Advanced Care Mgt 4 - Test 3
You are the nurse caring for an 85-year-old patient who has been hospitalized for a fractured radius. The patients daughter has accompanied the patient to the hospital and asks you what her father can do for his very dry skin, which has become susceptible to cracking and shearing. What would be your best response? A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible. B) Make sure that he applies sunscreen each morning. C) Dry skin is an age-related change that is largely inevitable. D) Try to help your father increase his intake of dairy products
A
You are the nurse evaluating a newly admitted patients laboratory results, which include several values that are outside of reference ranges. Which of the following would cause the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)? A) Increased serum sodium B) Decreased serum potassium C) Decreased hemoglobin D) Increased platelets
A
A gerontologic nurse is making an effort to address some of the misconceptions about older adults that exist among health care providers. The nurse has made the point that most people aged 75 years remains functionally independent. The nurse should attribute this trend to what factor? A) Early detection of disease and increased advocacy by older adults ) Application of health-promotion and disease-prevention activities C) Changes in the medical treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia D) Genetic changes that have resulted in increased resiliency to acute infection
B
A medical nurse educator is reviewing a patients recent episode of metabolic acidosis with members of the nursing staff. What should the educator describe about the role of the kidneys in metabolic acidosis? A) The kidneys retain hydrogen ions and excrete bicarbonate ions to help restore balance. B) The kidneys excrete hydrogen ions and conserve bicarbonate ions to help restore balance. C) The kidneys react rapidly to compensate for imbalances in the body. D) The kidneys regulate the bicarbonate level in the intracellular fluid
B
A medical nurse is appraising the effectiveness of a patients current pain control regimen. The nurse is aware that if an intervention is deemed ineffective, goals need to be reassessed and other measures need to be considered. What is the role of the nurse in obtaining additional pain relief for the patient? A) Primary caregiver B) Patient advocate C) Team leader D) Case manager
B
A nurse in the neurologic ICU has orders to infuse a hypertonic solution into a patient with increased intracranial pressure. This solution will increase the number of dissolved particles in the patients blood, creating pressure for fluids in the tissues to shift into the capillaries and increase the blood volume. This process is best described as which of the following? A) Hydrostatic pressure B) Osmosis and osmolality C) Diffusion D) Active transport
B
A nurse on an oncology unit has arranged for an individual to lead meditation exercises for patients who are interested in this nonpharmacological method of pain control. The nurse should recognize the use of what category of nonpharmacological intervention? A) A body-based modality B) A mind-body method C) A biologically based therapy D) An energy therapy
B
A patient with a longstanding diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder presents to the emergency room. The triage nurse notes upon assessment that the patient is hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most common cause of which acidbase imbalance? A) Respiratory acidosis B) Respiratory alkalosis C) Increased PaCO2 D) CNS disturbances
B
A patients intractable neuropathic pain is being treated on an inpatient basis using a multimodal approach to analgesia. After administering a recently increased dose of IV morphine to the patient, the nurse has returned to assess the patient and finds the patient unresponsive to verbal and physical stimulation with a respiratory rate of five breaths per minute. The nurse has called a code blue and should anticipate the administration of what drug? A) Acetylcysteine B) Naloxone C) Celecoxib D) Acetylsalicylic acid
B
An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his manager about a 65-year-old coworker. What phenomenon would the nurse identify when hearing the employee state, He should just retire and make way for some new blood.? A) Intolerance B) Ageism C) Dependence D) Nonspecific prejudice
B
Gerontologic nursing is a specialty area of nursing that provides care for the elderly in our population. What goal of care should a gerontologic nurse prioritize when working with this population? A) Helping older adults determine how to reduce their use of external resources B) Helping older adults use their strengths to optimize independence C) Helping older adults promote social integration D) Helping older adults identify the weaknesses that most limit them
B
You are caring for a patient admitted with a diagnosis of acute kidney injury. When you review your patients most recent laboratory reports, you note that the patients magnesium levels are high. You should prioritize assessment for which of the following health problems? A) Diminished deep tendon reflexes B) Tachycardia C) Cool, clammy skin D) Acute flank pain
A
You are caring for a patient with sickle cell disease in her home. Over the years, there has been joint damage, and the patient is in chronic pain. The patient has developed a tolerance to her usual pain medication. When does the tolerance to pain medication become the most significant problem? A) When it results in inadequate relief from pain B) When dealing with withdrawal symptoms resulting from the tolerance C) When having to report the patients addiction to her physician D) When the family becomes concerned about increasing dosage
A
You are frequently assessing an 84-year-old womans pain after she suffered a humeral fracture in a fall. When applying the nursing process in pain management for a patient of this age, what principle should you best apply? A) Monitor for signs of drug toxicity due to a decrease in metabolism. B) Monitor for an increase in absorption of the drug due to age-related changes. C) Monitor for a paradoxical increase in pain with opioid administration. D) Administer analgesics every 4 to 6 hours as ordered to control pain
A
You are the nurse caring for a 77-year-old male patient who has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. You and your colleague note that the patients labs indicate minimally elevated serum creatinine levels, which your colleague dismisses. What can this increase in creatinine indicate in older adults? A) Substantially reduced renal function B) Acute kidney injury C) Decreased cardiac output D) Alterations in ratio of body fluids to muscle mass
A
You are the nurse caring for a patient who is to receive IV daunorubicin, a chemotherapeutic agent. You start the infusion and check the insertion site as per protocol. During your most recent check, you note that the IV has infiltrated so you stop the infusion. What is your main concern with this infiltration? A) Extravasation of the medication B) Discomfort to the patient C) Blanching at the site D) Hypersensitivity reaction to the medication
A
You are the nurse caring for a postsurgical patient who is Asian-American who speaks very little English. How should you most accurately assess this patients pain? A) Use a chart with English on one side of the page and the patients native language on the other so he can rate his pain. B) Ask the patient to write down a number according to the 0-to-10 point pain scale. C) Use the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). D) Use the services of a translator each time you assess the patient so you can document the patients pain rating.
A
After a sudden decline in cognition, a 77-year-old man who has been diagnosed with vascular dementia is receiving care in his home. To reduce this mans risk of future infarcts, what action should the nurse most strongly encourage? A) Activity limitation and falls reduction efforts B) Adequate nutrition and fluid intake C) Rigorous control of the patients blood pressure and serum lipid levels D) Use of mobility aids to promote independence
C
An 83-year-old woman was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease 2 years ago and the disease has progressed at an increasing pace in recent months. The patient has lost 16 pounds over the past 3 months, leading to a nursing diagnosis of Imbalanced Nutrition: Less than Body Requirements. What intervention should the nurse include in this patients plan of care? A) Offer the patient rewards for finishing all the food on her tray. B) Offer the patient bland, low-salt foods to limit offensiveness. C) Offer the patient only one food item at a time to promote focused eating. D) Arrange for insertion of a gastrostomy tube and initiate enteral feeding.
C
You are caring for a 65-year-old male patient admitted to your medical unit 72 hours ago with pyloric stenosis. A nasogastric tube placed upon admission has been on low intermittent suction ever since. Upon review of the mornings blood work, you notice that the patients potassium is below reference range. You should recognize that the patient may be at risk for what imbalance? A) Hypercalcemia B) Metabolic acidosis C) Metabolic alkalosis D) Respiratory acidosis
C
You are making initial shift assessments on your patients. While assessing one patients peripheral IV site, you note edema around the insertion site. How should you document this complication related to IV therapy? A) Air emboli B) Phlebitis C) Infiltration D) Fluid overload
C
You are performing an admission assessment on an older adult patient newly admitted for end-stage liver disease. What principle should guide your assessment of the patients skin turgor? A) Overhydration is common among healthy older adults. B) Dehydration causes the skin to appear spongy. C) Inelastic skin turgor is a normal part of aging. D) Skin turgor cannot be assessed in patients over 70.
C
You are the home health nurse caring for a homebound client who is terminally ill. You are delivering a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump to the patient at your visit today. The family members will be taking care of the patient. What would your priority nursing interventions be for this visit? A) Teach the family the theory of pain management and the use of alternative therapies. B) Provide psychosocial family support during this emotional experience. C) Provide patient and family teaching regarding the operation of the pump, monitoring the IV site, and knowing the side effects of the medication. D) Provide family teaching regarding use of morphine, recognizing morphine overdose, and offering spiritual guidance.
C
You are the nurse caring for a 91-year-old patient admitted to the hospital for a fall. The patient complains of urge incontinence and tells you he most often falls when he tries to get to the bathroom in his home. You identify the nursing diagnosis of risk for falls related to impaired mobility and urinary incontinence. The older adults risk for falls is considered to be which of the following? A) The result of impaired cognitive functioning B) The accumulation of environmental hazards C) A geriatric syndrome D) An age-related health deficit
C
You are the nurse caring for patients in the urology clinic. A new patient, 78 years old, presents with complaints of urinary incontinence. An anticholinergic is prescribed. Why might this type of medication be an inappropriate choice in the elderly population? A) Gastrointestinal hypermotility can be an adverse effect of this medication. B) Detrusor instability can be an adverse effect of this medication. C) Confusion can be an adverse effect of this medication. D) Increased symptoms of urge incontinence can be an adverse effect of this medication
C
A 60-year-old patient who has diabetes had a below-knee amputation 1 week ago. The patient asks why does it still feel like my leg is attached, and why does it still hurt? The nurse explains neuropathic painterms that are accessible to the patient. The nurse should describe what pathophysiologic process? A) The proliferation of nociceptors during times of stress B) Age-related deterioration of the central nervous system C) Psychosocial dependence on pain medications D) The abnormal reorganization of the nervous system
D
A nurse is planning discharge teaching for an 80-year-old patient with mild short-term memory loss. The discharge teaching will include how to perform basic wound care for the venous ulcer on his lower leg. When planning the necessary health education for this patient, what should the nurse plan to do? A) Set long-term goals with the patient. B) Provide a list of useful Web sites to supplement learning. C) Keep visual cues to a minimum to enhance the patients focus. D) Keep teaching periods short
D
A patients most recent laboratory results show a slight decrease in potassium. The physician has opted to forego drug therapy but has suggested increasing the patients dietary intake of potassium. Which of the following would be a good source of potassium? A) Apples B) Asparagus C) Carrots D) Bananas
D
An elderly patient has come in to the clinic for her twice-yearly physical. The patient tells the nurse that she is generally enjoying good health, but that she has been having occasional episodes of constipation over the past 6 months. What intervention should the nurse first suggest? A) Reduce the amount of stress she currently experiences. B) Increase carbohydrate intake and reduce protein intake. C) Take herbal laxatives, such as senna, each night at bedtime. D) Increase daily intake of water.
D
Diagnostic testing has been ordered to differentiate between normal anion gap acidosis and high anion gap acidosis in an acutely ill patient. What health problem typically precedes normal anion gap acidosis? A) Metastases B) Excessive potassium intake C) Water intoxication D) Excessive administration of chloride
D
Nurses and members of other health disciplines at a states public health division are planning programs for the next 5 years. The group has made the decision to focus on diseases that are experiencing the sharpest increases in their contributions to the overall death rate in the state. This team should plan health promotion and disease prevention activities to address what health problem? A) Stroke B) Cancer C) Respiratory infections D) Alzheimers disease
D
The ICU nurse is caring for a patient who experienced trauma in a workplace accident. The patient is complaining of having trouble breathing with abdominal pain. An ABG reveals the following results: pH 7.28, PaCO2 50 mm Hg, HCO3 23 mEq/L. The nurse should recognize the likelihood of what acidbase disorder? A) Respiratory acidosis B) Metabolic alkalosis C) Respiratory alkalosis D) Mixed acidbase disorder
D
The baroreceptors, located in the left atrium and in the carotid and aortic arches, respond to changes in the circulating blood volume and regulate sympathetic and parasympathetic neural activity as well as endocrine activities. Sympathetic stimulation constricts renal arterioles, causing what effect? A) Decrease in the release of aldosterone B) Increase of filtration in the Loop of Henle C) Decrease in the reabsorption of sodium D) Decrease in glomerular filtration
D
The home health nurse is making an initial home visit to a 76-year-old widower. The patient takes multiple medications for the treatment of varied chronic health problems. The patient states that he has also begun taking some herbal remedies. What should the nurse be sure to include in the patients teaching? A) Herbal remedies are consistent with holistic health care. B) Herbal remedies are often cheaper than prescribed medication. C) It is safest to avoid the use of herbal remedies. D) There is a need to inform his physician and pharmacist about the herbal remedies.
D
You are the nurse caring for the 25-year-old victim of a motor vehicle accident with a fractured pelvis and a ruptured bladder. The nurses aide (NA) tells you that she is concerned because the patients resting heart rate is 110 beats per minute, her respirations are 24 breaths per minute, temperature is 99.1F axillary, and the blood pressure is 125/85 mm Hg. What other information is most important as you assess this patients physiologic status? A) The patients understanding of pain physiology B) The patients serum glucose level C) The patients white blood cell count D) The patients rating of her pain
D
A patient is experiencing severe pain after suffering an electrical burn in a workplace accident. The nurse is applying knowledge of the pathophysiology of pain when planning this patients nursing care. What is the physiologic process by which noxious stimuli, such as burns, activate nociceptors? A) Transduction B) Transmission C) Perception D) Modulation
A
A patient who is being treated for pneumonia starts complaining of sudden shortness of breath. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is drawn. The ABG has the following values: pH 7.21, PaCO2 64 mm Hg, HCO3 = 24 mm Hg. What does the ABG reflect? A) Respiratory acidosis B) Metabolic alkalosis C) Respiratory alkalosis D) Metabolic acidosis
A
A gerontologic nurse practitioner provides primary care for a large number of older adults who are living with various forms of cardiovascular disease. This nurse is well aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the aged. What is an age-related physiological change that contributes to this trend? A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity. B) Systolic blood pressure decreases. C) Resting heart rate decreases with age. D) Atrial-septal defects develop with age
A
A nurse is caring for an 86-year-old female patient who has become increasingly frail and unsteady on her feet. During the assessment, the patient indicates that she has fallen three times in the month, though she has not yet suffered an injury. The nurse should take action in the knowledge that this patient is at a high risk for what health problem? A) A hip fracture B) A femoral fracture C) Pelvic dysplasia D) Tearing of a meniscus or bursa
A
A nurse will conduct an influenza vaccination campaign at an extended care facility. The nurse will be administering intramuscular (IM) doses of the vaccine. Of what age-related change should the nurse be aware when planning the appropriate administration of this drug? A) An older patient has less subcutaneous tissue and less muscle mass than a younger patient.. B) An older patient has more subcutaneous tissue and less durable skin than a younger patient. C) An older patient has more superficial and tortuous nerve distribution than a younger patient. D) An older patient has a higher risk of bleeding after an IM injection than a younger patient.
A
A patient has questioned the nurses administration of IV normal saline, asking whether sterile water would be a more appropriate choice than saltwater. Under what circumstances would the nurse administer electrolyte-free water intravenously? A) Never, because it rapidly enters red blood cells, causing them to rupture. B) When the patient is severely dehydrated resulting in neurologic signs and symptoms C) When the patient is in excess of calcium and/or magnesium ions D) When a patients fluid volume deficit is due to acute or chronic renal failure
A
An elderly patient, while being seen in an urgent care facility for a possible respiratory infection, asks the nurse if Medicare is going to cover the cost of the visit. What information can the nurse give the patient to help allay her concerns? A) Medicare has a copayment for many of the services it covers. This requires the patient to pay a part of the bill. .B) Medicare pays for 100% of the cost for acute-care services, so the cost of the visit will be covered. C) Medicare will only pay the cost for acute-care services if the patient has a very low income. D) Medicare will not pay for the cost of acute-care services so the patient will be billed for the services provided.
A
Based on a patients vague explanations for recurring injuries, the nurse suspects that a community- dwelling older adult may be the victim of abuse. What is the nurses primary responsibility? A) Report the findings to adult protective services. B) Confront the suspected perpetrator. C) Gather evidence to corroborate the abuse. D) Work with the family to promote healthy conflict resolution.
A
For several years, a community health nurse has been working with a 78-year-old man who requires a wheelchair for mobility. The nurse is aware that the interactions between disabilities and aging are not yet clearly understood. This interaction varies, depending on what variable? A) Socioeconomics B) Ethnicity ) Education D) Pharmacotherapy
A
The home health nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient who will be managing his chronic pain at home. Using the nursing process, on which concepts should the nurse focus the patient teaching? A) Self-care and safety B) Autonomy and need C) Health promotion and exercise D) Dependence and health
A
The nurse caring for a 79-year-old man who has just returned to the medicalsurgical unit following surgery for a total knee replacement received report from the PACU. Part of the report had been passed on from the preoperative assessment where it was noted that he has been agitated in the past following opioid administration. What principle should guide the nurses management of the patients pain? A) The elderly may require lower doses of medication and are easily confused with new medications. B) The elderly may have altered absorption and metabolism, which prohibits the use of opioids. C) The elderly may be confused following surgery, which is an age-related phenomenon unrelated to the medication. D) The elderly may require a higher initial dose of pain medication followed by a tapered dose
A
The nurse is caring for a 65-year-old patient who has previously been diagnosed with hypertension. Which of the following blood pressure readings represents the threshold between high-normal blood pressure and hypertension? A) 140/90 mm Hg B) 145/95 mm Hg C) 150/100 mm Hg D) 160/100 mm Hg
A
The nurse is caring for a patient in metabolic alkalosis. The patient has an NG tube to low intermittent suction for a diagnosis of bowel obstruction. What drug would the nurse expect to find on the medication orders? A) Cimetidine B) Maalox C) Potassium chloride elixir D) Furosemide
A
The nurse is caring for a patient with metastatic bone cancer. The patient asks the nurse why he has had to keep getting larger doses of his pain medication, although they do not seem to affect him. What is the nurses best response? A) Over time you become more tolerant of the drug. B) You may have become immune to the effects of the drug. C) You may be developing a mild addiction to the drug. D) Your body absorbs less of the drug due to the cancer.
A
The nurse is providing care for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. When describing the process of respiration the nurse explains how oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the pulmonary capillaries and the alveoli. The nurse is describing what process? A) Diffusion B) Osmosis C) Active transport D) Filtration
A
The nurse is providing patient teaching to a patient with early stage Alzheimers disease (AD) and her family. The patient has been prescribed donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept). What should the nurse explain to the patient and family about this drug? A) It slows the progression of AD. B) It cures AD in a small minority of patients. C) It removes the patients insight that he or she has AD. D) It limits the physical effects of AD and other dementias.
A
The nurse who is a member of the palliative care team is assessing a patient. The patient indicates that he has been saving his PRN analgesics until the pain is intense because his pain control has been inadequate. What teaching should the nurse do with this patient? A) Medication should be taken when pain levels are low so the pain is easier to reduce. B) Pain medication can be increased when the pain becomes intense. C) It is difficult to control chronic pain, so this is an inevitable part of the disease process. D) The patient will likely benefit more from distraction than pharmacologic interventions.
A
Two patients on your unit have recently returned to the postsurgical unit after knee arthroplasty. One patient is reporting pain of 8 to 9 on a 0-to-10 pain scale, whereas the other patient is reporting a pain level of 3 to 4 on the same pain scale. What is the nurses most plausible rationale for understanding the patients different perceptions of pain? A) Endorphin levels may vary between patients, affecting the perception of pain. B) One of the patients is exaggerating his or her sense of pain. C) The patients are likely experiencing a variance in vasoconstriction. D) One of the patients may be experiencing opioid tolerance
A
You are caring for a patient admitted to the medical-surgical unit after falling from a horse. The patient states I hurt so bad. I suffer from chronic pain anyway, and now it is so much worse. When planning the patients care, what variables should you consider? Select all that apply. A) How the presence of pain affects patients and families B) Resources that can assist the patient with pain management C) The influence of the patients cognition on her pain D) The advantages and disadvantages of available pain-relief strategies E) The difference between acute and intermittent pain
A, B, D
Falls, which are a major health problem in the elderly population, occur from multifactorial causes. When implementing a comprehensive plan to reduce the incidence of falls on a geriatric unit, what risk factors should nurses identify? Select all that apply. A) Medication effects B) Overdependence on assistive devices C) Poor lighting D) Sensory impairment E) Ineffective use of coping strategies
A, C, D
You are doing discharge teaching with a patient who has hypophosphatemia during his time in hospital. The patient has a diet ordered that is high in phosphate. What foods would you teach this patient to include in his diet? Select all that apply. A) Milk B) Beef C) Poultry D) Green vegetables E) Liver
A, C, E
A gerontologic nurse is teaching students about the high incidence and prevalence of dehydration in older adults. What factors contribute to this phenomenon? Select all that apply. A) Decreased kidney mass B) Increased conservation of sodium C) Increased total body water D) Decreased renal blood flow E) Decreased excretion of potassium
A,D,E
A 47-year-old patient who has come to the physicians office for his annual physical is being assessed by the office nurse. The nurse who is performing routine health screening for this patient should be aware that one of the first physical signs of aging is what? A) Having more frequent aches and pains B) Failing eyesight, especially close vision C) Increasing loss of muscle tone D) Accepting limitations while developing assets
B
Mrs. Harris is an 83-year-old woman who has returned to the community following knee replacement surgery. The community health nurse recognizes that Mrs. Harris has prescriptions for nine different medications for the treatment of varied health problems. In addition, she has experienced occasional episodes of dizziness and lightheadedness since her discharge. The nurse should identify which of the following nursing diagnoses? A) Risk for infection related to polypharmacy and hypotension B) Risk for falls related to polypharmacy and impaired balance C) Adult failure to thrive related to chronic disease and circulatory disturbance D) Disturbed thought processes related to adverse drug effects and hypotension
B
Older people have many altered reactions to disease that are based on age-related physiological changes. When the nurse observes physical indicators of illness in the older population, that nurse must remember which of the following principles? A) Potential life-threatening problems in the older adult population are not as serious as they are in a middle-aged population. B) Indicators that are useful and reliable in younger populations cannot be relied on as indications of potential life-threatening problems in older adults. C) The same physiological processes that indicate serious health care problems in a younger population indicate mild disease states in the elderly. D) Middle-aged people do not react to disease states the same as a younger population does.
B
The admissions department at a local hospital is registering an elderly man for an outpatient diagnostic test. The admissions nurse asks the man if he has an advanced directive. The man responds that he does not want to complete an advance directive because he does not want anyone controlling his finances. What would be appropriate information for the nurse to share with this patient? A) Advance directives are not legal documents, so you have nothing to worry about. B) Advance directives are limited only to health care instructions and directives. C) Your finances cannot be managed without an advance directive. D) Advance directives are implemented when you become incapacitated, and then you will use a living will to allow the state to manage your money.
B
The community health nurse is performing a home visit to an 84-year-old woman recovering from hip surgery. The nurse notes that the woman seems uncharacteristically confused and has dry mucous membranes. When asked about her fluid intake, the patient states, I stop drinking water early in the day because it is just too difficult to get up during the night to go to the bathroom. What would be the nurses best response? A) I will need to have your medications adjusted so you will need to be readmitted to the hospital for a complete workup. B) Limiting your fluids can create imbalances in your body that can result in confusion. Maybe we need to adjust the timing of your fluids. C) It is normal to be a little confused following surgery, and it is safe not to urinate at night. D) If you build up too much urine in your bladder, it can cause you to get confused, especially when your body is under stress.
B
The nurse caring for a patient post colon resection is assessing the patient on the second postoperative day. The nasogastric tube (NG) remains patent and continues at low intermittent wall suction. The IV is patent and infusing at 125 mL/hr. The patient reports pain at the incision site rated at a 3 on a 0-to-10 rating scale. During your initial shift assessment, the patient complains of cramps in her legs and a tingling sensation in her feet. Your assessment indicates decreased deep tendon reflexes (DTRs) and you suspect the patient has hypokalemia. What other sign or symptom would you expect this patient to exhibit? A) Diarrhea B) Dilute urine C) Increased muscle tone D) Joint pain
B
The nurse is assessing a patients pain while the patient awaits a cholecystectomy. The patient is tearful, hesitant to move, and grimacing. When asked, the patient rates his pain as a 2 at this time using a 0-to-10 pain scale. How should the nurse best respond to this assessment finding? A) Remind the patient that he is indeed experiencing pain. B) Reinforce teaching about the pain scale number system. C) Reassess the patients pain in 30 minutes. D) Administer an analgesic and then reassess
B
The physician has ordered a peripheral IV to be inserted before the patient goes for computed tomography. What should the nurse do when selecting a site on the hand or arm for insertion of an IV catheter? A) Choose a hairless site if available. B) Consider potential effects on the patients mobility when selecting a site. C) Have the patient briefly hold his arm over his head before insertion. D) Leave the tourniquet on for at least 3 minutes.
B
The wife of a patient you are caring for asks to speak with you. She tells you that she is concerned because her husband is requiring increasingly high doses of analgesia. She states, He was in pain long before he got cancer because he broke his back about 20 years ago. For that problem, though, his pain medicine wasnt just raised and raised. What would be the nurses best response? A) I didnt know that. I will speak to the doctor about your husbands pain control. B) Much cancer pain is caused by tumor involvement and needs to be treated in a way that brings the patient relief. C) Cancer is a chronic kind of pain so the more it hurts the patient, the more medicine we give the patient until it no longer hurts. D) Does the increasing medication dosage concern you?
B
You are caring for a patient with a diagnosis of pancreatitis. The patient was admitted from a homeless shelter and is a vague historian. The patient appears malnourished and on day 3 of the patients admission total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been started. Why would you know to start the infusion of TPN slowly? A) Patients receiving TPN are at risk for hypercalcemia if calories are started too rapidly. B) Malnourished patients receiving parenteral nutrition are at risk for hypophosphatemia if calories are started too aggressively. C) Malnourished patients who receive fluids too rapidly are at risk for hypernatremia. D) Patients receiving TPN need a slow initiation of treatment in order to allow digestive enzymes to accumulate
B
You are caring for a patient with late-stage Alzheimers disease. The patients wife tells you that the patient has now become completely dependent and that she feels guilty if she takes any time for herself. What outcomes would be appropriate for the nurse to develop to assist the patients wife? A) The caregiver learns to explain to the patient why she needs time for herself. B) The caregiver distinguishes essential obligations from those that can be controlled or limited. C) The caregiver leaves the patient at home alone for short periods of time to encourage independence. D) The caregiver prioritizes her own health over that of the patient.
B
You are part of the health care team caring for an 87-year-old woman who has been admitted to your rehabilitation facility after falling and fracturing her left hip. The patient appears to be failing to regain functional ability and may have to be readmitted to an acute-care facility. When planning this patients care, what do you know about the negative effects of the stress associated with pain? A) Stress is less pronounced in older adults because they generally have more sophisticated coping skills than younger adults B) It is particularly harmful in the elderly who have been injured or who are ill. C) It affects only those patients who are already debilitated prior to experiencing pain. D) It has no inherent negative effects; it just alerts the person/health care team of an underlying disease process.
B
You are providing care for an 82-year-old man whose signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease have become more severe over the past several months. The man tells you that he can no longer do as many things for himself as he used to be able to do. What factor should you recognize as impacting your patients life most significantly? A) Neurologic deficits B) Loss of independence C) Age-related changes D) Tremors and decreased mobility
B
You are the emergency department (ED) nurse caring for an adult patient who was in a motor vehicle accident. Radiography reveals an ulnar fracture. What type of pain are you addressing when you provide care for this patient? A) Chronic B) Acute C) Intermittent D) Osteopenic
B
You are the nurse caring for an elderly patient with cardiovascular disease. The patient comes to the clinic with a suspected respiratory infection and is diagnosed with pneumonia. As the nurse, what do youknow about the altered responses of older adults? A) Treatments for older adults need to be more holistic than treatments used in the younger population. B) The altered responses of older adults reinforce the need for the nurse to monitor all body systems to identify possible systemic complications. C) The altered responses of older adults define the nursing interactions with the patient. D) Older adults become hypersensitive to antibiotic treatments for infectious disease states.
B
You are the nurse in a pain clinic caring for an 88-year-old man who is suffering from long-term, intractable pain. At this point, the pain team feels that first-line pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods of pain relief have been ineffective. What recommendation should guide this patients subsequent care? A) The patient may want to investigate new alternative pain management options that are outside the United States. B) The patient may benefit from referral to a neurologist or neurosurgeon to discuss pain-management options. C) The patient may want to increase his exercise and activities significantly to create distractions. D) The patient may want to relocate to long-term care in order to have his ADL needs met.
B
You are the nurse planning an educational event for the nurses on a subacute medical unit on the topic of normal, age-related physiological changes. What phenomenon would you include in your teaching plan? A) A decrease in cognition, judgment, and memory B) A decrease in muscle mass and bone density C) The disappearance of sexual desire for both men and women D) An increase in sebaceous and sweat gland function in both men and women
B
You are the surgical nurse caring for a 65-year-old female patient who is postoperative day 1 following a thyroidectomy. During your shift assessment, the patient complains of tingling in her lips and fingers. She tells you that she has an intermittent spasm in her wrist and hand and she exhibits increased muscle tone. What electrolyte imbalance should you first suspect? A) Hypophosphatemia B) Hypocalcemia C) Hypermagnesemia D) Hyperkalemia
B
Your patient is receiving postoperative morphine through a patient-controlled analgesic (PCA) pump and the patients orders specify an initial bolus dose. What is your priority assessment? A) Assessment for decreased level of consciousness (LOC) B) Assessment for respiratory depression C) Assessment for fluid overload D) Assessment for paradoxical increase in pain
B
A gerontologic nurse has been working hard to change the perceptions of the elderly, many of which are negative, by other segments of the population. What negative perceptions of older people have been identified in the literature? Select all that apply. A) As being the cause of social problems B) As not contributing to society C) As draining economic resources D) As competing with children for resources E) As dominating health care research
B, C, D
You are caring for a 20-year-old patient with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy who has been admitted for the relief of painful contractures in his lower extremities. When creating a nursing care plan for this patient, what variables should the nurse consider? Select all that apply. A) Patients gender B) Patients comorbid conditions C) Type of procedure be performed D) Changes in neurologic function due to the procedure E) Prior effectiveness in relieving the pain
B, C, D, E
The case manager is working with an 84-year-old patient newly admitted to a rehabilitation facility. When developing a care plan for this older adult, which factors should the nurse identify as positive attributes that benefit coping in this age group? Select all that apply. A) Decreased risk taking B) Effective adaptation skills C) Avoiding participation in untested roles D) Increased life experience E) Resiliency during change
B, D, E
A nurse is planning care for a nephrology patient with a new nursing graduate. The nurse states, A patient in renal failure partially loses the ability to regulate changes in pH. What is the cause of this partial inability? A) The kidneys regulate and reabsorb carbonic acid to change and maintain pH. B) The kidneys buffer acids through electrolyte changes. C) The kidneys regenerate and reabsorb bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH. D) The kidneys combine carbonic acid and bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH.
C
A 52-year-old female patient is receiving care on the oncology unit for breast cancer that has metastasized to her lungs and liver. When addressing the patients pain in her plan of nursing care, the nurse should consider what characteristic of cancer pain? A) Cancer pain is often related to the stress of the patient knowing she has cancer and requires relatively low doses of pain medications along with a high dose of anti-anxiety medications. B) Cancer pain is always chronic and challenging to treat, so distraction is often the best intervention. C) Cancer pain can be acute or chronic and it typically requires comparatively high doses of pain medications. D) Cancer pain is often misreported by patients because of confusion related to their disease process
C
A gerontologic nurse is aware of the demographic changes that are occurring in the United States, and this affects the way that the nurse plans and provides care. Which of the following phenomena is currently undergoing the most rapid and profound change? A) More families are having to provide care for their aging members. B) Adult children find themselves participating in chronic disease management. C) A growing number of people live to a very old age. D) Elderly people are having more accidents, increasing the costs of health care.
C
A home health nurse makes a home visit to a 90-year-old patient who has cardiovascular disease. During the visit the nurse observes that the patient has begun exhibiting subtle and unprecedented signs of confusion and agitation. What should the home health nurse do? A) Increase the frequency of the patients home care. B) Have a family member check in on the patient in the evening. C) Arrange for the patient to see his primary care physician. D) Refer the patient to an adult day program.
C
A nurse educator is reviewing peripheral IV insertion with a group of novice nurses. How should these nurses be encouraged to deal with excess hair at the intended site? A) Leave the hair intact. B) Shave the area. C) Clip the hair in the area. D) Remove the hair with a depilatory
C
A nurse has cited a research study that highlights the clinical effectiveness of using placebos in the management of postsurgical patients pain. What principle should guide the nurses use of placebos in pain management? A) Placebos require a higher level of informed consent than conventional care. B) Placebos are an acceptable, but unconventional, form of nonpharmacological pain management. C) Placebos are never recommended in the treatment of pain. D) Placebos require the active participation of the patients family.
C
An 84-year-old patient has returned from the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) following hip arthroplasty. The patient is oriented to name only. The patients family is very upset because, before having surgery, the patient had no cognitive deficits. The patient is subsequently diagnosed with postoperative delirium. What should the nurse explain to the patients family? A) This problem is self-limiting and there is nothing to worry about. B) Delirium involves a progressive decline in memory loss and overall cognitive function. C) Delirium of this type is treatable and her cognition will return to previous levels. D) This problem can be resolved by administering antidotes to the anesthetic that was used in surgery
C
An unlicensed nursing assistant (NA) reports to the nurse that a postsurgical patient is complaining ofpain that she rates as 8 on a 0-to-10 point scale. The NA tells the nurse that he thinks the patient is exaggerating and does not need pain medication. What is the nurses best response? A) Pain often comes and goes with postsurgical patients. Please ask her about pain again in about 30 minutes. B) We need to provide pain medications because it is the law, and we must always follow the law. C) Unless there is strong evidence to the contrary, we should take the patients report at face value. D) Its not unusual for patients to misreport pain to get our attention when we are busy.
C
As the population of the United States ages, research has shown that this aging will occur across all racial and ethnic groups. A community health nurse is planning an initiative that will focus on the group in which the aging population is expected to rise the fastest. What group should the nurse identify? A) Asian-Americans B) White non-Hispanics C) Hispanics D) African-Americans
C
One day after a patient is admitted to the medical unit, you note that the patient is oliguric. You notify the acute-care nurse practitioner who orders a fluid challenge of 200 mL of normal saline solution over 15 minutes. This intervention will achieve which of the following? A) Help distinguish hyponatremia from hypernatremia B) Help evaluate pituitary gland function C) Help distinguish reduced renal blood flow from decreased renal function D) Help provide an effective treatment for hypertension-induced oliguria
C
The nurse in the medical ICU is caring for a patient who is in respiratory acidosis due to inadequate ventilation. What diagnosis could the patient have that could cause inadequate ventilation? A) Endocarditis B) Multiple myeloma C) Guillain-Barr syndrome D) Overdose of amphetamines
C
The nurse is assessing the patient for the presence of a Chvosteks sign. What electrolyte imbalance would a positive Chvosteks sign indicate? A) Hypermagnesemia B) Hyponatremia C) Hypocalcemia D) Hyperkalemia
C
The nurse is caring for a 51-year-old female patient whose medical history includes chronic fatigue and poorly controlled back pain. These medical diagnoses should alert the nurse to the possibility of what consequent health problem? A) Anxiety B) Skin breakdown ) Depression D) Hallucinations
C
The nurse is preparing to insert a peripheral IV catheter into a patient who will require fluids and IV antibiotics. How should the nurse always start the process of insertion? A) Leave one hand ungloved to assess the site. B) Cleanse the skin with normal saline. C) Ask the patient about allergies to latex or iodine. D) Remove excessive hair from the selected site.
C
The presence of a gerontologic advanced practice nurse in a long-term care facility has proved beneficial to both the patients and the larger community in which they live. Nurses in this advanced practice role have been shown to cause what outcome? A) Greater interaction between younger adults and older adults occurs. B) The elderly recover more quickly from acute illnesses. C) Less deterioration takes place in the overall health of patients. D) The elderly are happier in long-term care facilities than at home.
C
You are assessing an 86-year-old postoperative patient who has an unexpressive, stoic demeanor. When you enter the room, the patient is curled into the fetal position and your assessment reveals that his vital signs are elevated and he is diaphoretic. You ask the patient what his pain level is on a 0-to-10 scale that you explained to the patient prior to surgery. The patient indicates a pain level of three or so. You review your pain-management orders and find that all medications are ordered PRN. How would you treat this patients pain? A) Treat the patient on the basis of objective signs of pain and reassess him frequently. B) Call the physician for new orders because it is apparent that the pain medicine is not working. C) Believe what the patient says, reinforce education, and reassess often. D) Ask the family what they think and treat the patient accordingly.
C
You are called to your patients room by a family member who voices concern about the patients status. On assessment, you find the patient tachypnic, lethargic, weak, and exhibiting a diminished cognitive ability. You also find 3+ pitting edema. What electrolyte imbalance is the most plausible cause of this patients signs and symptoms? A ) Hypocalcemia B) Hyponatremia C) Hyperchloremia D) Hypophosphatemia
C
You have just received report on a 27-year-old woman who is coming to your unit from the emergency department with a torn meniscus. You review her PRN medications and see that she has an NSAID (ibuprofen) ordered every 6 hours. If you wanted to implement preventive pain measures when the patient arrives to your unit, what would you do? A) Use a pain scale to assess the patients pain, and let the patient know ibuprofen is available every 6 hours if she needs it. B) Do a complete assessment, and give pain medication based on the patients report of pain. C) Check for allergies, use a pain scale to assess the patients pain, and offer the ibuprofen every 6 hours until the patient is discharged. D) Provide medication as per patient request and offer relaxation techniques to promote comfort.
C
Your patient has just returned from the postanesthetic care unit (PACU) following left tibia open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). The patient is complaining of pain, and you are preparing to administer the patients first scheduled dose of hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Prior to administering the drug, you would prioritize which of the following assessments? A) The patients electrolyte levels B) The patients blood pressure C) The patients allergy status D) The patients hydration status
C
Your patient is 12-hours post ORIF right ankle. The patient is asking for a breakthrough dose of analgesia. The pain-medication orders are written as a combination of an opioid analgesic and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) given together. What is the primary rationale for administering pain medication in this manner? A) To prevent respiratory depression from the opioid B) To eliminate the need for additional medication during the night C) To achieve better pain control than with one medication alone D) To eliminate the potentially adverse effects of the opioid
C
A 73-year-old man comes into the emergency department (ED) by ambulance after slipping on a small carpet in his home. The patient fell on his hip with a resultant fracture. He is alert and oriented; his pupils are equal and reactive to light and accommodation. His heart rate is elevated, he is anxious and thirsty, a Foley catheter is placed, and 40 mL of urine is present. What is the nurses most likely explanation for the low urine output? A) The man urinated prior to his arrival to the ED and will probably not need to have the Foley catheter kept in place. B) The man likely has a traumatic brain injury, lacks antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and needs vasopressin. C) The man is experiencing symptoms of heart failure and is releasing atrial natriuretic peptide that results in decreased urine output. D) The man is having a sympathetic reaction, which has stimulated the reninangiotensinaldosterone system that results in diminished urine output.
D
A 74-year-old woman was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 1 year ago, but has achieved adequate symptom control through the regular use of celecoxib (Celebrex), a COX-2 selective NSAID. The nurse should recognize that this drug, like other NSAIDs, influences what aspect of the pathophysiology of nociceptive pain? A) Distorting the action potential that is transmitted along the A-delta (d) and C fibers B) Diverting noxious information from passing through the dorsal root ganglia and synapses in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord C) Blocking modulation by limiting the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine D) Inhibiting transduction by blocking the formation of prostaglandins in the periphery
D
A gerontologic nurse is basing the therapeutic programs at a long-term care facility on Millers Functional Consequences Theory. To actualize this theory of aging, the nurse should prioritize what task? A) Attempting to control age-related physiological changes B) Lowering expectations for recovery from acute and chronic illnesses C) Helping older adults accept the inevitability of death D) Differentiating between age-related changes and modifiable risk factors
D
A gerontologic nurse is overseeing the care that is provided in a large, long-term care facility. The nurse is educating staff about the significant threat posed by influenza in older, frail adults. What action should the nurse prioritize to reduce the incidence and prevalence of influenza in the facility? A) Teach staff how to administer prophylactic antiviral medications effectively. B) Ensure that residents receive a high-calorie, high-protein diet during the winter. C) Make arrangements for residents to limit social interaction during winter months. D) Ensure that residents receive influenza vaccinations in the fall of each year
D
A newly graduated nurse is admitting a patient with a long history of emphysema. The new nurses preceptor is going over the patients past lab reports with the new nurse. The nurse takes note that the patients PaCO2 has been between 56 and 64 mm Hg for several months. The preceptor asks the new nurse why they will be cautious administering oxygen. What is the new nurses best response? A) The patients calcium will rise dramatically due to pituitary stimulation. B) Oxygen will increase the patients intracranial pressure and create confusion. C) Oxygen may cause the patient to hyperventilate and become acidotic. D) Using oxygen may result in the patient developing carbon dioxide narcosis and hypoxemia.
D
The mother of a cancer patient comes to the nurse concerned with her daughters safety. She states that her daughters morphine dose that she needs to control her pain is getting higher and higher. As a result, the mother is afraid that her daughter will overdose. The nurse educates the mother about what aspect of her pain management? A) The dose range is higher with cancer patients, and the medical team will be very careful to prevent addiction. B) Frequently, female patients and younger patients need higher doses of opioids to be comfortable. C) The increased risk of overdose is an inevitable risk of maintaining adequate pain control during cancer treatment. D) There is no absolute maximum opioid dose and her daughter is becoming more tolerant to the drug
D
The nurse caring for a 91-year-old patient with osteoarthritis is reviewing the patients chart. This patient is on a variety of medications prescribed by different care providers in the community. In light of the QSEN competency of safety, what is the nurse most concerned about with this patient? A) Depression B) Chronic illness C) Inadequate pain control D) Drug interactions
D
The nurse is accepting care of an adult patient who has been experiencing severe and intractable pain. When reviewing the patients medication administration record, the nurse notes the presence of gabapentin (Neurontin). The nurse is justified in suspecting what phenomenon in the etiology of the patients pain? A) Neuroplasticity B) Misperception C) Psychosomatic processes D) Neuropathy
D
The nurse is caring for a male patient whose diagnosis of bone cancer is causing severe and increasing pain. Before introducing nonpharmacological pain control interventions into the patients plan of care, the nurse should teach the patient which of the following? A) Nonpharmacological interventions must be provided by individuals other than members of the healthcare team. B) These interventions will not directly reduce pain, but will refocus him on positive stimuli. C) These interventions carry similar risks of adverse effects as analgesics. D) Reducing his use of analgesics is not the purpose of these interventions.
D
When planning the care of a patient with a fluid imbalance, the nurse understands that in the human body, water and electrolytes move from the arterial capillary bed to the interstitial fluid. What causes this to occur? A) Active transport of hydrogen ions across the capillary walls B) Pressure of the blood in the renal capillaries C) Action of the dissolved particles contained in a unit of blood D) Hydrostatic pressure resulting from the pumping action of the heart
D
You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma patient. Your patient has the following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L. How would you interpret these results? A) Respiratory acidosis with no compensation B) Metabolic alkalosis with a compensatory alkalosis C) Metabolic acidosis with no compensation D) Metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis
D
You are caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Your patients plan of care includes assessment of specific gravity every 4 hours. The results of this test will allow the nurse to assess what aspect of the patients health? A) Nutritional status B) Potassium balance ) Calcium balance D) Fluid volume status
D
You are caring for a patient who is being treated on the oncology unit with a diagnosis of lung cancer with bone metastases. During your assessment, you note the patient complains of a new onset of weakness with abdominal pain. Further assessment suggests that the patient likely has a fluid volume deficit. You should recognize that this patient may be experiencing what electrolyte imbalance? A) Hypernatremia B) Hypomagnesemia C) Hypophosphatemia D) Hypercalcemia
D
You are caring for a patient with a secondary diagnosis of hypermagnesemia. What assessment finding would be most consistent with this diagnosis? A) Hypertension B) Kussmaul respirations C) Increased DTRs D) Shallow respirations
D
You are caring for an 82-year-old man who was recently admitted to the geriatric medical unit in which you work. Since admission, he has spoken frequently of becoming a burden to his children and staying afloat financially. When planning this patients care, you should recognize his heightened risk of what nursing diagnosis? A) Disturbed thought processes B) Impaired social interaction C) Decisional conflict D) Anxiety
D
You are creating a nursing care plan for a patient with a primary diagnosis of cellulitis and a secondary diagnosis of chronic pain. What common trait of patients who live with chronic pain should inform your care planning? A) They are typically more comfortable with underlying pain than patients without chronic pain. B) They often have a lower pain threshold than patients without chronic pain. C) They often have an increased tolerance of pain. D) They can experience acute pain in addition to chronic pain
D
You are the case manager for a 35-year-old man being seen at a primary care clinic for chronic low back pain. When you meet with the patient, he says that he is having problems at work; in the past year he has been absent from work about once every 2 weeks, is short-tempered with other workers, feels tired all the time, and is worried about losing his job. You are developing this patients plan of care. On what should the goals for the plan of care focus? A) Increase the patients pain tolerance in order to achieve psychosocial benefits. B) Decrease the patients need to work and increase his sleep to 8 hours per night. C) Evaluate other work options to decrease the risk of depression and ineffective coping. D) Decrease the time lost from work to increase the quality of interpersonal relationships and decrease anxiety
D
You are the nurse caring for an elderly patient who is being treated for community-acquired pneumonia. Since the time of admission, the patient has been disoriented and agitated to varying degrees. Appropriate referrals were made and the patient was subsequently diagnosed with dementia. What nursing diagnosis should the nurse prioritize when planning this patients care? A) Social isolation related to dementia B) Hopelessness related to dementia C) Risk for infection related to dementia D) Acute confusion related to dementia
D
You are the nurse coming on shift in a rehabilitation unit. You receive information in report about a new patient who has fibromyalgia and has difficulty with her ADLs. The off-going nurse also reports that the patient is withdrawn, refusing visitors, and has been vacillating between tears and anger all afternoon. What do you know about chronic pain syndromes that could account for your new patients behavior? A) Fibromyalgia is not a chronic pain syndrome, so further assessment is necessary. B) The patient is likely frustrated because she has to be in the hospital. C) The patient likely has an underlying psychiatric disorder. D) Chronic pain can cause intense emotional responses
D
You are working on a burns unit and one of your acutely ill patients is exhibiting signs and symptoms of third spacing. Based on this change in status, you should expect the patient to exhibit signs and symptoms of what imbalance? A) Metabolic alkalosis B) Hypermagnesemia C) Hypercalcemia D) Hypovolemia
D