Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a client who had a surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm 3 days ago. The client's vital signs are temperature 38.3°C (100.9°F), heart rate 80/min, respirations 16/min, and blood pressure 128/76 mm Hg. Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?
A. Notify the surgeon of the temperature elevation.
Notifying the surgeon of the temperature elevation is important, but it is not the nurse's priority. A temperature elevation after abdominal surgery could be a sign of infection, but the immediate action should be to assess the surgical incision for any signs of infection.
B. Encourage the client to drink more fluids.
Encouraging the client to drink more fluids is a good practice to maintain hydration and promote recovery after surgery. However, it is not the nurse's priority in this situation. The elevated temperature and potential infection take precedence over increasing fluid intake.
C. Assess the surgical incision for signs of infection.
This is the correct answer because the nurse's priority is to assess the surgical incision for signs of infection. An elevated temperature is a significant finding after surgery, and it may indicate a surgical site infection, which requires prompt assessment and intervention.
D. Monitor vital signs every 4 hr.
Monitoring vital signs every 4 hours is an essential nursing intervention after surgery, but it is not the priority when the client has an elevated temperature and a recent surgical incision. The nurse must first assess for signs of infection before proceeding with routine vital sign monitoring.
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:
Notifying the surgeon of the temperature elevation is important, but it is not the nurse's priority. A temperature elevation after abdominal surgery could be a sign of infection, but the immediate action should be to assess the surgical incision for any signs of infection.
Choice B rationale:
Encouraging the client to drink more fluids is a good practice to maintain hydration and promote recovery after surgery. However, it is not the nurse's priority in this situation. The elevated temperature and potential infection take precedence over increasing fluid intake.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct answer because the nurse's priority is to assess the surgical incision for signs of infection. An elevated temperature is a significant finding after surgery, and it may indicate a surgical site infection, which requires prompt assessment and intervention.
Choice D rationale:
Monitoring vital signs every 4 hours is an essential nursing intervention after surgery, but it is not the priority when the client has an elevated temperature and a recent surgical incision.
The nurse must first assess for signs of infection before proceeding with routine vital sign monitoring.
Similar Questions
A nurse is caring for a client who has multiple sclerosis. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Diplopia.
A) Diplopia: Diplopia, or double vision, is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS) due to demyelination of nerves in the brainstem, affecting eye movement coordination. This visual disturbance is frequently seen in MS clients and may worsen during flare-ups.
B. Masklike expression.
B) Masklike expression: A masklike expression is more commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease rather than multiple sclerosis. This characteristic facial appearance is due to muscle rigidity, which is not typically a manifestation of MS.
C. Twitching of the face.
C) Twitching of the face: Facial twitching, or fasciculations, is not typically a primary symptom of multiple sclerosis. While muscle weakness and spasticity are common in MS, twitching is more commonly seen in conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
D. Agitation.
D) Agitation: Agitation is not a primary symptom of MS. While MS can lead to cognitive changes or mood disturbances, such as depression, severe agitation is more commonly linked with other neurological or psychiatric conditions.
Full Explanation
Answer: A. Diplopia.
Rationale:
A) Diplopia: Diplopia, or double vision, is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS) due to demyelination of nerves in the brainstem, affecting eye movement coordination. This visual disturbance is frequently seen in MS clients and may worsen during flare-ups.
B) Masklike expression: A masklike expression is more commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease rather than multiple sclerosis. This characteristic facial appearance is due to muscle rigidity, which is not typically a manifestation of MS.
C) Twitching of the face: Facial twitching, or fasciculations, is not typically a primary symptom of multiple sclerosis. While muscle weakness and spasticity are common in MS, twitching is more commonly seen in conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
D) Agitation: Agitation is not a primary symptom of MS. While MS can lead to cognitive changes or mood disturbances, such as depression, severe agitation is more commonly linked with other neurological or psychiatric conditions.
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for colesevelam powder for oral suspension. The nurse should include which of the following instructions?
A. "Take the medication on an empty stomach.”.
Taking colesevelam on an empty stomach is not necessary. This medication can be taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
B. "Increase fiber in your diet.”.
Increasing fiber in the diet is generally beneficial for bowel health, but it is not specific to the use of colesevelam powder for oral suspension.
C. "Discard the oral suspension if it is cloudy after mixing.”.
This is the correct answer because if the oral suspension of colesevelam is cloudy after mixing, it indicates that the medication may have degraded or is not suitable for consumption. Discarding the cloudy suspension ensures that the client receives the appropriate dose and effectiveness of the medication.
D. "Avoid drinking grapefruit juice.".
Avoiding grapefruit juice is important for some medications, but it is not relevant to colesevelam. Grapefruit juice can interfere with the metabolism of certain drugs, but it does not have a significant effect on colesevelam.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Taking colesevelam on an empty stomach is not necessary. This medication can be taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
Choice B rationale:
Increasing fiber in the diet is generally beneficial for bowel health, but it is not specific to the use of colesevelam powder for oral suspension.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct answer because if the oral suspension of colesevelam is cloudy after mixing, it indicates that the medication may have degraded or is not suitable for consumption. Discarding the cloudy suspension ensures that the client receives the appropriate dose and effectiveness of the medication.
Choice D rationale:
Avoiding grapefruit juice is important for some medications, but it is not relevant to colesevelam. Grapefruit juice can interfere with the metabolism of certain drugs, but it does not have a significant effect on colesevelam.
A nurse is reviewing the prescriptions for a client who has a new diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse clarify with the provider?
A. Place the client on droplet precautions.
Placing the client on droplet precautions is appropriate for bacterial meningitis, as it is spread through respiratory droplets. This measure helps prevent the spread of infection to others.
B. Perform a cranial nerve assessment on the client every 2 hr.
The nurse should clarify the prescription to perform a cranial nerve assessment every 2 hours. While cranial nerve assessment is crucial in monitoring neurological status, performing it every 2 hours is excessive and not supported by evidence-based practice. Frequent assessments can be uncomfortable for the client and may not provide additional meaningful information within such a short interval.
C. Assist the client out of bed three times per day.
Assisting the client out of bed three times per day is essential for promoting mobility and preventing complications such as pressure ulcers and muscle weakness. This prescription is appropriate and does not require clarification.
D. Assess the client's weight daily.
Assessing the client's weight daily is essential in monitoring fluid balance and nutritional status. There is no need to clarify this prescription, as it is a standard practice in caring for clients with bacterial meningitis.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Placing the client on droplet precautions is appropriate for bacterial meningitis, as it is spread through respiratory droplets. This measure helps prevent the spread of infection to others.
Choice B rationale:
The nurse should clarify the prescription to perform a cranial nerve assessment every 2 hours. While cranial nerve assessment is crucial in monitoring neurological status, performing it every 2 hours is excessive and not supported by evidence-based practice. Frequent assessments can be uncomfortable for the client and may not provide additional meaningful information within such a short interval.
Choice C rationale:
Assisting the client out of bed three times per day is essential for promoting mobility and preventing complications such as pressure ulcers and muscle weakness. This prescription is appropriate and does not require clarification.
Choice D rationale:
Assessing the client's weight daily is essential in monitoring fluid balance and nutritional status. There is no need to clarify this prescription, as it is a standard practice in caring for clients with bacterial meningitis.