Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the adult children of a client who is receiving palliative care.
Which of the following statements by one of the adult children indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. “We won’t allow her spiritual advisor to visit during this time.”.
Choice A is wrong because it contradicts the goal of palliative care to address the spiritual needs of the patients and their families. Spiritual advisors can help patients cope with their illness and find meaning and purpose in their situation.
B. “We will receive emotional support during our mother’s illness.”.
The correct answer is choice B. Palliative care is a type of care that improves the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.
C. “We won’t discuss the illness in the presence of our mother.”.
Choice C is wrong because it denies the patient the opportunity to express their feelings and concerns about their illness. Palliative care involves open and honest communication between the patients, their families and the health care team. Discussing the illness can help patients make informed decisions about their care and prepare for the end of life.
D. “We will provide resuscitation to our mother if necessary.”.
Choice D is wrong because it goes against the principle of palliative care to respect the patient’s wishes and preferences regarding their treatment. Resuscitation is a procedure that attempts to revive someone from apparent death or unconsciousness. Some patients may not want resuscitation if they have a terminal illness or a poor quality of life. They may have an advance directive or a living will that states their preferences for end-of-life care.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - ATI PN Fundamentals 2020 with NGN Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
The correct answer is choice B. Palliative care is a type of care that improves the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.
It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual.
Palliative care also provides emotional support to the patients and their families during the illness.
Therefore, choice B indicates an understanding of the teaching.
Choice A is wrong because it contradicts the goal of palliative care to address the spiritual needs of the patients and their families.
Spiritual advisors can help patients cope with their illness and find meaning and purpose in their situation.
Choice C is wrong because it denies the patient the opportunity to express their feelings and concerns about their illness.
Palliative care involves open and honest communication between the patients, their families and the health care team.
Discussing the illness can help patients make informed decisions about their care and prepare for the end of life.
Choice D is wrong because it goes against the principle of palliative care to respect the patient’s wishes and preferences regarding their treatment.
Resuscitation is a procedure that attempts to revive someone from apparent death or unconsciousness.
Some patients may not want resuscitation if they have a terminal illness or a poor quality of life.
They may have an advance directive or a living will that states their preferences for end-of-life care.
Similar Questions
A nurse is caring for a client who has hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to promote communication?
A. Use short phrases.
Choice A is wrong because using short phrases alone is not enough to promote communication with a client who has hearing loss. The nurse should also use other strategies such as decreasing background noise and facing the client when speaking.
B. Decrease background noise.
This action will help the client hear the nurse better by reducing competing sounds.
C. Speak in a loud voice.
Choice C is wrong because speaking in a loud voice can distort the sound and make it harder for the client to understand. The nurse should speak clearly, slowly, and distinctly, but not shout.
D. Talk at a rapid rate.
Choice D is wrong because talking at a rapid rate can make it difficult for the client to follow the conversation. The nurse should speak at a normal pace and pause between sentences.
Full Explanation
This action will help the client hear the nurse better by reducing competing sounds.
The nurse should also face the client when speaking, use short phrases, and communicate using paper and pen if needed.
Choice A is wrong because using short phrases alone is not enough to promote communication with a client who has hearing loss.
The nurse should also use other strategies such as decreasing background noise and facing the client when speaking.
Choice C is wrong because speaking in a loud voice can distort the sound and make it harder for the client to understand.
The nurse should speak clearly, slowly, and distinctly, but not shout.
Choice D is wrong because talking at a rapid rate can make it difficult for the client to follow the conversation.
The nurse should speak at a normal pace and pause between sentences.
A nurse is monitoring a client’s oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeter. The client’s oxygen saturation is 88% on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Reposition the sensor probe.
The client’s oxygen saturation is 88% on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula, which is below the normal range of 95% to 100%.
B. Apply a cooling blanket to the client.
The client’s oxygen saturation is 88% on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula, which is below the normal range of 95% to 100%.
C. Place the client in a side-lying position.
The client’s oxygen saturation is 88% on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula, which is below the normal range of 95% to 100%.
D. Ambulate the client.
The client’s oxygen saturation is 88% on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula, which is below the normal range of 95% to 100%.
Full Explanation
The client’s oxygen saturation is 88% on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula, which is below the normal range of 95% to 100%.
This could indicate that the client is not receiving enough oxygen or that the pulse oximeter is not working properly.
The nurse should first check the sensor probe for any problems, such as poor attachment, nail polish, cold extremities, or motion artifact.
Repositioning the sensor probe may improve the accuracy of the reading and help the nurse determine the next course of action.
Choice B. Apply a cooling blanket to the client is wrong because a cooling blanket is used to lower the body temperature of a client with fever or hyperthermia.
It has no effect on the oxygen saturation level.
Choice C. Place the client in a side-lying position is wrong because a side-lying position may not improve the oxygenation of the client.
A more appropriate position would be a high Fowler’s position, which allows for maximum lung expansion and gas exchange.
Choice D. Ambulate the client is wrong because ambulating the client may worsen the oxygen saturation level if the client has a respiratory condition that causes hypoxemia.
The nurse should assess the client’s respiratory status and oxygen therapy before ambulating the client.
A nurse is assisting with scoliosis screenings for students at a public school.
Which of the following findings should the nurse recognize as an indication of scoliosis?
A. Expansion of the upper intercostal spaces.
Choice A is wrong because expansion of the upper intercostal spaces is not a sign of scoliosis, but rather a sign of hyperinflation of the lungs due to conditions such as asthma or emphysema.
B. Increased convex curve of the cervical spine.
Choice B is wrong because increased convex curve of the cervical spine is not a sign of scoliosis, but rather a sign of kyphosis, which is an excessive outward curvature of the upper spine.
C. Increased concave curve of the thoracic spine.
Choice C is wrong because increased concave curve of the thoracic spine is not a sign of scoliosis, but rather a sign of lordosis, which is an excessive inward curvature of the lower spine.
D. Unequal height of the shoulders.
The correct answer is choice D. Unequal height of the shoulders.
Full Explanation
The correct answer is choice D. Unequal height of the shoulders.
This is because scoliosis is a condition characterized by sideways curvature of the spine that can cause asymmetry of the shoulders, shoulder blades, and hips.
A scoliosis screening is a test that checks for this asymmetry by having the child bend forward from the waist and looking for any prominence of the rib cage or the spine.
Choice A is wrong because expansion of the upper intercostal spaces is not a sign of scoliosis, but rather a sign of hyperinflation of the lungs due to conditions such as asthma or emphysema.
Choice B is wrong because increased convex curve of the cervical spine is not a sign of scoliosis, but rather a sign of kyphosis, which is an excessive outward curvature of the upper spine.
Choice C is wrong because increased concave curve of the thoracic spine is not a sign of scoliosis, but rather a sign of lordosis, which is an excessive inward curvature of the lower spine.