ATI RN
foundation of nursing questions and answers Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient with multiple food and environmental allergies tells the nurse that he is frustrated and angry about having to be so watchful all the time and wonders if it is really worth it. What would be the nurses best response?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because it shows empathy and offers the patient an opportunity to express their feelings. By acknowledging the patient's frustration and anger, the nurse validates their emotions and creates a safe space for communication. This response promotes trust and understanding, which are crucial in building a therapeutic relationship.
Choice B is incorrect because it immediately jumps to teaching coping strategies without addressing the patient's emotional state.
Choice C is incorrect as it generalizes the patient's feelings without directly engaging with their specific concerns.
Choice D is incorrect as it sounds dismissive and may make the patient feel judged or misunderstood. These responses lack the empathetic approach needed to effectively support the patient in this situation.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for a cervical discectomy the following day. During health education, the patient should be made aware of what potential complications?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hematoma at the surgical site. This is a potential complication of cervical discectomy due to the risk of bleeding post-surgery. Hematoma can compress nearby structures and lead to increased pain and swelling.
A: Vertebral fracture is not a typical complication of cervical discectomy, as the surgery aims to relieve pressure on the spinal cord caused by a herniated disc, not to cause fractures.
C: Scoliosis is a condition characterized by abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, and it is not directly related to cervical discectomy.
D: Renal trauma is not a common complication of cervical discectomy, as the surgery focuses on the cervical spine and does not involve the kidneys or renal system.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse who works in the specialty of palliative care frequently encounters issues and situations that constitute ethical dilemmas. What issue has most often presented challenging ethical issues, especially in the context of palliative care?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Ability of technology to prolong life beyond meaningful quality of life. In palliative care, the focus is on improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. The use of technology to prolong life can sometimes conflict with this goal, leading to ethical dilemmas. Technology may extend life without considering the patient's comfort or dignity, raising questions about the meaningfulness of prolonging life in such situations. This issue is particularly challenging in palliative care as it requires balancing the benefits of technology with the patient's quality of life.
Other choices are incorrect:
A: The increase in cultural diversity in the United States - While cultural diversity can present challenges in palliative care, it is not the most often presented challenging ethical issue.
B: Staffing shortages in health care and questions concerning quality of care - Staffing shortages are important issues in healthcare, but they do not directly relate to the ethical dilemmas specific to palliative care.
C: Increased costs of health care coupled with
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is caring for an 87-year-old Mexican-American female patient who is in end-stage renal disease. The physician has just been in to see the patient and her family to tell them that nothing more can be done for the patient and that death is not far. The physician offers to discharge the patient home to hospice care, but the patient and family refuse. After the physician leaves, the patients daughter approaches you and asks what hospice care is. What would this lack of knowledge about hospice care be perceived as?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: A barrier to hospice care for this patient. The lack of knowledge about hospice care can be perceived as a barrier to accessing this type of care for the patient and her family. Understanding hospice care is crucial in making informed decisions about end-of-life care options. This lack of knowledge does not necessarily indicate lack of education (choice
A), language barrier (choice
B), or inability to grasp American concepts of health care (choice
D), as hospice care is a universal concept that transcends cultural and educational backgrounds.
Question 5 of 5
An advanced practice nurse has performed a Rinne test on a new patient. During the test, the patient reports that air-conducted sound is louder than bone-conducted sound. How should the nurse best interpret this assessment finding?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: The patient's hearing is likely normal. This interpretation is based on the normal Rinne test result, where air-conducted sound is expected to be louder than bone-conducted sound. This finding indicates that the patient has intact air conduction and no significant conductive hearing loss. Option B is incorrect because tinnitus is not directly related to the Rinne test results. Option C is incorrect as otosclerosis would typically present with abnormal Rinne test results showing bone-conducted sound to be louder. Option D is incorrect as sensorineural hearing loss would not typically affect the Rinne test results in this way.