Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A patient has recently had a cast applied to their left lower extremity.
Which of the following is included in the nursing care of this fresh cast?
A. Handling the cast with the palms of the hands.
Handling the cast with the palms of the hands is recommended, especially when the cast is still wet and not fully hardened. This helps to avoid indentations and pressure points that could lead to discomfort or skin complications.
B. Drying the cast with a hair dryer.
Drying the cast with a hair dryer is not typically recommended. Excessive heat can cause the cast material to weaken and can also burn the skin.
C. Keeping the left leg in a dependent position.
Keeping the casted leg in a dependent position is not recommended. This can lead to increased swelling and discomfort.
D. Covering the patient’s legs with a blanket.
Covering the patient’s legs with a blanket is not specifically related to the care of a fresh cast. While it may provide comfort, it does not have a direct impact on the care or outcome of the cast.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - Ati Lpn Med Surg Proctored Exam 1. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale
Handling the cast with the palms of the hands is recommended, especially when the cast is still wet and not fully hardened. This helps to avoid indentations and pressure points that could lead to discomfort or skin complications.
Choice B rationale
Drying the cast with a hair dryer is not typically recommended. Excessive heat can cause the cast material to weaken and can also burn the skin.
Choice C rationale
Keeping the casted leg in a dependent position is not recommended. This can lead to increased swelling and discomfort.
Choice D rationale
Covering the patient’s legs with a blanket is not specifically related to the care of a fresh cast. While it may provide comfort, it does not have a direct impact on the care or outcome of the cast.
Similar Questions
A patient with aplastic anemia is scheduled to receive an injection of erythropoietin (Epogen). The patient inquires about the purpose of the injection.
How should the nurse respond?
A. “It will increase your energy while your body is recovering from the anemia.”.
While erythropoietin (Epogen) can help improve symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue, it does not directly increase energy levels.
B. “It will stimulate your body to produce more of its own red blood cells.”.
Erythropoietin (Epogen) stimulates the body to produce more of its own red blood cells. This is its primary function and the reason it is used in the treatment of anemia.
C. “It works like a blood transfusion to give you extra red blood cells.”.
Erythropoietin (Epogen) does not work like a blood transfusion. While both can increase the number of red blood cells, erythropoietin stimulates the body to produce more of its own red blood cells, while a blood transfusion involves adding red blood cells from a donor.
D. “It will inhibit the protein that is attacking your blood cells.”. .
Erythropoietin (Epogen) does not inhibit proteins that attack blood cells. It works by stimulating the production of more red blood cells.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale
While erythropoietin (Epogen) can help improve symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue, it does not directly increase energy levels.
Choice B rationale
Erythropoietin (Epogen) stimulates the body to produce more of its own red blood cells. This is its primary function and the reason it is used in the treatment of anemia.
Choice C rationale
Erythropoietin (Epogen) does not work like a blood transfusion. While both can increase the number of red blood cells, erythropoietin stimulates the body to produce more of its own red blood cells, while a blood transfusion involves adding red blood cells from a donor.
Choice D rationale
Erythropoietin (Epogen) does not inhibit proteins that attack blood cells. It works by stimulating the production of more red blood cells.
Following an explosion at a local chemical lab, several people have sustained burns and are now in the triage area.
Which patient should be attended to first?
A. A 33-year-old with burns to the back and shoulders.
A 33-year-old with burns to the back and shoulders. While this patient’s injuries are serious, they are not immediately life-threatening. The back and shoulders are not vital areas, and while pain management and wound care will be necessary, this patient’s situation is not as urgent as others.
B. A 32-year-old with burns on the hands and face.
A 32-year-old with burns on the hands and face. This patient should be attended to first. Burns on the hands and face are more serious due to the high risk of infection and the potential for complications such as impaired breathing if the airway swells or becomes blocked due to the burns. Immediate treatment can help to prevent these complications.
C. A 42-year-old with burns on both legs.
A 42-year-old with burns on both legs. While these burns are serious, they are not immediately life-threatening. The patient will need pain management and wound care, and may have mobility issues, but their vital organs are not directly impacted by the burns.
D. A 25-year-old with a burn on the left arm.
A 25-year-old with a burn on the left arm. This patient, while in need of treatment, is not the highest priority. A burn on the arm, while painful and requiring treatment, is not as potentially serious or life-threatening as burns to the face, hands, or major portions of the body.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale
A 33-year-old with burns to the back and shoulders. While this patient’s injuries are serious, they are not immediately life-threatening. The back and shoulders are not vital areas, and while pain management and wound care will be necessary, this patient’s situation is not as urgent as others.
Choice B rationale
A 32-year-old with burns on the hands and face. This patient should be attended to first. Burns on the hands and face are more serious due to the high risk of infection and the potential for complications such as impaired breathing if the airway swells or becomes blocked due to the burns. Immediate treatment can help to prevent these complications.
Choice C rationale
A 42-year-old with burns on both legs. While these burns are serious, they are not immediately life-threatening. The patient will need pain management and wound care, and may have mobility issues, but their vital organs are not directly impacted by the burns.
Choice D rationale
A 25-year-old with a burn on the left arm. This patient, while in need of treatment, is not the highest priority. A burn on the arm, while painful and requiring treatment, is not as potentially serious or life-threatening as burns to the face, hands, or major portions of the body.
A client has suffered a partial thickness second-degree burn injury of the chest, abdomen, and upper legs and is scheduled for hydrotherapy and debridement.
Which of these actions should the nurse take to effectively assist the patient?
A. Medicate the client 30 minutes before the procedure.
Medicate the client 30 minutes before the procedure. This is the correct action. Administering pain medication 30 minutes before the procedure allows the medication to take effect and provides pain control during the procedure.
B. Reassure the client that the procedure is not painful.
Reassure the client that the procedure is not painful. This is not accurate. Debridement and hydrotherapy can be painful, so it’s important to manage the client’s pain effectively.
C. Utilize meditation and imagery.
Utilize meditation and imagery. While these techniques can be helpful adjuncts to pain management, they should not replace pharmacological pain management in this situation.
D. Administer pain medication around the clock.
Administer pain medication around the clock. While it’s important to manage pain effectively, this does not specifically address the client’s needs during the hydrotherapy and debridement procedure.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale
Medicate the client 30 minutes before the procedure. This is the correct action. Administering pain medication 30 minutes before the procedure allows the medication to take effect and provides pain control during the procedure.
Choice B rationale
Reassure the client that the procedure is not painful. This is not accurate. Debridement and hydrotherapy can be painful, so it’s important to manage the client’s pain effectively.
Choice C rationale
Utilize meditation and imagery. While these techniques can be helpful adjuncts to pain management, they should not replace pharmacological pain management in this situation.
Choice D rationale
Administer pain medication around the clock. While it’s important to manage pain effectively, this does not specifically address the client’s needs during the hydrotherapy and debridement procedure.