A nurse is preparing to assist with a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) procedure for a patient. What action should the nurse prioritize to ensure patient safety during TEE?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Ensuring the availability of emergency equipment and resuscitation medications is crucial to prioritize patient safety during a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) procedure. TEE involves inserting a specialized probe (transducer) into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of the heart. While complications during TEE are rare, they can include adverse reactions to sedation, esophageal injury, arrhythmias, or other cardiac events. By having emergency equipment and resuscitation medications readily available, the healthcare team can respond promptly to any unforeseen complications or emergencies that may arise during the procedure, ensuring optimal patient safety. Placing the patient in a supine position, providing sedation, and advising the patient to fast before the procedure are important aspects of the TEE process; however, ensuring emergency preparedness takes precedence in prioritizing patient safety during the procedure.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattentiveness, overactivity, and impulsiveness. Individuals with ADHD may have difficulty paying attention, completing tasks, sitting still, or controlling their impulses. Mental retardation (now referred to as intellectual disability) is a separate condition characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors. While individuals with ADHD may experience difficulties in school or work due to their symptoms, ADHD itself does not indicate mental retardation.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In a patient with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock, the primary intervention to manage shock is emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PCI is a procedure performed to restore blood flow in an occluded coronary artery that is causing the MI. By opening up the blocked artery and restoring blood flow to the heart muscle, PCI can help reduce myocardial damage, improve cardiac function, and stabilize the patient's condition. Prompt reperfusion via PCI is crucial in the setting of cardiogenic shock to improve survival outcomes and reduce the risk of further complications. Administering inotropic medications, initiating therapeutic hypothermia, or recommending anticoagulant therapy may be components of management in specific cases but are not the primary intervention for managing shock in a patient with acute MI and cardiogenic shock.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is a type of thyroid cancer that arises from follicular cells of the thyroid gland. It often presents as a thyroid nodule that can cause symptoms of compression due to its enlarging size. The compression symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing and breathing in this case, occur when the thyroid nodule becomes large enough to press on adjacent structures in the neck. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy can confirm the presence of malignant cells with nuclear features typical of papillary thyroid carcinoma, further supporting the diagnosis.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Demerol (meperidine hydrochloride) is an opioid analgesic commonly used as a preoperative medication to decrease intra-operative anesthetic requirements and provide analgesia. Opioids like Demerol act on the central nervous system to reduce pain sensations, making it an effective choice for preoperative pain management. This can help decrease the amount of anesthesia needed during surgery, leading to better pain control and overall patient comfort during and after the procedure. Celebrex, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen are also used for pain management, but they do not have the same potency and mechanism of action as opioids like Demerol for reducing intra-operative anesthetic requirements.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Identifying the patient's stage of change is crucial when someone expresses a desire to be "detoxified" from a substance like marijuana. The Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) outlines different stages individuals go through when making behavior changes. By identifying which stage the patient is in (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, or relapse), the nurse can tailor interventions and support accordingly. This approach helps ensure that interventions are effective and appropriate for the individual's readiness for change. It is important to meet the patient where they are in their journey towards detoxification and offer support and guidance accordingly.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In cases where a patient becomes seriously ill or is harmed due to receiving the wrong medication, both the nurse and the hospital are likely to be held liable. The nurse is responsible for administering the correct medication to the patient, and any error in this process can lead to harm. The hospital may also be held liable for the actions of its employees, including nurses, under the legal principle of vicarious liability. Additionally, the hospital has a duty to ensure that proper protocols are in place to prevent medication errors, and failure to do so can lead to liability. Therefore, in this scenario, both the nurse and the hospital are likely to share liability for the patient's harm.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Incompetent cervix, also known as cervical insufficiency, is the most likely cause of the symptoms described. Incompetent cervix is a condition where the cervix begins to dilate and efface prematurely, typically in the second trimester, without contractions or labor. This can lead to painless cervical dilation and bulging of the amniotic sac into the vagina, which can cause vaginal bleeding and crampy abdominal pain. It is a leading cause of second-trimester pregnancy loss. Treatment may involve a cervical cerclage, a surgical procedure where the cervix is stitched closed to provide additional support.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Type I IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis, are promptly managed with epinephrine. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis as it helps counteract the severe symptoms by relaxing the muscles in the airways, constricting blood vessels, and decreasing swelling. It acts quickly to reverse the potentially life-threatening effects of the allergic reaction and is crucial in managing anaphylaxis effectively. Other medications like antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine) and corticosteroids may be used as adjuncts, but epinephrine remains the primary treatment for immediate hypersensitivity reactions.