Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. The nurse is preparing to change the client's surgical dressing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to demonstrate sensitivity to age-related changes?
A. Ask the client to help with the dressing change
A. Asking the client to assist with a surgical dressing change following a total hip arthroplasty may be inappropriate due to the client's postoperative physical limitations and hip precautions. While fostering independence is generally positive, it does not specifically address the physiological age-related changes of the integumentary system. The primary concern in this scenario is protecting the integrity of the client's fragile skin during adhesive removal.
B. Wait for the client to approach the nurse for assistance
B. Waiting for a client to request assistance for a scheduled postoperative dressing change is a deviation from the standard plan of care and proactive nursing management. Postoperative wound care is a scheduled clinical priority to monitor for infection and promote healing. This action does not demonstrate sensitivity to age-related physiological changes and could potentially lead to delayed detection of surgical site complications or wound dehiscence.
C. Use paper tape for securing the new dressing
C. Using paper tape is the most appropriate action because older adults possess a thinner stratum corneum and diminished cohesion between the dermis and epidermis. Traditional plastic or silk adhesives can cause epidermal stripping and skin tears upon removal due to their high tackiness. Paper tape provides sufficient securement for the surgical dressing while minimizing the risk of mechanical injury to the sensitive, translucent skin of an elderly patient.
D. Apply the dressing loosely over the incision
D. Applying a dressing loosely over a fresh surgical incision is contraindicated as it fails to provide an adequate microbial barrier and does not support wound healing. A loose dressing may shift, causing friction against the incision line or allowing contaminants to reach the surgical site. To demonstrate age-related sensitivity, the nurse must ensure the dressing is secure while using materials that are gentle on the surrounding atrophic skin.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Rationale:
A. Asking the client to assist with a surgical dressing change following a total hip arthroplasty may be inappropriate due to the client's postoperative physical limitations and hip precautions. While fostering independence is generally positive, it does not specifically address the physiological age-related changes of the integumentary system. The primary concern in this scenario is protecting the integrity of the client's fragile skin during adhesive removal.
B. Waiting for a client to request assistance for a scheduled postoperative dressing change is a deviation from the standard plan of care and proactive nursing management. Postoperative wound care is a scheduled clinical priority to monitor for infection and promote healing. This action does not demonstrate sensitivity to age-related physiological changes and could potentially lead to delayed detection of surgical site complications or wound dehiscence.
C. Using paper tape is the most appropriate action because older adults possess a thinner stratum corneum and diminished cohesion between the dermis and epidermis. Traditional plastic or silk adhesives can cause epidermal stripping and skin tears upon removal due to their high tackiness. Paper tape provides sufficient securement for the surgical dressing while minimizing the risk of mechanical injury to the sensitive, translucent skin of an elderly patient.
D. Applying a dressing loosely over a fresh surgical incision is contraindicated as it fails to provide an adequate microbial barrier and does not support wound healing. A loose dressing may shift, causing friction against the incision line or allowing contaminants to reach the surgical site. To demonstrate age-related sensitivity, the nurse must ensure the dressing is secure while using materials that are gentle on the surrounding atrophic skin.
Similar Questions
A nurse is caring for a child who has terminal cancer.
Which of the following responses by the child's siblings should the nurse expect?
A. The adolescent brother criticizes the parents' plan to have a funeral service.
Adolescents may have complex feelings about death, including anger, denial, or confusion. However, it would be less common for a typical adolescent to criticize funeral arrangements. Most adolescents, while they might struggle with the idea of death, are more likely to be concerned about how it will affect their family dynamics or express sadness or anxiety. Criticizing the funeral plan would likely be an expression of unresolved grief or emotional turmoil but not necessarily the most typical response in this situation.
B. The school-age sister views death as being a type of temporary sleep.
This response aligns with developmental stages. School-age children (around ages 5-9) often have a more concrete understanding of death but may still see it as reversible or temporary, such as a long sleep. This is a normal way children in this age group might conceptualize death before they fully understand its permanence. It's common for them to express the idea that the person who has died will wake up or return in some way, as their cognitive understanding is still developing.
C. The adolescent brother fears the terminal illness is contagious.
While younger children (especially toddlers or early school-age children) may be more likely to fear that death or illness is contagious, adolescents generally have a better understanding of illness and its transmission. By the time children are in adolescence, they typically grasp that terminal illnesses like cancer are not contagious. Therefore, this response is less likely for an adolescent sibling.
D. The school-age sister is concerned about the impact of her sibling's death on herself.
While it is true that children of all ages can be concerned about the impact of death on their own lives, school-age children are more likely to express these concerns in more self-centered ways (e.g., fear of being abandoned or sadness about the change in family dynamics). This is a possible response, but it's a bit broader than the typical developmental response of a school-age child, which tends to involve viewing death as temporary or reversible
Full Explanation
B. The school-age sister views death as being a type of temporary sleep:
This response aligns with developmental stages. School-age children (around ages 5-9) often have a more concrete understanding of death but may still see it as reversible or temporary, such as a long sleep. This is a normal way children in this age group might conceptualize death before they fully understand its permanence. It's common for them to express the idea that the person who has died will wake up or return in some way, as their cognitive understanding is still developing.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parent of a newborn about security procedures. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. "You should verify the identity of anyone who wants to remove your baby from the room."
The nurse should include the instruction to "verify the identity of anyone who wants to remove your baby from the room" in the teaching about security procedures. It is important for parents to be vigilant and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to their baby.
B. "You can leave your baby in your room while you walk in the hallway."
It may not be safe for the parent to leave their baby unattended in their room while they walk in the hallway.
C. "Your baby should have one identification band on either their right arm or right leg."
Newborns typically have two identification bands, one on their arm and one on their leg.
D. "You can leave the unit with your baby as long as you notify the nurse."
Parents should not leave the unit with their baby without proper authorization and discharge procedures.
Full Explanation
The nurse should include the instruction to "verify the identity of anyone who wants to remove your baby from the room" in the teaching about security procedures. It is important for parents to be vigilant and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to their baby.
Option b is incorrect because it may not be safe for the parent to leave their baby unattended in their room while they walk in the hallway.
Option c is incorrect because newborns typically have two identification bands, one on their arm and one on their leg.
Option d is incorrect because parents should not leave the unit with their baby without proper authorization and discharge procedures.
A nurse is reviewing the medical record for a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation, tested positive for group B streptococcus B-hemolytic, and is allergic to penicillin. The nurse should identify that which of the following medications is contraindicated for this client?
A. Ampicillin
A) Ampicillin: Ampicillin is contraindicated for this client because it belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics. Since the client is allergic to penicillin, administering ampicillin could trigger an allergic reaction, which could range from mild rash to severe anaphylaxis.
B. Erythromycin
B) Erythromycin: Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic and can be used as an alternative for clients who are allergic to penicillin. It is often prescribed for group B streptococcus infections in penicillin-allergic clients, making it a suitable option in this case.
C. Cefazolin
C) Cefazolin: Cefazolin is a cephalosporin antibiotic and is generally considered safe for clients with a penicillin allergy, except in cases of severe penicillin allergies. Cross-reactivity is low, and cefazolin can be an appropriate choice for treating group B streptococcus.
D. Clindamycin
D) Clindamycin: Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic and is often used for clients with penicillin allergies. It is effective against group B streptococcus and does not belong to the penicillin or cephalosporin classes, making it a suitable option for this client.
Full Explanation
Answer: A
Rationale:
A) Ampicillin: Ampicillin is contraindicated for this client because it belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics. Since the client is allergic to penicillin, administering ampicillin could trigger an allergic reaction, which could range from mild rash to severe anaphylaxis.
B) Erythromycin: Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic and can be used as an alternative for clients who are allergic to penicillin. It is often prescribed for group B streptococcus infections in penicillin-allergic clients, making it a suitable option in this case.
C) Cefazolin: Cefazolin is a cephalosporin antibiotic and is generally considered safe for clients with a penicillin allergy, except in cases of severe penicillin allergies. Cross-reactivity is low, and cefazolin can be an appropriate choice for treating group B streptococcus.
D) Clindamycin: Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic and is often used for clients with penicillin allergies. It is effective against group B streptococcus and does not belong to the penicillin or cephalosporin classes, making it a suitable option for this client.