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

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administering diuretics as prescribed. Diuretics help reduce fluid retention in patients with heart failure, relieving symptoms like edema and shortness of breath. Prioritizing diuretics can help manage the patient's fluid balance and improve heart function. Encouraging increased fluid intake (B) is contraindicated as it can worsen fluid overload. Restricting sodium intake (C) is important in heart failure management but not the top priority over administering diuretics. Administering pain medications (D) is not a priority intervention for chronic heart failure management.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct interpretation of a drumlike sound heard during percussion of the abdomen is that it indicates air-filled areas within the abdomen. This sound, known as tympany, occurs when air is present in the gastrointestinal tract or hollow organs. Percussion produces a resonant, drum-like sound over these air-filled areas. This is a normal finding during a physical examination. Incorrect Answers: A: Constipation does not typically produce a drumlike sound during percussion. Constipation may cause a dull sound due to fecal matter retention. C: The presence of a tumor would not cause a drumlike sound during percussion. Tumors are typically solid masses and would produce a dull sound during percussion. D: Dense organs such as the liver or spleen would produce a dull sound, not a drumlike sound, during percussion due to their solid nature.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administering diuretics as prescribed. Diuretics help reduce fluid retention in patients with heart failure, relieving symptoms like edema and shortness of breath. Prioritizing diuretics can help manage the patient's fluid balance and improve heart function. Encouraging increased fluid intake (B) is contraindicated as it can worsen fluid overload. Restricting sodium intake (C) is important in heart failure management but not the top priority over administering diuretics. Administering pain medications (D) is not a priority intervention for chronic heart failure management.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because obtaining information on the limitations related to the girl's involvement in sports activities is crucial for assessing her overall physical health and well-being. This information helps in understanding any potential risks or issues that may arise from her participation in sports. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they are not relevant to a review of systems for a healthy 7-year-old girl. Glaucoma examination, breast self-examination frequency, and electrocardiogram date are not typically part of a routine review of systems for a child of her age and health status.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: culturalism. This is because culturalism refers to the belief that all members of a culture share the same beliefs or practices. Expecting all Chinese persons to believe in the hot-cold theory is an example of culturalism as it assumes a homogenous perspective within the Chinese culture. A: A critical cultural perspective would involve questioning and analyzing cultural beliefs and practices rather than assuming they are universal. C: Ethnic practice refers to specific customs or traditions within a particular ethnic group, not a general belief system like the hot-cold theory. D: Ethnicity refers to one's cultural background or heritage, but it does not address the assumption of shared beliefs within a culture.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Respiratory depression. After a stroke, the patient may experience impaired breathing due to neurological damage affecting the respiratory center in the brain. Monitoring for signs of respiratory depression, such as shallow breathing or decreased oxygen saturation, is crucial to prevent respiratory failure. Severe headache (A) may be a symptom of stroke but is not the highest priority for monitoring. Dehydration (B) is important to prevent but not typically a direct consequence of stroke. Sudden loss of vision (D) may occur with certain types of strokes but is not as critical to monitor as respiratory depression.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: mental health issues. When taking a family history, mental health issues are important as they can have a genetic component and can impact the patient's overall health. Emphysema (A) is a respiratory condition, head trauma (B) is not typically hereditary, and fractured bones (D) are usually due to accidents or osteoporosis, not genetic.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Pitting edema and weight gain. In chronic heart failure, worsening symptoms indicate fluid retention. Pitting edema in the extremities and weight gain are signs of fluid overload, indicating worsening heart failure. It is crucial for the nurse to monitor these signs to prevent exacerbation. Fatigue and shortness of breath (Choice A) are common symptoms in heart failure but not specific to worsening condition. Increased urine output (Choice B) is not typically seen in worsening heart failure as the kidneys may be compromised. Decreased blood pressure (Choice C) can occur in acute decompensation but is not a consistent sign of worsening chronic heart failure.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Peripheral vascular disease. In a patient with diabetes, poor blood circulation due to damaged blood vessels can lead to delayed wound healing. Peripheral vascular disease is a common complication of diabetes that can result in inadequate blood flow to the extremities, impairing wound healing. Deep vein thrombosis (B) is a blood clot issue, not directly related to poor wound healing. Cellulitis (C) is a bacterial skin infection that can occur in anyone, not just diabetics. Skin cancer (D) is a condition unrelated to the wound healing process in this context.