Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
While changing the dressing of a client who is immobile, the nurse notices the boundary of the wound has increased. Given there is a positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is the most important action for the nurse to take?
A. Reapply a sterile non-adhesive dressing.
Incorrect- reapplying a sterile non-adhesive dressing is not enough to address the infection.The nurse should also clean the wound, apply topical antimicrobial agents, and change the dressing regularly.
B. Limit visitors to immediate family only.
Incorrect- limiting visitors to immediate family only is not a sufficient infection control measure. The nurse should also use standard precautions, such as wearing gloves, gowns, masks,and eye protection, and educate the visitors about hand hygiene and proper disposal of contaminated items.
C. Administer prescribed antibiotics.
Correct- Administering prescribed antibiotics is the most important action because it can help treat the infection and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body or to other people. MRSA is resistant to many common antibiotics, so it is essential to follow the prescription and monitor the client's response.
D. Request a nutrition consult.
Incorrect- requesting a nutrition consult is not a priority action. While nutrition is important for wound healing, it does not directly affect the infection. The nurse should first administer antibiotics and then assess the client's nutritional status and needs.
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Full Explanation
A) Incorrect- reapplying a sterile non-adhesive dressing is not enough to address the infection.
The nurse should also clean the wound, apply topical antimicrobial agents, and change the dressing regularly.
B) Incorrect- limiting visitors to immediate family only is not a sufficient infection control measure. The nurse should also use standard precautions, such as wearing gloves, gowns, masks,
and eye protection, and educate the visitors about hand hygiene and proper disposal of contaminated items.
C) Correct- Administering prescribed antibiotics is the most important action because it can help treat the infection and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body or to other people. MRSA is resistant to many common antibiotics, so it is essential to follow the prescription and monitor the client's response.
D) Incorrect- requesting a nutrition consult is not a priority action. While nutrition is important for wound healing, it does not directly affect the infection. The nurse should first administer antibiotics and then assess the client's nutritional status and needs.
Similar Questions
What action should the nurse take first when a client is inadvertently given an incorrect dose of a medication?
A. Notify the healthcare provider.
Incorrect- While notifying the healthcare provider is an important step to take after an error, it's not the first action the nurse should take. The immediate concern is the client's safety and well-being, so assessing the client for any adverse effects of the incorrect dose is the priority.
B. Document the events leading to the error in the nurse's notes.
Incorrect- Documentation is important, but it's not the first action to take after administering an incorrect medication dose. The nurse should prioritize assessing the client for any adverse effects and ensuring their immediate safety.
C. Complete an incident report documenting the facts.
Incorrect- Completing an incident report is an important step to document errors and prevent future occurrences, but it's not the initial action to take. First, the nurse should focus on the client's well-being by assessing for adverse effects.
D. Assess the client for any adverse effects.
Correct- Assessing the client for any adverse effects is the immediate priority when an incorrect dose of medication has been administered. The nurse's first concern is the safety and health of the client. Once the client's condition has been assessed and stabilized, further actions can be taken, such as notifying the healthcare provider and completing incident reports.
Full Explanation
A) Incorrect- While notifying the healthcare provider is an important step to take after an error, it's not the first action the nurse should take. The immediate concern is the client's safety and well-being, so assessing the client for any adverse effects of the incorrect dose is the priority.
B) Incorrect- Documentation is important, but it's not the first action to take after administering an incorrect medication dose. The nurse should prioritize assessing the client for any adverse effects and ensuring their immediate safety.
C) Incorrect- Completing an incident report is an important step to document errors and prevent future occurrences, but it's not the initial action to take. First, the nurse should focus on the client's well-being by assessing for adverse effects.
D) Correct- Assessing the client for any adverse effects is the immediate priority when an incorrect dose of medication has been administered. The nurse's first concern is the safety and health of the client. Once the client's condition has been assessed and stabilized, further actions can be taken, such as notifying the healthcare provider and completing incident reports.
The nurse is managing 4 clients in the intensive care unit who are mechanically ventilated.
After performing a quick visual assessment, the nurse should prioritize care for the client who is exhibiting which finding.
A. An audible voice when client is trying to communicate.
Incorrect- an audible voice when client is trying to communicate, indicates that the client has some air passing through the vocal cords, which may be due to a partially deflated cuff or a speaking valve. This is not a life-threatening situation, but the nurse should ensure that the cuff pressure is adequate and that the client is not experiencing any discomfort or aspiration risk.
B. Diminished breath sounds In the right posterior base.
Incorrect- This may indicate atelectasis, pneumonia, or pleural effusion in that lung area. The nurse should auscultate the client's lungs more thoroughly, monitor the client's oxygenation and ventilation parameters, and report the finding to the provider.
C. Restrained and restless with a low volume alarm sounding.
Correct- This finding suggests that the client may have a ventilator disconnect, a leak in the circuit, or a cuff leak, which can compromise the client's oxygenation and ventilation. The nurse should immediately check the ventilator connections and tubing, and assess the client's vital signs and oxygen saturation.
D. High pressure alarm sounds when client is coughing.
Incorrect- high pressure alarm sounds when client is coughing, is a common occurrence in mechanically ventilated clients who have increased airway resistance due to secretions, bronchospasm, or coughing. The nurse should suction the client as needed, administer bronchodilators if prescribed, and ensure that the ventilator settings are appropriate for the client's condition.
Full Explanation
A) Incorrect- an audible voice when client is trying to communicate, indicates that the client has some air passing through the vocal cords, which may be due to a partially deflated cuff or a speaking valve. This is not a life-threatening situation, but the nurse should ensure that the cuff pressure is adequate and that the client is not experiencing any discomfort or aspiration risk.
B) Incorrect- This may indicate atelectasis, pneumonia, or pleural effusion in that lung area. The nurse should auscultate the client's lungs more thoroughly, monitor the client's oxygenation and ventilation parameters, and report the findings to the provider.
C) Correct- This finding suggests that the client may have a ventilator disconnect, a leak in the circuit, or a cuff leak, which can compromise the client's oxygenation and ventilation. The nurse should immediately check the ventilator connections and tubing, and assess the client's vital signs and oxygen saturation.
D) Incorrect- high-pressure alarm sounds when the client is coughing, which is a common occurrence in mechanically ventilated clients who have increased airway resistance due to secretions, bronchospasm, or coughing. The nurse should suction the client as needed, administer bronchodilators if prescribed, and ensure that the ventilator settings are appropriate for the client's condition.
A client is receiving mesalamine 800 mg by mouth three times a day. Which assessment should the nurse perform to assess the effectiveness of the medication?
A. Pupillary response.
Incorrect- Pupillary response is not relevant to the assessment of mesalamine's effectiveness.Pupillary response is often assessed in neurological or ophthalmic evaluations and is not a direct measure of gastrointestinal function or the response to mesalamine therapy.
B. Peripheral pulses.
Incorrect- Peripheral pulses are not directly affected by mesalamine therapy, and monitoring them would not provide insight into the medication's effectiveness. Peripheral pulses are typically assessed to evaluate circulatory status and are not specific to the evaluation of gastrointestinal conditions.
C. Bowel patterns.
Correct- Mesalamine is a medication commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It helps to reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Monitoring bowel patterns is important to assess the effectiveness of mesalamine in managing the symptoms of these conditions.
D. Oxygen saturation.
Incorrect- Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen in the blood and is used to assess respiratory function. While oxygen saturation is important for overall patient assessment, it is not directly related to mesalamine's effectiveness in treating inflammatory bowel disease.
Full Explanation
A) Incorrect- Pupillary response is not relevant to the assessment of mesalamine's effectiveness.
Pupillary response is often assessed in neurological or ophthalmic evaluations and is not a direct measure of gastrointestinal function or the response to mesalamine therapy.
B) Incorrect- Peripheral pulses are not directly affected by mesalamine therapy, and monitoring them would not provide insight into the medication's effectiveness. Peripheral pulses are
typically assessed to evaluate the circulatory status and are not specific to the evaluation of gastrointestinal conditions.
C) Correct- Mesalamine is a medication commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It helps to reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Monitoring bowel patterns is important to assess the effectiveness of mesalamine in managing the symptoms of these conditions.
D) Incorrect- Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen in the blood and is used to assess respiratory function. While oxygen saturation is important for overall patient assessment, it is not directly related to mesalamine's effectiveness in treating inflammatory bowel disease.