Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 36 weeks of gestation and reports a headache.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Click on the "Exhibit" button for additional information about the client. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.)
Graphic Results Temperature 37° C (98.6° F) Heart rate 88/min Respiratory rate 18/min
Blood pressure 144/94 mm Hg
Upper abdominal pain rating 4/10 on a scale from 0 to 10
A. Perform a contraction stress test.
A contraction stress test is not appropriate in this context and would not address the potential risks associated with the client's symptoms.
B. Prepare for delivery of the fetus.
The elevated blood pressure and upper abdominal pain suggest potential preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can lead to significant maternal and fetal risks. Delivery may be indicated to prevent further complications.
C. Increase the client's dietary salt intake to 2 g/day.
Increasing dietary salt intake is not recommended for managing elevated blood pressure in pregnancy.
D. Administer ferrous sulfate to the client.
Administering ferrous sulfate is unrelated to the client's symptoms and concerns.
E. Upper abdominal pain rating 4/10 on a scale from 0 to 10
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - RN ati Concept-based assessment level proctored exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
A contraction stress test is not appropriate in this context and would not address the potential risks associated with the client's symptoms.
Choice B rationale:
The elevated blood pressure and upper abdominal pain suggest potential preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can lead to significant maternal and fetal risks. Delivery may be indicated to prevent further complications.
Choice C rationale:
Increasing dietary salt intake is not recommended for managing elevated blood pressure in pregnancy.
Choice D rationale:
Administering ferrous sulfate is unrelated to the client's symptoms and concerns.
Similar Questions
A nurse is preparing to administer 800 mg of phenytoin via IV infusion to a client who is experiencing status epilepticus. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when administering the medication?
A. Administer the phenytoin infusion over 5 min.
Phenytoin should be administered slowly to avoid adverse effects. Infusing 800 mg over 5 minutes is too rapid and can lead to cardiovascular complications.
B. Flush with 0.9% sodium chloride after administration.
Rationale: After administering phenytoin via IV, it's important to flush the IV line with normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) to ensure the medication is fully delivered to the client and to prevent any residual medication from precipitating in the IV line.
C. Flush with 100 units/mL of heparin after administration.
Flushing with heparin is not standard practice for administering phenytoin.
D. Administer the phenytoin in 100 mL of D5W
Phenytoin should be administered in normal saline, not in D5W (dextrose 5% in water), to avoid precipitation.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Phenytoin should be administered slowly to avoid adverse effects. Infusing 800 mg over 5 minutes is too rapid and can lead to cardiovascular complications.
Choice B rationale:
Rationale: After administering phenytoin via IV, it's important to flush the IV line with normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) to ensure the medication is fully delivered to the client and to prevent any residual medication from precipitating in the IV line.
Choice C rationale:
Flushing with heparin is not standard practice for administering phenytoin.
Choice D rationale:
Phenytoin should be administered in normal saline, not in D5W (dextrose 5% in water), to avoid precipitation.
A nurse is teaching a client who has gambling disorder about the use of cognitive reframing. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the client?
A. "Perform deep-breathing exercises when you feel the urge to gamble."
Deep breathing exercises can be a relaxation technique, but they don't directly address cognitive reframing.
B. "Use a journal to write down thoughts related to gambling."
Using a journal to write down thoughts related to gambling can be useful for self-reflection, but it's not specifically a cognitive reframing technique.
C. "Reward yourself for not going to the casino for 1 week."
Rewarding oneself for not going to the casino can be part of a behavioral approach to managing gambling disorder, but it's not a cognitive reframing technique.
D. "Replace thoughts of gambling with positive self-statements."
Cognitive reframing involves identifying and replacing negative or distorted thoughts with positive and more rational thoughts. In the context of gambling disorder, this technique can help the client challenge and change the cognitive patterns that contribute to their gambling behavior.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Deep breathing exercises can be a relaxation technique, but they don't directly address cognitive reframing.
Choice B rationale:
Using a journal to write down thoughts related to gambling can be useful for self-reflection, but it's not specifically a cognitive reframing technique.
Choice C rationale:
Rewarding oneself for not going to the casino can be part of a behavioral approach to managing gambling disorder, but it's not a cognitive reframing technique.
Choice D rationale:
Cognitive reframing involves identifying and replacing negative or distorted thoughts with positive and more rational thoughts. In the context of gambling disorder, this technique can help the client challenge and change the cognitive patterns that contribute to their gambling behavior.
A nurse is providing teaching about home care to the family of a client who has dementia. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
A. "Disguise exit doors in his home with posters."
People with dementia may become disoriented and attempt to leave their homes. Disguising exit doors with posters or camouflage can help prevent wandering and promote safety.
B. "Weigh the client once per month."
Weighing the client once per month is not directly related to dementia care and safety.
C. "Keep the lights in his room off at night."
Keeping lights on at night can help prevent falls and confusion in people with dementia.
D. "Offer him several food choices prior to meal times."
Offering several food choices prior to meal times can be overwhelming for a person with dementia. A simpler approach may be more appropriate.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
People with dementia may become disoriented and attempt to leave their homes. Disguising exit doors with posters or camouflage can help prevent wandering and promote safety.
Choice B rationale:
Weighing the client once per month is not directly related to dementia care and safety.
Choice C rationale:
Keeping lights on at night can help prevent falls and confusion in people with dementia.
Choice D rationale:
Offering several food choices prior to meal times can be overwhelming for a person with dementia. A simpler approach may be more appropriate.