C HAPTER 16: C ARE OF P ATIENTS
E XPERIENCING U RGENT A LTERATIONS IN
H EALTH
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A farm worker who has been kicked in the stomach by a mule passes a
foul, black, tarry stool. What is this called?
a. Loose stool
b. Melena
c. Hematuria
d. Hemopt ysis
ANS: B
When internal bleeding occurs, the patient may demonstrate hemopt ysis
(bloody sputum), hemateme sis (bloody vomit), melena (foul black tarry
stool), or hematuria (bloody urine).
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 406 OBJ: 2
TOP: Melena KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Assessment MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y
2. A machinist visits the industri al nurse’s clinic with a deep laceration of
the thigh. What should be the nurse’s first action?
, a. Splint the thigh and appl y tape to approximate the edges.
b. Appl y ice and a pressure dressing to the thigh.
c. Give a tetanus booster injection.
d. Wash the laceration with an antiseptic.
ANS: D
Lacerations should be cleaned thoroughl y and bandaged to approximate
the edges.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 419 OBJ: 9
TOP: Wounds KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y
3. The patient’s lower chest has been punctured with a knife that is still in
place. What should the nurse’s first action be?
a. Remove the knife.
b. Appl y an airtight dressing over the wound.
c. Place the patient in a modified Trendelenburg’s position.
d. Immobilize the knife with dressings and tape.
ANS: D
When the patient’s lower chest has been punctured with the weapon
still in place, the nurse should immobilize the weapon with dressings
and tape.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 408 OBJ: 9
TOP: Wounds KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y
4. A patient arrives in the emergency department with a sucking wound to
the left chest. What is the first action the nurse should take?
a. Place several layers of gauze dressing over th e wound.
b. Place the patient in a supine position.
c. Cover the wound with an airtight dressing taped on three sides.
d. Turn the patient to the left side.
ANS: C
Sucking chest wounds should be dressed with a flutter dressing so that
air can escape the pleural spa ce, but no more air can be sucked in.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 408 OBJ: 9
TOP: Sucking chest wounds KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Physiological
Integrit y
5. The nurse is assisting a victim of an accident who re quires bandaging of
the right lower extremit y. What should the nurse do when applying the
bandage?
a. Use sterile material.
b. Leave the toes exposed.
c. Bandage the extremity tightl y.
d. Bend the knee after bandaging.
ANS: B
E XPERIENCING U RGENT A LTERATIONS IN
H EALTH
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A farm worker who has been kicked in the stomach by a mule passes a
foul, black, tarry stool. What is this called?
a. Loose stool
b. Melena
c. Hematuria
d. Hemopt ysis
ANS: B
When internal bleeding occurs, the patient may demonstrate hemopt ysis
(bloody sputum), hemateme sis (bloody vomit), melena (foul black tarry
stool), or hematuria (bloody urine).
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 406 OBJ: 2
TOP: Melena KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Assessment MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y
2. A machinist visits the industri al nurse’s clinic with a deep laceration of
the thigh. What should be the nurse’s first action?
, a. Splint the thigh and appl y tape to approximate the edges.
b. Appl y ice and a pressure dressing to the thigh.
c. Give a tetanus booster injection.
d. Wash the laceration with an antiseptic.
ANS: D
Lacerations should be cleaned thoroughl y and bandaged to approximate
the edges.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 419 OBJ: 9
TOP: Wounds KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y
3. The patient’s lower chest has been punctured with a knife that is still in
place. What should the nurse’s first action be?
a. Remove the knife.
b. Appl y an airtight dressing over the wound.
c. Place the patient in a modified Trendelenburg’s position.
d. Immobilize the knife with dressings and tape.
ANS: D
When the patient’s lower chest has been punctured with the weapon
still in place, the nurse should immobilize the weapon with dressings
and tape.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 408 OBJ: 9
TOP: Wounds KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y
4. A patient arrives in the emergency department with a sucking wound to
the left chest. What is the first action the nurse should take?
a. Place several layers of gauze dressing over th e wound.
b. Place the patient in a supine position.
c. Cover the wound with an airtight dressing taped on three sides.
d. Turn the patient to the left side.
ANS: C
Sucking chest wounds should be dressed with a flutter dressing so that
air can escape the pleural spa ce, but no more air can be sucked in.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 408 OBJ: 9
TOP: Sucking chest wounds KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Physiological
Integrit y
5. The nurse is assisting a victim of an accident who re quires bandaging of
the right lower extremit y. What should the nurse do when applying the
bandage?
a. Use sterile material.
b. Leave the toes exposed.
c. Bandage the extremity tightl y.
d. Bend the knee after bandaging.
ANS: B
