A nurse is caring for a patient with severe burns. What is the priority intervention?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Provide sedation. This is the priority intervention for a patient with severe burns to manage pain and anxiety, prevent shock, and facilitate wound care. Sedation helps to reduce the patient's distress and allows for better assessment and treatment. Administering IV fluids (B) is important but not the top priority. Providing pain relief (A) is crucial, but sedation may be more effective for severe burns. Administering an antiemetic (D) is not the priority unless the patient is actively vomiting.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer IV fluids. Hypotension following surgery can indicate hypovolemia, so the priority is to increase fluid volume to improve perfusion to vital organs. Administering IV fluids will help increase blood pressure and improve circulation. Administering a vasopressor (B) should only be considered if fluid resuscitation is unsuccessful. Elevating the patient's legs (C) may help in some cases, but IV fluids are more critical. Monitoring vital signs (D) is important, but addressing the underlying cause of hypotension is the priority.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer morphine. Chest pain in a patient with a history of hypertension may indicate a myocardial infarction. Morphine is essential to alleviate pain and reduce myocardial oxygen demand. Nitroglycerin may lower blood pressure, which can be dangerous in a hypertensive patient. Aspirin is important for antiplatelet effects but not the immediate priority. Administering an antihypertensive is not necessary as the priority is managing chest pain.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer oxygen. In a patient with heart failure experiencing shortness of breath, the priority action is to ensure adequate oxygenation. Oxygen therapy helps to improve oxygen saturation levels, alleviate symptoms, and prevent further complications. Administering IV fluids (choice B) may worsen heart failure by increasing fluid overload. Administering pain relief (choice C) is not the priority when the patient is experiencing respiratory distress. Administering antiplatelet therapy (choice D) is not the immediate priority in this situation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer IV fluids. The priority nursing intervention for a patient experiencing nausea while receiving chemotherapy is to administer IV fluids. Chemotherapy can cause dehydration due to vomiting and lack of oral intake, which can lead to electrolyte imbalances and compromised renal function. Administering IV fluids helps maintain hydration, support renal function, and prevent complications. Administering antiemetics (choice A) can help alleviate nausea but does not address the underlying issue of dehydration. Nebulized bronchodilators (choice C) are not indicated for nausea related to chemotherapy. Monitoring vital signs (choice D) is important but not the priority intervention in this case where hydration is the main concern.