After an explosion at a factory one of the employees approaches the nurse and says, “I am an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) at the local hospital.” Which of these tasks should the nurse assign first to this worker who wants to help care for the wounded workers?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Check alertness. This task should be assigned first because it is crucial to ensure that the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is mentally and physically capable of providing assistance safely. Checking alertness helps determine if the worker is in a clear state of mind to follow instructions and make sound decisions in an emergency situation. This step is essential for the safety of both the UAP and the wounded workers. Explanation for other choices: A: Get temperatures - This task is important but not as critical as checking alertness in an emergency situation. B: Take blood pressure - Monitoring blood pressure may be important, but it is not the most immediate concern when assessing the UAP's ability to help. C: Palpate pulses - While assessing pulses is essential in healthcare, it is not as urgent as ensuring the UAP's alertness in this scenario.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because asking the child if the mouth is burning or if there is throat pain can help determine if a corrosive substance has been swallowed. Corrosive substances can cause immediate pain and burning sensation in the mouth and throat. This information is crucial for assessing the severity of the situation and providing appropriate care. Choice B is incorrect because taking the child's pulse and checking for breathing difficulties do not directly help in identifying if a corrosive substance has been ingested. Choice C is incorrect because the color of the child's lips and nails and voiding habits are not specific indicators of corrosive substance ingestion. Choice D is incorrect because symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps can be caused by various factors and may not specifically indicate ingestion of a corrosive substance.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. The school-age child with acute epiglottitis should be cared for first due to the potential for airway compromise and respiratory distress, as evidenced by drooling and absence of spontaneous cough. This is an emergency situation that requires immediate intervention to prevent airway obstruction and ensure adequate oxygenation. Choice A is not the priority as a pulse oximetry reading of 95% is adequate, and the child is already receiving oxygen. Choice B, the toddler with otitis media, can be managed with antipyretics and antibiotics for the ear infection but does not have an immediate life-threatening condition. Choice D, the adolescent with sickle cell disease and pain, should receive pain medication but does not have an acute airway emergency like the child with epiglottitis. It is crucial to prioritize care based on the urgency and potential severity of the condition to ensure the best outcomes for the patients.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Review the events leading up to each medication administration error. This strategy should be initiated first because it allows the committee to identify the root causes of the errors. By analyzing the events leading up to each error, the committee can pinpoint specific breakdowns in the medication administration process and implement targeted interventions to prevent future errors. This approach focuses on addressing the underlying issues that contribute to errors, leading to more effective and sustainable improvements in medication safety. Choice A is incorrect because providing an inservice on medication administration may be beneficial but does not address the specific causes of the errors. Choice B is also incorrect as simply requiring staff nurses to pass an examination may not address the systemic issues that contribute to errors. Choice D is incorrect as developing a quality improvement program for nurses involved in errors is reactive rather than proactive and may not prevent future errors.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Independent variable. The independent variable is the one that the researcher manipulates or controls to observe its effect on the dependent variable. It is the cause in a cause-and-effect relationship. The dependent variable, on the other hand, is the outcome that is measured and affected by the independent variable. Control variables are factors that are held constant to prevent them from influencing the results. Moderating variables are factors that can influence the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, but they are not directly manipulated by the researcher in the study.