A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-operative following a knee replacement. The nurse should prioritize which of the following interventions?

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Question 1 of 9

A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-operative following a knee replacement. The nurse should prioritize which of the following interventions?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Encouraging early ambulation. This is the priority intervention as it helps prevent complications such as blood clots and pneumonia, promotes circulation, and aids in faster recovery. Ambulation also helps maintain joint mobility and muscle strength. Administering pain medications (B) is important but not the priority. Providing wound care (C) and monitoring for infection (D) are important, but ambulation takes precedence in preventing complications.

Question 2 of 9

A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administering oxygen as prescribed. Oxygen therapy is a critical intervention in pneumonia to improve oxygenation and prevent hypoxia. Priority is given to interventions that address the immediate physiological needs of the patient. Encouraging fluid intake (A) is important but not as urgent as oxygen therapy. Encouraging ambulation (C) can be beneficial for overall health but may not be suitable for a patient with pneumonia. Providing pain medication (D) is important for comfort but is not the priority in this case.

Question 3 of 9

While taking a detailed history, what should the nurse include?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Functional status. Including functional status in the history is essential as it provides information about the client's ability to perform activities of daily living. This information is crucial for assessing the client's overall health and well-being. Functional status helps the nurse understand the impact of health issues on the client's daily life and helps in planning appropriate care interventions. B: Data focusing on the client complaint is too narrow and may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the client's health status. C: A focused assessment of the client complaint may overlook other important aspects of the client's health that could impact their overall well-being. D: Family history for the past three generations is not typically included in a detailed history-taking process and may not be directly relevant to the client's current health status.

Question 4 of 9

A pregnant woman states that she is concerned about her gums because she has noticed they are swollen and have started bleeding. What would be an appropriate response by the nurse?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Step 1: Swollen and bleeding gums during pregnancy can be a sign of gingivitis or pregnancy gingivitis. Step 2: Dental check-ups during pregnancy are important to prevent potential complications. Step 3: Referring the woman to a dentist ensures proper evaluation and treatment. Step 4: Dental care is safe during pregnancy, so timely intervention is crucial. Step 5: Option C is correct as it addresses the concern with a proactive approach.

Question 5 of 9

What is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a client with severe pain after surgery?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer pain medication. This is the most appropriate nursing intervention because severe pain post-surgery requires immediate relief to ensure the client's comfort and aid in recovery. Pain medication helps manage pain effectively, improving the client's overall well-being and promoting healing. Monitoring vital signs (choice B) is important but secondary to pain relief in this scenario. Administering IV fluids (choice C) may be necessary for hydration but does not directly address the pain. Administering corticosteroids (choice D) is not typically indicated for severe pain post-surgery.

Question 6 of 9

A patient says that she has recently noticed a lump in the front of her neck below her"Adam's apple" that seems to be getting bigger. During the assessment, the finding that reassures the nurse that this may not be a cancerous thyroid nodule is that the lump (nodule):

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: the lump is mobile and not hard. A cancerous thyroid nodule is typically fixed and hard, whereas a noncancerous nodule is more likely to be mobile and soft. This characteristic suggests it may be a benign condition such as a thyroid cyst rather than a malignant tumor. The other choices are incorrect because A: tenderness does not necessarily indicate benignity or malignancy, C: disappearance when smiling is more related to a salivary gland issue, and D: hardness and fixation are more indicative of a potentially cancerous nodule.

Question 7 of 9

A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-operative following abdominal surgery. Which of the following signs and symptoms would the nurse consider as an early indicator of infection?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Fever. Fever is an early indicator of infection as it is the body's natural response to fighting off pathogens. When the body detects an infection, it raises its temperature to create an inhospitable environment for the pathogens. Pain at the surgical site (B) is common post-operatively but may not necessarily indicate infection. Redness at the incision site (C) can be a sign of inflammation but is not specific to infection. Increased heart rate (D) can occur due to various reasons post-operatively, not just infection. Fever is a systemic response and a more reliable early indicator of infection in this context.

Question 8 of 9

When assessing the tongue of an adult, an abnormal finding would be:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because a smooth, glossy dorsal surface of the tongue is abnormal in adults and may indicate glossitis or nutritional deficiencies. B is incorrect as a thin white coating is normal. Raised papillae (choice C) may indicate transient lingual papillitis but are not typically abnormal. Visible venous patterns (choice D) are normal on the ventral surface.

Question 9 of 9

When examining a patient's eyes, the nurse knows that stimulation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because stimulation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system results in the elevation of the eyelid (ptosis) and dilation of the pupil (mydriasis). This is due to the action of the dilator pupillae muscle and the superior tarsal muscle. Pupillary constriction (choice A) is controlled by the parasympathetic branch via the sphincter pupillae muscle. Adjusting the eye for near vision (choice B) is controlled by the ciliary muscle, which is under parasympathetic control, not sympathetic. Contraction of the ciliary body (choice D) is also controlled by the parasympathetic system for accommodation of near vision, not the sympathetic system.

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