After a walk-in client enters the clinic with a chief complaint of abdominal pain and diarrhea, the nurse takes the client's vital signs. What phase of the nursing process is being implemented by the nurse?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse is performing the assessment phase of the nursing process. Assessment involves collecting data, which includes obtaining vital signs, to identify the client's health status and needs. This step is crucial for the nurse to gather information that will guide further decision-making in the nursing process.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The exchange of gases, specifically oxygen and carbon dioxide, occurs in the lungs. In the lungs, oxygen from the air we breathe enters the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide is removed from the bloodstream and exhaled. This process is essential for respiration and supplying the body with oxygen for energy production.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The left atrium is the correct answer because it is the chamber of the heart specifically designed to receive oxygenated blood returning from the lungs via the pulmonary veins. After blood is oxygenated in the lungs, it travels through the pulmonary veins (the only veins in the body that carry oxygen-rich blood) and empties directly into the left atrium. From here, the blood passes through the mitral valve into the left ventricle, which then pumps it out to the rest of the body through the aorta. The left atrium’s role in the circulatory system is crucial as it acts as the receiving chamber for oxygenated blood before it is distributed systemically. The right atrium is incorrect because it receives deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior and inferior vena cava, not oxygenated blood from the lungs. The right atrium’s primary function is to collect blood returning from systemic circulation and pass it to the right ventricle, which then pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation. This makes the right atrium part of the pulmonary circuit, not the systemic circuit where oxygenated blood is handled. The left ventricle is incorrect because while it does handle oxygenated blood, it does not receive it directly from the lungs. Instead, the left ventricle receives blood from the left atrium and is responsible for pumping it into the aorta to supply the entire body. Its role is one of propulsion, not reception, making it the wrong answer for the question of which chamber first receives oxygenated blood. The right ventricle is incorrect because it deals exclusively with deoxygenated blood, pumping it to the lungs via the pulmonary artery. Like the right atrium, it is part of the pulmonary circuit, and its function is to send blood to the lungs for gas exchange, not to receive oxygenated blood. The pulmonary artery is the only artery in the body that carries deoxygenated blood, further highlighting that the right ventricle is not involved in handling oxygen-rich blood at any point. Understanding the distinct roles of each heart chamber is essential for grasping the circulatory system’s structure and function. The left atrium’s unique position as the entry point for oxygenated blood from the lungs underscores its importance in ensuring that oxygen-rich blood is efficiently passed to the left ventricle for systemic distribution. The incorrect choices represent chambers involved in either collecting or pumping deoxygenated blood, emphasizing the separation between pulmonary and systemic circulation in the heart’s anatomy.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The stomach is the correct answer because it is a muscular, J-shaped organ located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, specifically designed for the temporary storage and digestion of food. It expands to accommodate ingested food and secretes gastric juices to break it down mechanically and chemically. The stomach's primary functions include mixing food with digestive enzymes, regulating the rate at which it releases chyme (partially digested food) into the small intestine, and initiating protein digestion. Its muscular walls contract rhythmically (peristalsis) to churn food, further aiding digestion. The stomach's anatomical position and role in food storage and processing make it the clear choice for this description. The gallbladder (A) is incorrect because it is a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver, not the left side of the body. Its primary function is to store and concentrate bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver that aids in fat digestion. It does not store food but rather assists in the emulsification of fats during digestion. The gallbladder's role is entirely distinct from the temporary storage and mechanical breakdown of food, which are functions of the stomach. The urinary bladder (B) is incorrect because it is part of the excretory system, not the digestive system. Located in the pelvic cavity, its function is to store urine produced by the kidneys before excretion. While it is indeed a muscular sac, it has no role in food storage or digestion. The urinary bladder's association with waste removal and its anatomical position disqualify it from being the correct answer. The lungs (D) are incorrect because they are respiratory organs responsible for gas exchange, not food storage. Located in the thoracic cavity, they facilitate the intake of oxygen and expulsion of carbon dioxide. The lungs lack the muscular structure necessary for food storage and are not involved in any digestive processes. Their function and location are entirely unrelated to the description provided in the question. In summary, the stomach is the only organ among the options that matches the given description of a muscular, left-sided pouch for temporary food storage. The gallbladder, urinary bladder, and lungs each serve entirely different physiological roles and are anatomically and functionally mismatched with the question's criteria.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct choice is **C: Immunity**, because it directly refers to the body's complex defense mechanism that recognizes and combats specific pathogens like bacteria, viruses, toxins, and foreign bodies. Immunity involves both innate (general defenses like skin and phagocytes) and adaptive (specific responses like antibodies and memory cells) systems, which work together to identify, neutralize, and remember threats for faster future responses. This term encompasses the precise biological processes (e.g., antigen recognition, lymphocyte activation) that target invaders, making it the only option that fully aligns with the question’s focus on *specific* defense. **A: Hormones** is incorrect because hormones are chemical messengers (e.g., insulin, adrenaline) that regulate physiological functions like metabolism and growth, not pathogen defense. While some hormones may *influence* immune responses indirectly (e.g., cortisol suppressing inflammation), they do not constitute the body’s targeted defense system. Hormones lack the specificity to identify and remember pathogens, a hallmark of immunity. **B: Secretion** is incorrect because it broadly refers to the release of substances (e.g., enzymes, mucus) by glands or cells. Although secretions like stomach acid or mucus *contribute* to nonspecific defenses, they are not a coordinated system for targeting *specific* invaders. Secretions lack the adaptive precision of immune responses, such as antibody production tailored to a particular virus. **D: Glands** is incorrect because glands are organs that produce and release substances (e.g., sweat, saliva). While some glandular secretions (e.g., lysozyme in tears) have antimicrobial properties, glands themselves are not a defense mechanism. The question asks about the *ability* to defend, which involves systemic processes (e.g., immune cell activation), not anatomical structures. Glands play a supportive role but do not orchestrate pathogen-specific responses. Immunity stands out as the correct answer because it encapsulates the dynamic, targeted biological strategies (e.g., memory B cells, cytotoxic T cells) that distinguish it from broader physiological processes or structures. The incorrect choices either lack specificity (secretion, glands) or address unrelated regulatory functions (hormones). Understanding immunity requires recognizing its dual innate/adaptive components and its role in maintaining homeostasis against pathogens, which the other options cannot fulfill.