FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS AND SKILLS FOR NURSING

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A patient who has questions about the availability of home health services after hospital discharge should be referred to the: a. primary care provider. b. registered nurse. c. occupational therapist. d. medical social worker (MSW). ANS: D An MSW can provide information about long-term planning, financial assistance, and community services available after discharge. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 404 OBJ: Clinical Practice #5 TOP: Discharge KEY...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The nurse who is assessing the patient with the Glasgow Coma Scale finds a patient who can open his eyes spontaneously, obeys all commands, and is oriented. The nurse documents a score of: a. 7. b. 10. c. 12. d. 15. ANS: D The Glasgow Coma Scale is used for the evaluation of neurologically impaired patients: spontaneous eye opening = 4, obeying commands = 6, orientation = 5. This is the highest possible score of 15. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 396|...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. An older adult patient has a tympanic temperature of 96.2° F (35.7° C). What nursing intervention would best meet this patient’s need? a. Take the patient’s vital signs every 4 hours, including temperature. b. Provide fluids to increase circulation. c. Increase room temperature to 72° F (22.2° C) and add blankets to the bed. d. Check the temperature orally to confirm the accuracy of the reading. ANS: C Nursing interventions for treating hypothermia should...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. An anxious adult patient is experiencing a respiratory rate of 40 breaths/min. The most appropriate intervention that the nurse could do is to instruct the patient to: a. sit up. b. lie down. c. breathe through a re-breather mask. d. pant with mouth open. ANS: C Anxiety can lead to hyperventilation, causing respiratory alkalosis; the treatment is to have the patient breathe through a re-breather mask. In the home setting, the patient can be asked to breathe into a...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Following a colonoscopy with polyp removal, the wife of the patient is distressed that there is slight bleeding from her husband’s rectum. The nurse’s most helpful response would be: a. “This small amount of bleeding is expected after the removal of polyps.” b. “I will notify the primary care provider about this hemorrhage.” c. “I will watch your husband very carefully to assess any further hemorrhage.” d. “Don’t worry. This small amount of blood hap...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A patient in the skilled nursing facility has left-sided paralysis from a stroke several years before, as well as generalized weakness. The nurse should ensure that which of the following devices is in place to prevent flexion contractures? a. A trochanter roll to keep her legs from turning outward b. A rolled washcloth in the palm of her left hand or a hand splint c. A protective vest to keep her sitting upright in the chair d. A trapeze to permit her to change her pos...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. An 84-year-old patient is hospitalized for an infected stasis ulcer on his ankle. The nurse is aware that this patient is at risk for a hospital-acquired infection (HAI) because the: a. patient already has a blood-borne infection. b. patient’s defenses are already engaged with the initial infection. c. ulcer will make this patient bedfast. d. stasis ulcers predispose the older adult to pneumonia and urinary infections. ANS: B Older adults have an impaired immun...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The nurse instructing a patient in the home use of disinfectant would include the information that the disinfectant can be used to: a. decrease organisms on the patient’s body but take care not to use it around the patient’s eyes or in the mouth. b. sterilize instruments with a bacteriostatic disinfectant. c. thoroughly clean and rinse all soap off the equipment before disinfecting it. d. first remove all organic matter prior to disinfecting. ANS: C Disinfecta...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. When caring for a patient with acute radiation sickness (ARS) after an accident at an atomic power plant, the nurse should: a. wear a paper gown and boots, gloves, and a mask. b. stay in the room and talk to the patient to alleviate anxiety. c. decrease the amount of time spent in the room. d. wear a chemical mask with a filtered respirator. ANS: A For prolonged periods in caring for a patient with ARS, the nurse should use the barrier protection of gown, boots, ...

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Providing oral care to a patient who has dentures includes: a. asking the patient to place his teeth directly in a covered, labeled container for overnight storage. b. removing, cleaning, and storing the dentures in a labeled container at bedtime. c. cleaning the dentures in hot water after each meal to remove debris and bacteria. d. using a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the dentures in the patient’s mouth. ANS: B Dentures should be removed and cleaned befo...