Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A client is receiving mesalamine 800 mg by mouth three times a day. Which assessment should the nurse perform to assess the effectiveness of the medication?
A. Pupillary response.
Incorrect- Pupillary response is not relevant to the assessment of mesalamine's effectiveness.Pupillary response is often assessed in neurological or ophthalmic evaluations and is not a direct measure of gastrointestinal function or the response to mesalamine therapy.
B. Peripheral pulses.
Incorrect- Peripheral pulses are not directly affected by mesalamine therapy, and monitoring them would not provide insight into the medication's effectiveness. Peripheral pulses are typically assessed to evaluate circulatory status and are not specific to the evaluation of gastrointestinal conditions.
C. Bowel patterns.
Correct- Mesalamine is a medication commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It helps to reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Monitoring bowel patterns is important to assess the effectiveness of mesalamine in managing the symptoms of these conditions.
D. Oxygen saturation.
Incorrect- Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen in the blood and is used to assess respiratory function. While oxygen saturation is important for overall patient assessment, it is not directly related to mesalamine's effectiveness in treating inflammatory bowel disease.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - HESI Exit LPN Proctored Exam 1. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
A) Incorrect- Pupillary response is not relevant to the assessment of mesalamine's effectiveness.
Pupillary response is often assessed in neurological or ophthalmic evaluations and is not a direct measure of gastrointestinal function or the response to mesalamine therapy.
B) Incorrect- Peripheral pulses are not directly affected by mesalamine therapy, and monitoring them would not provide insight into the medication's effectiveness. Peripheral pulses are typically assessed to evaluate circulatory status and are not specific to the evaluation of gastrointestinal conditions.
C) Correct- Mesalamine is a medication commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It helps to reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Monitoring bowel patterns is important to assess the effectiveness of mesalamine in managing the symptoms of these conditions.
D) Incorrect- Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen in the blood and is used to assess respiratory function. While oxygen saturation is important for overall patient assessment, it is not directly related to mesalamine's effectiveness in treating inflammatory bowel disease.
Similar Questions
Find patient data about a client below.
After the nurse assesses the client, the physician writes orders. The nurse reviews the orders. Which 2 orders should the nurse complete first?
A. Provide a regular diet tray
Incorrect - Providing a regular diet tray is important for the client's nutritional needs, but it is not as urgent as assessing vital signs or administering Albuterol in response to the client's acute symptoms.
B. Measure vital signs
Correct- This action is a priority after any assessment or intervention. Vital signs provide important information about the client's overall condition, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.
C. Apply oxygen 1 L/min
Incorrect - Applying oxygen is important, but its priority depends on the client's vital signs and oxygen saturation, which should be assessed first.
D. Give Albuterol as ordered
Correct- Administering Albuterol as ordered is crucial for addressing the client's acute breathing difficulty. Albuterol is a bronchodilator that helps alleviate asthma symptoms, and timely administration is essential.
E. Perform pulmonary function test
Performing a pulmonary function test is valuable for assessing lung function, but it's not an immediate concern compared to addressing the client's breathing difficulty.
Full Explanation
A) Incorrect - Providing a regular diet tray is important for the client's nutritional needs, but it is not as urgent as assessing vital signs or administering Albuterol in response to the client's acute symptoms.
B) Correct- This action is a priority after any assessment or intervention. Vital signs provide important information about the client's overall condition, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.
C) Incorrect - Applying oxygen is important, but its priority depends on the client's vital signs and oxygen saturation, which should be assessed first.
D) Correct- Administering Albuterol as ordered is crucial for addressing the client's acute breathing difficulty. Albuterol is a bronchodilator that helps alleviate asthma symptoms, and timely administration is essential.
E) Incorrect - Performing a pulmonary function test is valuable for assessing lung function, but it's not an immediate concern compared to addressing the client's breathing difficulty.
Find patient data below.
What actions should the nurse plan for the rest of the shift? Select all that apply.
A. Monitor the oxygen saturation
Correct- Continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation ensures the client's oxygen levels remain within an acceptable range.
B. Discuss aggressive respiratory treatment options
Incorrect - Discussing aggressive respiratory treatment options is not warranted based on the provided information. The current treatment plan includes appropriate interventions.
C. Obtain a sputum culture
Incorrect - Obtaining a sputum culture is important for identifying infections, but it's not an immediate action in the context of the client's current symptoms.
D. Allow the client to take a position of comfort
Correct- Promoting comfort can help reduce anxiety and potentially improve breathing.
E. Discuss with the client potential asthma triggers
Correct- Educating the client about potential triggers supports better self-management.
F. Consider positive pressure ventilation
Incorrect - Considering positive pressure ventilation is not indicated at this stage. The client's symptoms are being managed with other interventions.
G. Wean the supplemental oxygen
Incorrect - Weaning supplemental oxygen is not mentioned in the patient data or nurses' notes as something that's currently necessary.
H. Prepare for deep tracheal suctioning
Incorrect - Preparing for deep tracheal suctioning is not warranted based on the patient data and the current treatment plan.
Full Explanation
A) Correct- Continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation ensures the client's oxygen levels remain within an acceptable range.
B) Incorrect - Discussing aggressive respiratory treatment options is not warranted based on the provided information. The current treatment plan includes appropriate interventions.
C) Incorrect - Obtaining a sputum culture is important for identifying infections, but it's not an immediate action in the context of the client's current symptoms.
D) Correct- Promoting comfort can help reduce anxiety and potentially improve breathing.
E) Correct- Educating the client about potential triggers supports better self-management.
F) Incorrect - Considering positive pressure ventilation is not indicated at this stage. The client's symptoms are being managed with other interventions.
G) Incorrect - Weaning supplemental oxygen is not mentioned in the patient data or nurses' notes as something that's currently necessary.
H) Incorrect - Preparing for deep tracheal suctioning is not warranted based on the patient data and the current treatment plan.

The nurse of a medical-surgical unit receives a report from a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse for a client who is being transferred following a right hemicolectomy. The PACU nurse reports, "The client has an intravenous (IV) infusion of 1000 mL lactated Ringer's infusing at 125 mL/hr into the left wrist with 300 mL remaining. Prescriptions include morphine sulfate 2 mg IV every 2 to 4 hours for pain, last administered 30 minutes ago; ondansetron 4 mg IV every 8 hours for nausea, last administered 15 minutes ago." Which additional information is most important for the nurse to obtain in the report?
A. History of vomiting at home for 3 days prior to surgery.
Incorrect- While the history of vomiting is important to assess, it may not be the most crucial information to gather at this point, as the client is postoperative and the focus is on immediate postoperative care.
B. Declining to take ice chips for complaints of dry mouth.
Incorrect- While assessing for fluid intake is important, the client's refusal of ice chips is not an urgent concern compared to other potential complications, such as pain management, oxygenation, and fluid balance.
C. Soft abdomen, absent bowel sounds, no bleeding on dressing.
Incorrect- These assessments are important, but the client's history of right hemicolectomy and the current infusion and medication administration require closer attention to fluid balance, pain control, and oxygenation.
D. Peripheral pulses present with full range of motion of both legs.
Correct- While all options are important to consider, the most critical information in this scenario is assessing peripheral pulses and the range of motion of both legs. A right hemicolectomy involves abdominal surgery and decreased or absent peripheral pulses along with a limited range of motion could indicate impaired circulation, thrombosis, or other post-operative complications. These findings might necessitate prompt intervention to prevent potential complications.
Full Explanation
A) Incorrect- While the history of vomiting is important to assess, it may not be the most crucial information to gather at this point, as the client is postoperative and the focus is on immediate postoperative care.
B) Incorrect- While assessing for fluid intake is important, the client's refusal of ice chips is not an urgent concern compared to other potential complications, such as pain management, oxygenation, and fluid balance.
C) Incorrect- These assessments are important, but the client's history of right hemicolectomy and the current infusion and medication administration require closer attention to fluid balance, pain control, and oxygenation.
D) Correct- While all options are important to consider, the most critical information in this scenario is assessing peripheral pulses and the range of motion of both legs. A right hemicolectomy involves abdominal surgery and decreased or absent peripheral pulses along with a limited range of motion could indicate impaired circulation, thrombosis, or other post-operative complications. These findings might necessitate prompt intervention to prevent potential complications.