ATI NurseLogic: Knowledge & Clinical Judgement

A nurse is reinforcing teaching about a new prescription for cromolyn sodium (Intal) metered-dose inhaler (MDI) to a school-age child who has asthma. Which of the following statements should indicate to the nurse that the child needs further teaching?

"I will use my cromolyn inhaler before using my albuterol inhaler."

A nurse is providing education about a new prescription for nitroglycerin (NitroQuick) to a client who is diagnosed with angina. Which of the following statements by the client indicates a need for further teaching?

"I'm lucky I have a prescription plan that allows me to buy pills in bulk quantities." In this item, you need nursing knowledge related to the proper administration and storage of nitroglycerin. Based on an understanding of this information, you can identify which option describes a statement by the patient that does not reflect accurate understanding of the medication. This is a negatively worded item that asks you to select the option that indicates the patient needs further teaching. You will learn more about negatively worded items in Module 4. This item requires foundational thinking because you have to recall knowledge related to the administration and storage of nitroglycerin. This statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching. Buying nitroglycerin in bulk quantities is not a safe practice. The chemical instability of the medication allows it to lose effectiveness over time. While some nitroglycerin tablets have a shelf life of 24 months, NitroQuick retains its effectiveness for only 8 to 10 months. Because of the shortened shelf life, the client should not buy the medication in bulk quantities, and the client should be instructed to date the bottle when it is first opened.

A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for cardiac surgery and tells the nurse, "I don't think I'm going to have the surgery. Everybody has to die sometime." Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

"Tell me more about your concerns."

A nurse is caring for a client who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and is taking lithium (Lithane). Which of the following serum lithium levels indicates the client's dosage is appropriate for maintenance therapy?

0.75 mEq/L Lithium is a mood-stabilizing medication used in the treatment of bipolar I acute and recurrent manic and depressive episodes. To achieve a therapeutic range, give 300 mg to 600 mg of lithium during the active phase. The therapeutic serum lithium level is between 0.8 mEq/L and 1.4 mEq/L. Maintenance levels of 0.4 to 1.3 mEq/L are then achieved for clients who are prescribed lithium for long-term therapy. Because small increments of dosage separate therapeutic, maintenance, and toxic levels of lithium, knowledge of these levels is essential to ensure safe, quality care. This serum lithium level indicates the client's dosage is appropriate for maintenance therapy.

A nurse is caring for a client who is diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and is prescribed ciprofloxacin (Cipro) 250 mg PO two times daily. The amount available is 100 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer with each dose?

2.5

A nurse is providing discharge education to the parents of a preschooler who is prescribed acetaminophen (Tylenol) 300 mg every 4 hr as needed. The acetaminophen liquid suspension that has been prescribed provides 120 mg/5 mL. How many teaspoons should the nurse teach the parents to administer per dose?

2.5 tsp

A nurse is caring for a client who is pregnant with a single fetus and has a body mass index (BMI) of 23. When asked by the client how much weight she should gain during the pregnancy, which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

25 to 35 lb

A nursing supervisor is determining bed placement for four clients. Which of the following clients should be placed on droplet precautions?

A client who has rubella

A nurse is planning to obtain blood pressure on four clients. On which of the following clients should the nurse perform an electronic blood pressure measurement?

A client who is recovering from a cardiac catheterization

A nurse is caring for a client who has terminal pancreatic cancer. The client is competent and has requested no resuscitative measures be taken in the event of respiratory or cardiac arrest. Which of the following is necessary to legally change the client's code status to do-not-resuscitate (DNR)?

A written prescription from the provider

A nurse is collecting data on a newborn who was delivered 30 min ago at the gestational age of 37 weeks. Which of the following findings requires further intervention?

Abdominal distension

A school nurse has requested the school board remove a piece of playground equipment due to a documented increase in injuries that can be linked back to it. The nurse's actions are an example of which of the following?

Advocacy A legal and ethical responsibility of nurses is to protect the rights of clients and provide safe, quality nursing care. Advocacy is supporting or seeking a specific course of action for the benefit and on behalf of a person, group, or community. The nurse made the request to remove the playground equipment on behalf of and to benefit the children of the school. This is an example of advocacy.

A nurse administrator is reviewing policies and procedures of the facility she works in to ensure confidentiality requirements are being met. Which of the following indicates that intervention is needed to prevent the release of confidential client information?

Assigning staff members on each shift the same password for accessing medical records

A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a wedge resection of a lung and has a chest tube with a water seal chest tube drainage system. The client reports a burning pain in his chest. Which of the following actions by the nurse is appropriate?

Assist the client to a side-lying position.

A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed an indwelling urinary catheter. When preparing to insert the catheter, the nurse should first open the sterile package in which of the following directions?

Away from the body

A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed IV fluids. While inserting the IV catheter, blood is spilled on the floor. Which of the following solutions should the nurse use to clean the spill?

Chlorine (bleach)

While collecting data on a client who is immobile, a nurse locates a reddened area of skin on the left scapula. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Cover the area with a transparent wound barrier.

A nurse is providing education to the parent of an infant who is newly diagnosed with biliary atresia. The nurse should teach the parent that which of the following is a clinical manifestation associated with the illness?

Dark urine

A nurse is collecting nutritional data on an older adult client. Which of the following findings is suggestive of a healthy nutritional status?

Deep reddish-colored tongue Deep reddish-colored tongue is suggestive of a healthy nutritional status. The tongue should be a healthy pink to a deep, reddish color with surface papillae present, without swelling or lesions.

A nurse is conducting a breast examination on a client who has a family history of breast cancer. Which of the following should the nurse report to the provider?

Dimpling of the tissue in the upper outer quadrant

A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a lumbar puncture. The nurse should teach the client that which of the following is a post-procedure complication?

Headache

A nurse is caring for a client who is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and is prescribed dexamethasone (Prednisone). Which of the following indicates the client is experiencing an adverse effect of the medication?

Hyperglycemia

A nurse is assisting with the preparation of an education program regarding advance directives for newly hired staff. Which of the following information should be included about living wills?

Living wills detail treatment wishes of the client in the event of terminal illness.

A nurse is assigned to care for four clients. The client with which of the following drainage tubes is at an increased risk for hypokalemia?

NG tube to suction

A nurse is collecting data on a recently admitted client. Which of the following techniques should the nurse use to measure tissue perfusion?

Obtaining the client's level of oxygen saturation

A nurse is assisting with preparation of a teaching program about healthy nutrition for a group of clients who are tactile learners. Which of the following activities should be included as a learning strategy in the program?

Prepare a healthy meal to serve at the end of class.

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving intermittent enteral tube feedings and having diarrhea after each feeding. Which of the following actions should the nurse take in an attempt to prevent diarrhea after subsequent feedings?

Reduce the rate of the feedings. Enteral tube feedings are used for clients who are able to absorb and digest nutrients but are unable to ingest food. Complications of enteral tube feedings include feeding tube regurgitation and aspiration of feedings, delayed gastric emptying, and malabsorption among others. Reducing the rate of feedings is an appropriate action by the nurse to prevent diarrhea after subsequent feedings. A client receiving intermittent enteral tube feedings can experience diarrhea because of the administration of hyperosmolar enteral feedings. To prevent this, administration should be slowed or switched to continuous enteral feedings.

A nurse is caring for a school-age client who was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and has been admitted for a vaso-occlusive crisis. Which of the following findings has the highest priority?c

Slurred speech Sickle cell anemia is characterized by the partial or complete replacement of mature hemoglobin with sickled hemoglobin. The sickled shape of cells can block or reduce the flow of blood through blood vessels, resulting in complications. Slurred speech can indicate a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), which is a severe complication of sickle cell anemia. The blockage of blood vessels in the brain by sickled cells results in cerebral infarction, which leads to neurological impairment. Because a CVA threatens the life of the client, this is highest priority finding.

A nurse preceptor is working with a newly licensed nurse to transfer a client from the bed to a chair. Which of the following actions by the new nurse indicates a need for further teaching to prevent lift injuries?

Twisting at the waist and shoulders

A nurse is caring for a toddler who has acute otitis media and is prescribed benzocaine (Americaine) ear drops for pain relief. Which of the following actions by the nurse is appropriate when administering the ear drops?

Warm refrigerated drops to room temperature prior to instillation.

A nurse is caring for a male client who has been prescribed an indwelling urinary catheter. In which of the following positions should the client be placed for insertion of the catheter?

​Supine

A nurse is collecting data on a client who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and is taking clozapine (Clozaril). Which of the following findings indicates the client is experiencing an adverse effect of the medication?

​WBC 2,800/mm3 Adverse effects of clozapine include tachycardia, weight gain, sedation, and agranulocytosis. Agranulocytosis, which is a decrease in one of the WBCs called neutrophils, reduces the ability to fight infection and can be fatal. Because of the potential for agranulocytosis, clients who are taking clozapine are monitored frequently for a decrease in WBC count below 3,000/mm3. The client's WBC and absolute neutrophil count is monitored weekly during the first 6 months of therapy, then every 2 weeks during the next 6 months. A WBC level of 2,800/mm3 indicates the client is experiencing an adverse effect of the medication.

A nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. The client is being discharged and plans to live with her daughter. Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate when the daughter states that she doesn't know how she is going to care for her mother's colostomy?

"What part of your mother's care concerns you?"

A nurse is caring for a client who weighs 132 lb and has been prescribed gentamicin (Garamycin) 5mg/kg/day by IV bolus in three equal doses. Available on hand is 40 mg/mL that is to be added to 50 mL 0.9% sodium chloride. How many mL should the nurse add to the solution per dose?

2.5

A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing night sweats and hemoptysis and is suspected to have active pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of the following tests is used to confirm this diagnosis?

Sputum culture for acid-fast bacillus Once infected, the bacteria multiply freely after reaching the bronchi or alveoli. Typically, acquired immunity protects individuals from attaining active tuberculosis. Infection is most common among those who are immunocompromised and those who have been in repeated, close contact with someone who has an undiagnosed case of active tuberculosis. The lungs are primarily involved, but the infection can spread to other organs. Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis include productive cough, fever, fatigue, weight loss, hemoptysis, and night sweats. In cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis, the organism is transmitted through the air because it is found in the sputum and secretions. The presence of acid fast bacillus in the sputum, secretions, or tissues of the client is the only method to confirm the diagnosis of active tuberculosis.

A nurse is reinforcing teaching about the diet for dumping syndrome to a client who is postoperative following a gastrectomy. Which of the following food selections by the client indicates the teaching was effective?

Toast with peanut butter Dumping syndrome results from rapid emptying of the stomach into the small intestine after eating, and manifests as a group of vasomotor symptoms, such as vertigo, tachycardia, syncope, sweating, pallor, and palpitations. Additionally, abdominal distension occurs because of the shift of fluid into the intestines. A diet that restricts some foods and includes others as appropriate food choices reduces the occurrence and severity of dumping syndrome. Peanut butter and toast are allowed or encouraged foods for a client who has dumping syndrome.

A nurse is collecting data on a client who has received a preoperative dose of morphine. Which of the following indicates the client is experiencing an adverse effect of the medication?

Urinary retention

A nurse is caring for a client who is diagnosed with anemia. Which of the following skin color variations is caused by a reduced amount of oxyhemoglobin?

​Pallor Oxyhemoglobin is the combined state of oxygen that is to be delivered to peripheral tissues with the hemoglobin molecule that will carry it. In clients who have anemia, the RBCs are reduced, by function or in number, to the point that peripheral tissues are not receiving adequate oxygen because of a decreased amount of circulating oxyhemoglobin. The reduced oxygen supply to the tissues causes changes to the client's skin color. Pallor is caused by a reduced amount of oxyhemoglobin. Pallor is a decrease in the coloring of the peripheral tissues that is caused by an overall reduction in the blood flow or by a decrease in the number of RBCs that contain oxyhemoglobin, which reduces the visibility of oxyhemoglobin.

A nurse preceptor is orienting a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following actions by the newly licensed nurse indicates a breach of confidentiality and requires intervention by the nurse preceptor?

Discussing changes in a client's plan of care with his friend who is a nurse on another unit In this item, you need knowledge of legal requirements in regard to confidentiality. Based on this information, you can identify which option describes an action that indicates a breach of client confidentiality. This is a negatively worded item that asks you to select the option that indicates an intervention by the nurse preceptor is warranted. You will learn more about negatively worded items in Module 4. This item requires critical thinking because you have to analyze each action in order to interpret the one that results in a breach of confidentiality. HIPAA is federal legislation that requires protection of a client's health information and describes the rights and privileges of clients in regard to privacy and confidentiality. A nurse discussing changes in a client's plan of care with another nurse on another unit is a breach of confidentiality. Client information can only be shared with other health care professionals involved in that client's care. The nurse on the other unit should be directed to the client to request information about changes in the client's plan of care. This action is not appropriate and requires intervention by the nurse preceptor.

A nurse is precepting a newly licensed nurse while he is charting. Use of which of the following abbreviations indicates a need for further teaching?

q.d. To reduce the occurrence of medical errors, the Joint Commission developed a list of do-not-use abbreviations that should be avoided in health care settings. The abbreviation "q.d." was previously used to indicate every day, which can be mistaken as the abbreviation for "four times daily (qid)," resulting in medical errors. The Joint Commission has recommended the use of "daily" to indicate every day. This is not an acceptable abbreviation; therefore, additional teaching is needed.