A healthcare professional is assessing a patient with pneumonia. Which finding is most concerning?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Crackles heard in the lung bases are most concerning in a patient with pneumonia as they suggest fluid accumulation in the lungs, indicating possible severe infection or respiratory distress. Prompt intervention is required to prevent further complications.\n\nChoice A, fever of 101°F, is common in infections like pneumonia but may not be as immediately concerning as crackles indicating fluid in the lungs.\n\nChoice B, a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg, is within normal limits and not directly indicative of pneumonia severity.\n\nChoice C, a heart rate of 95 beats per minute, is slightly elevated but not as critical as crackles suggesting fluid in the lungs.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Use bed alarms to monitor the client's movements.' When a client with a history of falls is admitted, the nurse's initial intervention should focus on fall prevention measures. Using bed alarms to monitor the client's movements can help alert the healthcare team if the client attempts to get out of bed and reduce the risk of falls. Choice A is incorrect because increasing medication should not be the first intervention as it may not address the underlying causes of falls and can have adverse effects. Choice C may be appropriate but is not the priority over implementing safety measures like bed alarms. Choice D is incorrect as assigning the client to a nursing assistant for supervision alone may not be as effective as utilizing bed alarms for continuous monitoring.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The most important action to ensure patient safety when administering a blood transfusion is to verify the patient's identity with two identifiers before starting the transfusion. This step is crucial to prevent transfusion errors, such as giving the blood to the wrong patient. Checking vital signs, ensuring timely administration, and confirming informed consent are also important aspects of blood transfusion safety but verifying the patient's identity is the highest priority to prevent errors.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The most critical lifestyle change for a patient with hypertension is to reduce salt intake. Excessive salt consumption can lead to increased blood pressure levels. While limiting alcohol consumption (Choice B) and regular exercise (Choice C) are also beneficial for managing hypertension, reducing salt intake has a more direct impact on blood pressure control. Avoiding high-cholesterol foods (Choice D) is important for heart health but may not have as significant an impact on blood pressure as reducing salt intake.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Choice C is the correct answer. When performing a sterile dressing change, it is essential to use clean gloves to remove soiled dressings and sterile gloves and supplies for applying the new dressing. This helps maintain aseptic technique and reduce the risk of introducing pathogens to the wound. Choices A, B, and D involve incorrect use of sterile and clean supplies, which can compromise the sterility of the procedure and increase the risk of infection.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The patient is showing signs of a possible surgical site infection, including redness, purulent drainage, tenderness, elevated temperature, and increased white blood cell count. These symptoms suggest the need for immediate action to address a potential complication. Utilizing SBAR to notify the primary health care provider is crucial as it allows for effective communication of the patient's condition and the need for further assessment and intervention. Reevaluating the temperature and white blood cell count later, checking the solution used for skin preparation, or planning to change the dressing do not address the urgent need for intervention and communication with the healthcare provider.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Nonmaleficence. Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that emphasizes the obligation to do no harm, making it crucial in medical decision-making. In the context of a bone marrow transplant for a client with leukemia, the primary concern is to minimize harm and avoid causing any unnecessary suffering or adverse effects. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect: Justice relates to fairness in resource allocation and treatment decisions, Autonomy involves respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own care, and Beneficence refers to the obligation to act in the patient's best interest and promote their well-being, which may involve some level of risk or harm for overall benefit.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Proper documentation should include objective observations and detailed notes to ensure continuity of care. Choice A is incorrect because incomplete entries can lead to gaps in information and compromise patient care. Choice C is not completely accurate as corrections should be made in a manner that does not obscure the original entry but does not necessarily require a signature. Choice D is incorrect as entries should ideally be corrected by the original author to maintain accountability and accuracy.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The most effective intervention in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in a postoperative patient is to encourage early ambulation and leg exercises. Early ambulation helps promote circulation, preventing stasis and reducing the risk of blood clot formation. Encouraging the patient to drink plenty of fluids (choice A) is important for overall health but is not the most effective intervention for preventing DVT. Administering anticoagulants (choice C) is a valuable intervention in some cases, but it may not be suitable for all postoperative patients. Applying compression stockings (choice D) can help prevent DVT but is generally not as effective as early ambulation and leg exercises in postoperative patients.