poked and prodded.” Which topic would be most important for the nurse to discuss with this client’s health care team?
- Need for discharge to a skilled nursing facility
- Nutritional consult with instructions on a high-calorie diet
- Option of palliative care
- Physical therapy prescription to promote activity
- Option of palliative care
This client with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is approaching the end of life. The client has expressed the desire to avoid further tests, treatments, and hospitalizations. The goals of care should be consistent with the client’s wishes and emphasize comfort and quality of life.
Therefore, palliative care is most important who wish to focus on quality of life instead of prolonging life. (Option 3)
An 84-year-old client with oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is admitted with an exacerbation and steady weight loss. The client has been in the hospital 4 times over the last several months and is “tired of being poked and prodded.” Which topic would be most important for the nurse to discuss with this client’s health care team?
- Need for discharge to a skilled nursing facility
- Nutritional consult with instructions on a high-calorie diet
- Option of palliative care
- Physical therapy prescription to promote activity
- Option of palliative care
This client with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is approaching the end of life. The client has expressed the desire to avoid further tests, treatments, and hospitalizations. The goals of care should be consistent with the client’s wishes and emphasize comfort and quality of life.
Case management follows which patient care delivery and documentation?
A Critical pathway documentation system
Case management refers to the process of organizing the patient care throughout an episode of illness so that certain clinical and financial outcomes are achieved within an assigned time frame.
Case management uses a critical pathway documentation system as a form of patient care delivery and documentation.
Critical pathways are time-oriented multidisciplinary plans of care that are established and approved by the interdisciplinary team.
The nurse manager is completing an annual performance apprasial/evaluation on a staff nurse. Which elements should the nurse manager include when completing the evaluation? Select all that apply.
A. The nurses’ bar-code medication administration scan rate
B. The number of times the nurse has been absent or tardy
C. The nurse achieving a national certification
D. The nurses’ performance compared to other staff nurses
E. The number of medication errors the nurse has self-reported.
Answer: A, B, C
The performance appraisal/evaluation goal is to provide a broad review of the employee’s performance with minimal evaluator bias. The more objective the evaluation, the less the bias.
Objective metrics such as bar-code medication administration rate, attendance, and national certifications are logical elements to include in the appraisal.
The nurse notes that the physician has entered a do not resuscitate [DNR] order. However, there is no advanced directive by the patient present on the patient’s chart. Which is the appropriate nursing action?
A. Notify the physician about the need for a living will to validate this order.
B. Verify that the physician consulted with the patient and/or family.
C. Accept the order as written, no other documentation is needed.
D. Notify the nurse supervisor and risk management about the DNR order.
B. Verify that the physician consulted with the patient and/or family.
For a DNR, an advanced directive is not required. Neither is a living will.
So the best action would be to verify with the physician they have consulted with the family before
The nurse notes that the physician has entered a do not resuscitate [DNR] order. However, there is no advanced directive by the patient present on the patient’s chart. Which is the appropriate nursing action?
A. Notify the physician about the need for a living will to validate this order.
B. Verify that the physician consulted with the patient and/or family.
C. Accept the order as written, no other documentation is needed.
D. Notify the nurse supervisor and risk management about the DNR order.
B. Verify that the physician consulted with the patient and/or family.
For a DNR, an advanced directive is not required. Neither is a living will.
So the best action would be to verify with the physician they have consulted with the family before
When a nursing assessment is not done in a timely manner, according to the established policy and procedure, this is referred to as a:
A. Nursing fault
B. Medical error
C. Variance
D. Deviance
C. Variance
According to the established policy and procedure, when a nursing assessment is not done promptly, this is called a variance.
It’s not a nursing fault! Nor is it a medical error. Medical error is if the wrong med was given, wrong patient surgery, wrong site surgery.
Deviance is not used to describe this.
The nurse is caring for assigned clients. Which of the following clients would be appropriate for the nurse to refer for an interdisciplinary conference? A client with
Select all that apply.
A. pulmonary tuberculosis with multiple prescriptions.
B. ischemic stroke who has left-sided hemiplegia.
C. hyperthyroidism and is scheduled for a thyroidectomy.
D. stage one Alzheimer’s disease who lives with family.
E. fractured tibia and fibula and is homeless.
F. end-stage-renal disease who refuses dialysis.
Answer: B, E
A client with an ischemic stroke with hemiplegia will require interdisciplinary care such as occupational and physical therapy. –> Rehabilitation
A client with a fractured tibia and fibula will require physical therapy along with consultation with social services to assist the patient with housing.
The nurse is caring for assigned clients. Which of the following clients would be appropriate for the nurse to refer for an interdisciplinary conference? A client with
Select all that apply.
A. pulmonary tuberculosis with multiple prescriptions.
B. ischemic stroke who has left-sided hemiplegia.
C. hyperthyroidism and is scheduled for a thyroidectomy.
D. stage one Alzheimer’s disease who lives with family.
E. fractured tibia and fibula and is homeless.
F. end-stage-renal disease who refuses dialysis.
Answer: B, E
A client with an ischemic stroke with hemiplegia will require interdisciplinary care such as occupational and physical therapy. –> Rehabilitation
A client with a fractured tibia and fibula will require physical therapy along with consultation with social services to assist the patient with housing.
A client in the medical ward is adamant to go home regardless of what the medical team is telling him. The nurse understands that in order for all healthcare team members to be protected from liability when the client goes home, the nurse must first initiate which action?
A. Have the client sign a consent form.
B. Have the client sign an ‘Against Medical Advice’ form.
C. Procure the client’s Medicare card.
D. Assess the client’s mental and neurological status.
D. Assess the client’s mental and neurological status.
The FIRST thing to do would be to assess to see if the client is legally competent to make decisions regarding his care before signing the Against Medical Advice form.
While working in the emergency department. A patient has a cardiac arrest. The nurse caring for the patient quickly defines the necessary tasks and assigns them to each member of the team responding. This nurse demonstrated which of the following leadership styles?
A. Autocratic
B. Situational
C. Democratic
D. Laissez-faire
A. Autocratic
This nurse has demonstrated an autocratic leadership approach. She retained all authority and delegated tasks to be accomplished. This approach is useful in emergencies or crises.