Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse in an emergency department is performing triage on a group of clients.
Which of the following clients should the nurse see first?
A. A client who has heart failure and peripheral edema.
B. A client who has cirrhosis of the liver and bruising on their arms.
C. A client who reports urinary burning and a temperature of 39.2° C (102.5° F).
D. A client who has a new onset of atrial fibrillation and a heart rate of 152/min.
Atrial fibrillation with a rapid heart rate can lead to decreased cardiac output and compromised blood flow, which can have serious consequences, including stroke and heart failure. Therefore, this client requires immediate attention to assess and manage the cardiac rhythm. While the other clients also have significant health concerns, they are not as acutely life-threatening as a new onset of atrial fibrillation with a high heart rate. Prioritizing care based on the urgency and severity of the condition is crucial in the emergency department setting.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - ATI custom fundamentals final proctored exam fall 2023. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Atrial fibrillation with a rapid heart rate can lead to decreased cardiac output and compromised blood flow, which can have serious consequences, including stroke and heart failure. Therefore, this client requires immediate attention to assess and manage the cardiac rhythm.
While the other clients also have significant health concerns, they are not as acutely life-threatening as a new onset of atrial fibrillation with a high heart rate. Prioritizing care based on the urgency and severity of the condition is crucial in the emergency department setting.
Similar Questions
A nurse is conducting an in-service for hospice nurses about interventions to reduce the risk for compassion fatigue.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?
A. Work through lunch breaks.
B. Volunteer at a health clinic on days off work.
C. Perform daily exercise.
D. Request to work additional shifts.
Full Explanation
A community health nurse is caring for a client who has noticed that their drinking water isn't clear and reports they haven't been feeling well.
The nurse should identify the client is at risk for which of the following conditions?
A. Stroke.
B. Asthma.
C. Waterborne disease.
D. Clostridium difficile.
Full Explanation
A nurse is teaching a class about Piaget's stages of cognitive development.
The nurse should instruct that abstract thinking develops during which of the following stages?
A. Formal operational.
Abstract thinking develops during the formal operational stage of Piaget's cognitive development theory. This stage typically occurs in adolescence and beyond. During this stage, individuals can think abstractly, solve complex problems, and reason about hypothetical situations. They can also engage in deductive reasoning, which allows them to think logically and systematically.
B. Concrete operational.
The concrete operational stage in Piaget's theory, not the formal operational stage, is characterized by the development of logical thinking and operational thought. It typically occurs in children aged 7 to 11 and is marked by the ability to think logically about concrete events and objects.
C. Sensorimotor.
The sensorimotor stage is the earliest stage in Piaget's theory, occurring in infants from birth to about 2 years old. This stage is characterized by sensory and motor exploration of the environment, and abstract thinking has not yet developed at this stage.
D. Preoperational.
The preoperational stage in Piaget's theory, which typically occurs in children aged 2 to 7, is marked by the development of symbolic thought and language. However, abstract thinking is not a characteristic of this stage.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Abstract thinking develops during the formal operational stage of Piaget's cognitive development theory. This stage typically occurs in adolescence and beyond. During this stage, individuals can think abstractly, solve complex problems, and reason about hypothetical situations. They can also engage in deductive reasoning, which allows them to think logically and systematically.
Choice B rationale:
The concrete operational stage in Piaget's theory, not the formal operational stage, is characterized by the development of logical thinking and operational thought. It typically occurs in children aged 7 to 11 and is marked by the ability to think logically about concrete events and objects.
Choice C rationale:
The sensorimotor stage is the earliest stage in Piaget's theory, occurring in infants from birth to about 2 years old. This stage is characterized by sensory and motor exploration of the environment, and abstract thinking has not yet developed at this stage.
Choice D rationale:
The preoperational stage in Piaget's theory, which typically occurs in children aged 2 to 7, is marked by the development of symbolic thought and language. However, abstract thinking is not a characteristic of this stage.