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Critical Thinking
Strategies Review Exam
Q&A
2024
, 1. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a history of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) and is experiencing an acute exacerbation.
The nurse notices that the patient's oxygen saturation is 88% on room air.
What should the nurse do first? Explain your answer using the nursing
process.
- The nurse should first assess the patient's respiratory status, including
rate, depth, rhythm, use of accessory muscles, and breath sounds. This is
the first step of the nursing process and will help the nurse to identify the
patient's problem and prioritize interventions. The nurse should not
intervene without a proper assessment, as this could cause harm or delay
appropriate care.
2. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a patient who has been
admitted with severe dehydration. The nurse notes that the patient's serum
sodium level is 160 mEq/L, serum potassium level is 3.2 mEq/L, and
blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is 40 mg/dL. What are the possible
causes and complications of these findings? How would the nurse plan
and implement care for this patient?
- The possible causes of these findings are excessive fluid loss, inadequate
fluid intake, or increased sodium intake. The complications of these
findings are cellular dehydration, neurological impairment, cardiac
dysrhythmias, and renal failure. The nurse would plan and implement care
for this patient by monitoring vital signs, neurological status, cardiac
rhythm, urine output, and fluid balance; administering intravenous fluids
as prescribed; and educating the patient on the importance of hydration
and sodium restriction.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection of
penicillin to a patient who has a severe infection. The nurse checks the
patient's medication history and notes that the patient has a documented
allergy to penicillin. What should the nurse do next? How would the nurse
apply critical thinking skills to this situation?
- The nurse should next notify the provider of the patient's allergy and
request a different antibiotic. The nurse should also document the allergy
and the communication with the provider in the patient's chart. The nurse
would apply critical thinking skills to this situation by recognizing a
potential error, acting quickly to prevent harm, communicating effectively
with the provider, and documenting accurately and thoroughly.
4. A nurse is conducting a health history interview with a patient who
Critical Thinking
Strategies Review Exam
Q&A
2024
, 1. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a history of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) and is experiencing an acute exacerbation.
The nurse notices that the patient's oxygen saturation is 88% on room air.
What should the nurse do first? Explain your answer using the nursing
process.
- The nurse should first assess the patient's respiratory status, including
rate, depth, rhythm, use of accessory muscles, and breath sounds. This is
the first step of the nursing process and will help the nurse to identify the
patient's problem and prioritize interventions. The nurse should not
intervene without a proper assessment, as this could cause harm or delay
appropriate care.
2. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a patient who has been
admitted with severe dehydration. The nurse notes that the patient's serum
sodium level is 160 mEq/L, serum potassium level is 3.2 mEq/L, and
blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is 40 mg/dL. What are the possible
causes and complications of these findings? How would the nurse plan
and implement care for this patient?
- The possible causes of these findings are excessive fluid loss, inadequate
fluid intake, or increased sodium intake. The complications of these
findings are cellular dehydration, neurological impairment, cardiac
dysrhythmias, and renal failure. The nurse would plan and implement care
for this patient by monitoring vital signs, neurological status, cardiac
rhythm, urine output, and fluid balance; administering intravenous fluids
as prescribed; and educating the patient on the importance of hydration
and sodium restriction.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection of
penicillin to a patient who has a severe infection. The nurse checks the
patient's medication history and notes that the patient has a documented
allergy to penicillin. What should the nurse do next? How would the nurse
apply critical thinking skills to this situation?
- The nurse should next notify the provider of the patient's allergy and
request a different antibiotic. The nurse should also document the allergy
and the communication with the provider in the patient's chart. The nurse
would apply critical thinking skills to this situation by recognizing a
potential error, acting quickly to prevent harm, communicating effectively
with the provider, and documenting accurately and thoroughly.
4. A nurse is conducting a health history interview with a patient who
