Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is in a sickle cell crisis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?(Select all that apply.).
A. Administer oxygen.
The nurse should administer oxygen to the client experiencing a sickle cell crisis. Sickle cell crisis can cause vaso-occlusion, leading to tissue hypoxia and pain. Administering oxygen helps to improve tissue oxygenation and relieve symptoms.
B. Administer opioids.
Administering opioids is appropriate for managing the severe pain associated with a sickle cell crisis. Opioids are effective analgesics that can help alleviate the acute pain experienced by the client.
C. Administer whole blood.
Administering whole blood is not typically indicated for a sickle cell crisis. Whole blood transfusion is reserved for specific indications, such as severe anemia or acute blood loss, but it is not a standard treatment for sickle cell crisis pain.
D. Elevate the head of the bed to 30°.
Elevating the head of the bed to 30° can improve oxygenation and reduce the workload on the respiratory system, which is beneficial for clients experiencing a sickle cell crisis. It helps to optimize lung expansion and alleviate hypoxia.
E. Keep the client NPO.
Keeping the client NPO (nothing by mouth) is not necessary in a sickle cell crisis. There is no indication that the client cannot tolerate oral intake, so allowing them to eat and drink as usual is appropriate.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - ATI RN VATI Adult Medical Surgical S 2019 Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The nurse should administer oxygen to the client experiencing a sickle cell crisis. Sickle cell crisis can cause vaso-occlusion, leading to tissue hypoxia and pain. Administering oxygen helps to improve tissue oxygenation and relieve symptoms.
Choice B rationale:
Administering opioids is appropriate for managing the severe pain associated with a sickle cell crisis. Opioids are effective analgesics that can help alleviate the acute pain experienced by the client.
Choice C rationale:
Administering whole blood is not typically indicated for a sickle cell crisis. Whole blood transfusion is reserved for specific indications, such as severe anemia or acute blood loss, but it is not a standard treatment for sickle cell crisis pain.
Choice D rationale:
Elevating the head of the bed to 30° can improve oxygenation and reduce the workload on the respiratory system, which is beneficial for clients experiencing a sickle cell crisis. It helps to optimize lung expansion and alleviate hypoxia.
Choice E rationale:
Keeping the client NPO (nothing by mouth) is not necessary in a sickle cell crisis. There is no indication that the client cannot tolerate oral intake, so allowing them to eat and drink as usual is appropriate.
Similar Questions
A nurse is caring for a client who has a fractured hip and was placed in skeletal traction 2 hours ago. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Provide pin care when the client is 4 hours postoperative.
Providing pin care when the client is 4 hours postoperative is not appropriate. The client has just undergone skeletal traction placement, and pin care is usually initiated after 24 hours to allow for initial wound healing.
B. Remove the weights from the traction while repositioning the client in bed.
Removing the weights from the traction while repositioning the client in bed is unsafe and not recommended. The weights should remain in place to provide continuous traction and alignment for the fractured hip.
C. Assess the client's circulation every 4 hours.
Assessing the client's circulation every 4 hours is essential to monitor for any signs of impaired circulation, such as swelling, pallor, or decreased pulses. Early detection of circulatory compromise is critical to prevent complications like compartment syndrome.
D. Request the client to perform ankle exercises on the affected extremity.
Requesting the client to perform ankle exercises on the affected extremity is not appropriate after skeletal traction placement. Ankle exercises could disrupt traction and hinder the healing process of the fractured hip.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Providing pin care when the client is 4 hours postoperative is not appropriate. The client has just undergone skeletal traction placement, and pin care is usually initiated after 24 hours to allow for initial wound healing.
Choice B rationale:
Removing the weights from the traction while repositioning the client in bed is unsafe and not recommended. The weights should remain in place to provide continuous traction and alignment for the fractured hip.
Choice C rationale:
Assessing the client's circulation every 4 hours is essential to monitor for any signs of impaired circulation, such as swelling, pallor, or decreased pulses. Early detection of circulatory compromise is critical to prevent complications like compartment syndrome.
Choice D rationale:
Requesting the client to perform ankle exercises on the affected extremity is not appropriate after skeletal traction placement. Ankle exercises could disrupt traction and hinder the healing process of the fractured hip.
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who is postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following equipment should the nurse ensure that the client has available at home prior to discharge?
A. Continuous passive motion device.
Providing a continuous passive motion (CPM) device is not necessary for a client following a total hip arthroplasty. CPM devices are more commonly used after knee arthroplasty to improve joint mobility.
B. Elevated toilet seat.
Ensuring the client has an elevated toilet seat at home is important following a total hip arthroplasty. The elevated seat reduces the amount of hip flexion required during toileting, which helps prevent hip dislocation and strain on the surgical site.
C. Trapeze bar.
Providing a trapeze bar is not essential for a client following a total hip arthroplasty. Trapeze bars are typically used to assist with repositioning in bed for clients with limited mobility, but they are not specific to hip arthroplasty recovery.
D. Compression garment.
Providing a compression garment is not necessary after total hip arthroplasty. Compression garments are often used for conditions like venous insufficiency or to manage swelling, but they are not routinely used for hip arthroplasty recovery.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Providing a continuous passive motion (CPM) device is not necessary for a client following a total hip arthroplasty. CPM devices are more commonly used after knee arthroplasty to improve joint mobility.
Choice B rationale:
Ensuring the client has an elevated toilet seat at home is important following a total hip arthroplasty. The elevated seat reduces the amount of hip flexion required during toileting, which helps prevent hip dislocation and strain on the surgical site.
Choice C rationale:
Providing a trapeze bar is not essential for a client following a total hip arthroplasty. Trapeze bars are typically used to assist with repositioning in bed for clients with limited mobility, but they are not specific to hip arthroplasty recovery.
Choice D rationale:
Providing a compression garment is not necessary after total hip arthroplasty. Compression garments are often used for conditions like venous insufficiency or to manage swelling, but they are not routinely used for hip arthroplasty recovery.
A nurse is providing teaching about disease management to a client who has multiple sclerosis. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "Schedule all physical activities for the morning hours.".
The nurse should not advise the client with multiple sclerosis to schedule all physical activities for the morning hours. While some individuals with multiple sclerosis may experience increased fatigue later in the day, the best approach is to encourage the client to schedule activities at times when they feel the most energetic and to balance physical activity with rest throughout the day.
B. "When taking fingolimod, you should monitor your blood pressure.".
Monitoring blood pressure is essential while taking fingolimod, a medication used to treat multiple sclerosis, as it can cause a transient decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. Therefore, the nurse should include this statement in the teaching to ensure the client's safety and early detection of any issues.
C. "Avoid rigorous activities that increase body temperature.".
This is the correct statement to include in the teaching. Clients with multiple sclerosis should avoid rigorous activities that increase body temperature, as this can worsen their symptoms due to the sensitivity of demyelinated nerves to heat. Activities such as hot baths or engaging in strenuous exercise in hot weather should be avoided.
D. "Corticosteroids should be taken daily for the rest of your life.".
Corticosteroids are not typically used as a long-term treatment for multiple sclerosis. Instead, they are used for short courses during exacerbations to reduce inflammation and manage acute symptoms. Long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to significant adverse effects, so the nurse should not include this statement in the teaching.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The nurse should not advise the client with multiple sclerosis to schedule all physical activities for the morning hours. While some individuals with multiple sclerosis may experience increased fatigue later in the day, the best approach is to encourage the client to schedule activities at times when they feel the most energetic and to balance physical activity with rest throughout the day.
Choice B rationale:
Monitoring blood pressure is essential while taking fingolimod, a medication used to treat multiple sclerosis, as it can cause a transient decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.
Therefore, the nurse should include this statement in the teaching to ensure the client's safety and early detection of any issues.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct statement to include in the teaching. Clients with multiple sclerosis should avoid rigorous activities that increase body temperature, as this can worsen their symptoms due to the sensitivity of demyelinated nerves to heat. Activities such as hot baths or engaging in strenuous exercise in hot weather should be avoided.
Choice D rationale:
Corticosteroids are not typically used as a long-term treatment for multiple sclerosis. Instead, they are used for short courses during exacerbations to reduce inflammation and manage acute symptoms. Long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to significant adverse effects, so the nurse should not include this statement in the teaching.