A patient with a left arm fracture reports severe pain unrelieved by medication. What should the nurse assess for?

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RN ATI Capstone Proctored Comprehensive Assessment 2019 A with NGN Questions

Question 1 of 5

A patient with a left arm fracture reports severe pain unrelieved by medication. What should the nurse assess for?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Correct answer: When a patient with a left arm fracture reports severe pain unrelieved by medication, the nurse should assess for compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is a condition where increased pressure within a muscle compartment compromises circulation and can lead to tissue damage. It is a surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Choice B is incorrect because simply increasing pain medication without identifying the cause of the unrelieved pain may mask symptoms of a serious issue like compartment syndrome. Choice C is incorrect as surgery would only be necessary if compartment syndrome is confirmed. Choice D is incorrect as administering a sedative does not address the underlying issue of unrelieved pain and may delay appropriate treatment.

Question 2 of 5

A client with leukemia is considered for a bone marrow transplant. Which principle of healthcare ethics is being practiced by minimizing harm to the client?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Nonmaleficence. Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that focuses on avoiding harm to the patient. In this scenario, by considering a bone marrow transplant for the client with leukemia, healthcare professionals are practicing nonmaleficence by aiming to minimize harm. Choice A, Justice, pertains to fairness in the distribution of resources and decisions, which is not the primary focus in this situation. Choice B, Beneficence, involves promoting the patient's well-being, which is related but not directly addressing the act of minimizing harm. Choice D, Autonomy, refers to respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own care, which is not the key principle at play when minimizing harm in this context.

Question 3 of 5

A client asks about becoming an organ donor. What information should the nurse provide?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. For organ donation to be legally valid, the donor must sign consent documents in the presence of a witness. Choice A is incorrect because while discussing with family is important, it is not a legal requirement for organ donation. Choice B is incorrect as the organ donation process involves various steps and procedures that cannot begin immediately. Choice C is incorrect because organ donation typically requires consent and cooperation from the family if the donor is unable to provide consent.

Question 4 of 5

A nurse manager assigns a nursing assistant a task outside of their role. What should the nursing assistant do?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: If a nurse manager assigns a nursing assistant a task that is outside of their role, the nursing assistant should report the task to the charge nurse. This is important because the charge nurse can provide guidance on whether the task is appropriate for the nursing assistant to perform. Choice A is incorrect because blindly following a directive that is outside of the nursing assistant's scope could lead to negative consequences. Choice C might not be the best course of action initially, as it's important to seek clarification first. Choice D is also not the best option because performing a task outside of one's role without proper authorization can pose risks to both the patient and the nursing assistant.

Question 5 of 5

A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a client via a nasogastric (NG) tube. What should the nurse do first?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Flush the NG tube before and after each medication.' Flushing the NG tube is essential to ensure that the medication passes through smoothly without any obstruction. It helps prevent clogging of the tube and ensures that the full dose of the medication reaches the patient. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because crushing all medications at once, administering only liquid forms of medications, and skipping tube flushing entirely can lead to complications such as tube blockages, incomplete medication administration, and potential harm to the client.

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