Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A patient diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease is being educated about the benefits of walking for exercise. What information should the nurse emphasize?
A. Elevate the feet for 30 minutes after walking.
Elevating the feet for 30 minutes after walking is not specifically beneficial for a patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). While elevation can help with conditions like edema, it does not directly address the issues associated with PAD12.
B. Avoid exercise that increases the heart rate.
Avoiding exercise that increases the heart rate is not the best advice for a patient with PAD. Exercise, including activities that increase heart rate, can actually be beneficial. It can help improve circulation, which is often compromised in PAD12.
C. Continue walking to the point of pain.
Continuing to walk to the point of pain is beneficial for patients with PAD. Walking, especially at a high intensity, can help improve symptoms of PAD. It can increase blood flow and oxygen supply to the muscles, which can help manage PAD symptoms.
D. Do not walk if a leg ulcer develops.
While it’s important to care for any ulcers that develop and seek medical attention, stopping walking altogether if a leg ulcer develops is not necessary. Walking is a low-impact activity that can help improve mobility over time.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - Ati Med Surg Nurs 200 Proctored Exam Roxoborouh Memorial College. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale
Elevating the feet for 30 minutes after walking is not specifically beneficial for a patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). While elevation can help with conditions like edema, it does not directly address the issues associated with PAD12.
Choice B rationale
Avoiding exercise that increases the heart rate is not the best advice for a patient with PAD. Exercise, including activities that increase heart rate, can actually be beneficial. It can help improve circulation, which is often compromised in PAD12.
Choice C rationale
Continuing to walk to the point of pain is beneficial for patients with PAD. Walking, especially at a high intensity, can help improve symptoms of PAD. It can increase blood flow and oxygen supply to the muscles, which can help manage PAD symptoms.
Choice D rationale
While it’s important to care for any ulcers that develop and seek medical attention, stopping walking altogether if a leg ulcer develops is not necessary. Walking is a low-impact activity that can help improve mobility over time.
Similar Questions
The nurse is explaining to a patient why oral antihyperglycemic agents are not effective in Type 1 diabetes. What is the reason?
A. People with Type 1 diabetes have little or none of their own insulin that can be released.
People with Type 1 diabetes have little or no insulin that can be released. This is because their pancreatic β-cells, which produce insulin, are destroyed by an autoimmune process. Without insulin, glucose cannot be taken up into cells to be used for energy. Oral antihyperglycemic agents work by increasing the release of insulin or increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, so they are not effective in Type 1 diabetes where there is an absolute insulin deficiency.
B. People with Type 1 diabetes would need so much of an oral antihyperglycemic agent that it would cost too much.
The cost of oral antihyperglycemic agents is not the primary reason they are not used in Type 1 diabetes. The main issue is the lack of insulin production, which these medications cannot address.
C. People with Type 1 diabetes have resistance to their endogenous insulin.
People with Type 1 diabetes do not typically have resistance to their endogenous insulin. Insulin resistance is more commonly associated with Type 2 diabetes.
D. People with Type 1 diabetes would have more episodes of hypoglycemia with oral antihyperglycemic agents.
While hypoglycemia can occur with the use of some antihyperglycemic agents, this is not the primary reason these medications are not used in Type 1 diabetes. The main issue is the absolute deficiency of insulin.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale
People with Type 1 diabetes have little or no insulin that can be released. This is because their pancreatic β-cells, which produce insulin, are destroyed by an autoimmune process. Without insulin, glucose cannot be taken up into cells to be used for energy. Oral antihyperglycemic agents work by increasing the release of insulin or increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, so they are not effective in Type 1 diabetes where there is an absolute insulin deficiency.
Choice B rationale
The cost of oral antihyperglycemic agents is not the primary reason they are not used in Type 1 diabetes. The main issue is the lack of insulin production, which these medications cannot address.
Choice C rationale
People with Type 1 diabetes do not typically have resistance to their endogenous insulin. Insulin resistance is more commonly associated with Type 2 diabetes.
Choice D rationale
While hypoglycemia can occur with the use of some antihyperglycemic agents, this is not the primary reason these medications are not used in Type 1 diabetes. The main issue is the absolute deficiency of insulin.
A patient has returned to the unit following a peripheral artery angiogram with a stent insertion.
Four hours post-procedure, the nurse can no longer palpate the dorsalis pedis pulse and the foot is cold and dusky. What should be the nurse’s immediate action?
A. Reposition the limb and reassess.
While repositioning the limb and reassessing might be a part of the overall evaluation, it should not be the immediate action. The symptoms described are indicative of a serious issue that requires immediate medical attention.
B. Apply a warm blanket.
Applying a warm blanket will not address the underlying issue. The symptoms described suggest a problem with circulation that needs immediate medical attention.
C. Notify the healthcare provider.
Notifying the healthcare provider is the correct immediate action. The symptoms described suggest that the patient may be experiencing a complication such as occlusion of the stent. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention.
D. Elevate the extremity on a pillow.
Elevating the extremity on a pillow is not the immediate action to take. While elevation can help with conditions like edema, it does not address the serious symptoms the patient is experiencing.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale
While repositioning the limb and reassessing might be a part of the overall evaluation, it should not be the immediate action. The symptoms described are indicative of a serious issue that requires immediate medical attention.
Choice B rationale
Applying a warm blanket will not address the underlying issue. The symptoms described suggest a problem with circulation that needs immediate medical attention.
Choice C rationale
Notifying the healthcare provider is the correct immediate action. The symptoms described suggest that the patient may be experiencing a complication such as occlusion of the stent. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention.
Choice D rationale
Elevating the extremity on a pillow is not the immediate action to take. While elevation can help with conditions like edema, it does not address the serious symptoms the patient is experiencing.
A patient is recovering from an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis and reports feeling “anxious, shaky, and sweaty.”. What should be the nurse’s initial action?
A. Obtain a full set of vital signs.
While obtaining a full set of vital signs is an important part of assessing a patient’s condition, it should not be the initial action in this case. The symptoms described by the patient suggest hypoglycemia, which requires immediate confirmation and treatment.
B. Administer 1 mg glucagon subcutaneously.
Administering 1 mg glucagon subcutaneously is not the initial action. Glucagon is used to treat severe hypoglycemia when the patient is unable to take glucose orally. However, the patient’s blood glucose level should be checked first.
C. Administer 25 mL of 50% dextrose.
Administering 25 mL of 50% dextrose is not the initial action. This treatment is used for severe hypoglycemia, but the patient’s blood glucose level should be checked first to confirm hypoglycemia.
D. Obtain a blood glucose reading.
Obtaining a blood glucose reading is the correct initial action. The symptoms described by the patient suggest hypoglycemia. Checking the blood glucose level will confirm whether the patient is hypoglycemic and needs treatment.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale
While obtaining a full set of vital signs is an important part of assessing a patient’s condition, it should not be the initial action in this case. The symptoms described by the patient suggest hypoglycemia, which requires immediate confirmation and treatment.
Choice B rationale
Administering 1 mg glucagon subcutaneously is not the initial action. Glucagon is used to treat severe hypoglycemia when the patient is unable to take glucose orally. However, the patient’s blood glucose level should be checked first.
Choice C rationale
Administering 25 mL of 50% dextrose is not the initial action. This treatment is used for severe hypoglycemia, but the patient’s blood glucose level should be checked first to confirm hypoglycemia.
Choice D rationale
Obtaining a blood glucose reading is the correct initial action. The symptoms described by the patient suggest hypoglycemia. Checking the blood glucose level will confirm whether the patient is hypoglycemic and needs treatment.