ATI RN
foundation of nursing questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A patient with a new diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is overwhelmed by his diagnosis and the known complications of the disease. How can the patient best make known his wishes for care as his disease progresses?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Prepare an advance directive. This allows the patient to document their healthcare preferences in advance, ensuring their wishes are known and honored as the disease progresses. It provides clear instructions for healthcare providers and family members, reducing potential conflicts and ensuring the patient's autonomy is respected. Choice B is incorrect as designating an MRP focuses on medical decision-making but may not capture the full range of the patient's care preferences. Choice C involves collaboration with an organization, which may not fully represent the patient's individual wishes. Choice D is incorrect as witnesses are not always necessary for providing instructions, and the presence of witnesses does not guarantee that the patient's wishes will be followed accurately.
Question 2 of 9
A patient with a hip fracture is having difficulty defecating into a bedpan while lying in bed. Which action by the nurse will assist the patient in having a successful bowel movement?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Rationale: Option D is correct because raising the head of the bed promotes a more natural position for defecation, allowing gravity to assist. This position helps align the rectum and anal canal, making it easier for the patient to have a bowel movement. Administering laxatives (Option C) may help, but adjusting the bed position is a non-invasive and more immediate intervention. Withholding pain medication (Option B) could lead to unnecessary discomfort for the patient. Administering a barium enema (Option A) is not indicated for addressing difficulty with defecation.
Question 3 of 9
The nurse is discharging a patient home after surgery for trigeminal neuralgia. What advice should the nurse provide to this patient in order to reduce the risk of injury?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step 1: Trigeminal neuralgia involves severe facial pain, often triggered by touch or movement. Step 2: Rubbing the eye on the affected side can trigger pain due to the trigeminal nerve involvement. Step 3: Therefore, advising the patient to avoid rubbing the eye on the affected side is crucial to prevent pain exacerbation and potential injury. Step 4: Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not directly address the risk of injury related to trigeminal neuralgia.
Question 4 of 9
In the past three to four decades, nursing has moved into the forefront in providing care for the dying. Which phenomenon has most contributed to this increased focus of care of the dying?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Demographic changes in the population. This is because as the population ages, there is a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses and an increased number of people facing end-of-life care needs. This has led to a greater demand for palliative and hospice care services, shifting the focus of nursing towards providing care for the dying. A: Increased incidence of infections and acute illnesses is not the primary factor contributing to the increased focus on care for the dying. While these conditions do require nursing care, they do not directly explain the shift in focus. B: Increased focus of health care providers on disease prevention is important but does not directly explain the increased attention on care for the dying. Disease prevention aims to reduce the incidence of illnesses, not necessarily address end-of-life care needs. C: Larger numbers of people dying in hospital settings may be a consequence of the increased focus on care for the dying, but it is not the underlying phenomenon driving the shift in nursing care towards end-of
Question 5 of 9
A woman calls the clinic and tells the nurse she has had bloody drainage from her right nipple. The nurse makes an appointment for this patient, expecting the physician or practitioner to order what diagnostic test on this patient?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Breast ultrasound. Bloody drainage from the nipple can be indicative of various conditions such as breast cancer. A breast ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging test that can help visualize any abnormalities in the breast tissue, including masses or tumors. It is commonly used to evaluate breast symptoms like nipple discharge. Radiography (B) is not typically used for evaluating breast conditions. Positron emission testing (PET) (C) is more commonly used in cancer staging and may not be the first-line test for this symptom. Galactography (D) is a specific imaging test used to evaluate the ducts of the breast and may not be the initial test for bloody nipple discharge.
Question 6 of 9
A nurse who provides care on an acute medical unit has observed that physicians are frequently reluctant to refer patients to hospice care. What are contributing factors that are known to underlie this tendency? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Financial pressures on health care providers. Physicians may be reluctant to refer patients to hospice care due to financial pressures. This could be because hospice care may be seen as less profitable compared to other treatments or services. Other choices are incorrect because: B: Patient reluctance is not a contributing factor from the physician's perspective. C: Hospice care is actually focused on comfort and quality of life, not prolonging death. D: Advances in curative treatment may not be directly related to physician reluctance to refer to hospice. E: Ease of making a terminal diagnosis is not a significant factor influencing physician reluctance.
Question 7 of 9
Which major neonatal complication is carefully monitored after the birth of the infant of a diabetic mother?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hypoglycemia. Infants of diabetic mothers are at risk for hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin production in response to high glucose levels in utero. Monitoring blood glucose levels is crucial to prevent hypoglycemia-related complications. B: Hypercalcemia is not a major neonatal complication seen in infants of diabetic mothers. C: Hypoinsulinemia refers to low levels of insulin, which is not typically a concern in infants of diabetic mothers. D: Hypobilirubinemia is not a common complication in infants of diabetic mothers. In summary, monitoring for hypoglycemia is essential in infants of diabetic mothers to prevent potential complications.
Question 8 of 9
A nurse is teaching preventative measures for otitis externa to a group of older adults. What action should the nurse encourage?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Rinsing the ears with normal saline after swimming. This is because rinsing with normal saline helps to remove excess moisture and debris, preventing bacterial growth that can lead to otitis externa. Avoiding loud noises (B) is important for overall ear health but does not specifically prevent otitis externa. Instilling antibiotic ointments regularly (C) is not recommended as it can disrupt the ear's natural flora. Avoiding cotton swabs (D) is important to prevent injury but does not directly prevent otitis externa.
Question 9 of 9
A nurse is teaching about the energy needed at rest to maintain life-sustaining activities for a specific period of time. What is the nurse discussing?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Basal metabolic rate (BMR). BMR refers to the minimum amount of energy required to maintain basic physiological functions at rest. It accounts for about 60-75% of total energy expenditure. It is essential for sustaining life-sustaining activities such as breathing, circulating blood, and maintaining body temperature. Incorrect Choices: A: Resting energy expenditure (REE) is the total amount of energy expended by the body while at rest, including BMR and additional energy for daily activities. C: Nutrient density refers to the amount of nutrients per calorie in a food item, not the energy needed at rest. D: Nutrients are essential substances in food required for growth, maintenance, and repair, but they do not specifically refer to the energy needed at rest.