ATI RN
foundation of nursing practice questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A patient who has AIDS is being treated in the hospital and admits to having periods of extreme anxiety. What would be the most appropriate nursing intervention?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient with AIDS experiencing extreme anxiety is to teach the patient guided imagery. Guided imagery is a relaxation technique that can help the patient reduce anxiety levels, promote a sense of calm, and improve overall well-being. By teaching the patient how to use guided imagery, the nurse empowers the patient to manage her anxiety in a non-pharmacological way. This intervention promotes self-care and allows the patient to have a tool to use independently beyond the hospital setting. Giving the patient more control of her antiretroviral regimen may be beneficial for adherence but does not directly address the anxiety symptoms. Increasing the patient's activity level may be helpful for overall well-being but may not specifically target the extreme anxiety. Collaborating with the patient's physician to obtain an order for hydromorphone, a potent opioid medication, is not appropriate unless it is indicated for severe pain management, not anxiety.
Question 2 of 9
The nurse caring for a patient diagnosed with Parkinsons disease has prepared a plan of care that would include what goal?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease often experience speech and communication difficulties due to the effects of the disease on the muscles involved in speech production. This can manifest as soft, slurred speech or difficulty articulating words. Therefore, promoting effective communication would be an essential goal in the plan of care for a patient with Parkinson's disease. This goal may involve strategies such as speech therapy, communication devices, or providing a conducive environment to facilitate clearer communication between the patient and healthcare providers. By focusing on promoting effective communication, the nurse can help improve the patient's quality of life and enhance their ability to express their needs and concerns.
Question 3 of 9
A patient is in the primary infection stage of HIV. What is true of this patients current health status?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During the primary infection stage of HIV, the patient is newly infected with the virus. At this stage, the patient's immune system has not yet produced HIV-specific antibodies, making it difficult to detect HIV infection using standard antibody tests. Instead, the virus can be detected by testing for the presence of HIV RNA or p24 antigen. The primary infection stage is characterized by a high level of viral replication and rapid spread of the virus throughout the body. In this early stage, the patient may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. The absence of HIV-specific antibodies means that the patient is highly infectious and can easily transmit the virus to others. As the infection progresses, the patient will eventually develop HIV-specific antibodies, which can be detected through antibody tests.
Question 4 of 9
A nurse at an allergy clinic is providing education for a patient starting immunotherapy for the treatment of allergies. What education should the nurse prioritize?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should prioritize educating the patient on the importance of keeping appointments for desensitization procedures. Immunotherapy involves gradually increasing exposure to allergens to build tolerance and reduce allergic reactions. Missing desensitization appointments can lead to interruptions in treatment and potentially decrease the effectiveness of the therapy. It is crucial for the patient to adhere to the scheduled appointments as prescribed by the healthcare provider to ensure the success of the immunotherapy treatment.
Question 5 of 9
A patient is being discharged home from the ambulatory surgical center after cataract surgery. In reviewing the discharge instructions with the patient, the nurse instructs the patient to immediately call the office if the patient experiences what?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Redness of the eye after cataract surgery can be a sign of infection or inflammation, which are serious complications that require immediate medical attention. Redness may be accompanied by pain, swelling, or discharge, and if left untreated, it can lead to complications that may affect the surgical outcome and the patient's vision. Therefore, it is crucial for the patient to contact the office immediately if they notice any redness in their eye following cataract surgery.
Question 6 of 9
A 42 year-old patient tells the nurse that she has found a painless lump in her right breast during her monthly self-examination. She says that she is afraid that she has cancer. Which assessment finding would most strongly suggest that this patients lump is cancerous?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nonmobile mass with irregular edges would most strongly suggest that the patient's lump is cancerous. Breast cancer lumps typically do not move easily and have irregular, poorly defined edges. These characteristics are concerning because they can indicate an invasive and aggressive growth pattern. Additionally, the fact that the lump is painless is another feature that raises suspicion for malignancy. It is important for the patient to undergo further evaluation, possibly including a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy, to determine the nature of the lump and provide appropriate treatment.
Question 7 of 9
A nurse is asked how many kcal per gram fats provided. How should the nurse answer?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Fats, also known as lipids, are the most calorie-dense nutrient, providing 9 kcal per gram. This high calorie content is due to the structure of fats, which contain more carbon-hydrogen bonds, making them more energy-dense compared to carbohydrates and proteins. Carbohydrates and proteins, on the other hand, provide 4 kcal per gram each. This makes fats an important source of energy in the diet, but they should be consumed in moderation to maintain a healthy balance of nutrients.
Question 8 of 9
A nurse is providing care to a group of patients.Which situation will require the nurse to obtain a telephone order?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In this situation, the nurse needs to obtain a telephone order because the patient's condition has changed significantly. The drop in blood pressure from 120/80 to 90/50 along with the saturated incision dressing indicates a potential complication or need for immediate intervention. The nurse must act quickly to address the situation and may require additional orders from the primary care provider over the phone to manage the patient's condition effectively. The urgency and critical nature of the situation necessitate obtaining a telephone order promptly to ensure the best outcome for the patient.
Question 9 of 9
While assessing the patient at the beginning of the shift, the nurse inspects a surgical dressing covering the operative site after the patients cervical diskectomy. The nurse notes that the drainage is 75% saturated with serosanguineous discharge. What is the nurses most appropriate action?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most appropriate action for the nurse to take when observing the surgical dressing saturated with serosanguineous drainage is to reinforce the dressing and reassess in 1 to 2 hours. Serosanguineous discharge is a common type of drainage following surgery, as it is a mixture of blood and serum. It is expected in the early stages of wound healing and does not necessarily indicate infection. By reinforcing the dressing and closely monitoring the drainage over the next couple of hours, the nurse can assess if the amount of drainage is decreasing or escalating. If there are any signs of infection, such as increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or excessive purulent discharge, then the nurse should notify the physician promptly. Until then, it is appropriate to continue observing and managing the drainage within the expected range.