During an acute asthma attack in a client with asthma, what medication should the nurse administer first?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Short-acting beta agonist. During an acute asthma attack, the priority is to quickly relieve bronchoconstriction and improve airflow. Short-acting beta agonists like albuterol are the first-line medications for acute asthma exacerbations as they act rapidly to relax smooth muscles in the airways, providing immediate relief of symptoms. Oral corticosteroids (A) are important for long-term management but do not provide immediate relief. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (C) and long-acting beta agonists (D) are not appropriate for acute asthma attacks as they have slower onset of action and are used for maintenance therapy.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Assess the client for any allergies, especially to iodine or shellfish. This is crucial because contrast dye containing iodine is commonly used during cardiac catheterization, and a client with allergies to iodine or shellfish can have a severe allergic reaction. It is essential to identify allergies beforehand to prevent any potential adverse reactions during the procedure. A: Ensuring NPO status is important for some procedures, but assessing for allergies is more critical to prevent life-threatening reactions. B: Administering pre-procedure medications is important, but assessing for allergies takes precedence to avoid allergic reactions. C: While obtaining informed consent is necessary, assessing for allergies is a crucial safety measure to prevent allergic reactions during the procedure.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Assessing for chest pain. The priority assessment for a client post-MI is to monitor for any signs of recurrent chest pain or angina, as it could indicate ongoing cardiac ischemia or a new infarction. Prompt intervention is crucial in these situations to prevent further damage to the heart muscle. Monitoring urine output (A) and electrolyte levels (D) are important assessments but do not take precedence over assessing for chest pain. Checking blood glucose levels (B) is relevant for diabetic clients but is not the priority in this case.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Take prescribed antihypertensive medications regularly. This is the most important instruction for preventing another stroke because hypertension is a major risk factor for strokes. By controlling blood pressure with antihypertensive medications, the patient can significantly reduce the risk of another stroke. Engaging in physical therapy exercises (choice B) can be beneficial for overall recovery but is not as critical for stroke prevention as managing blood pressure. Following a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet (choice C) is important for heart health but not the most crucial for stroke prevention. Attending regular follow-up appointments (choice D) is essential for monitoring progress and adjusting treatment but does not directly prevent another stroke like managing hypertension does.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assess the client's respiratory status. The first action should be to assess the client's respiratory status as the weight gain could indicate fluid retention leading to pulmonary congestion, a common complication in heart failure. By assessing the respiratory status, the nurse can determine if there are signs of respiratory distress such as increased work of breathing, crackles, or shortness of breath. This assessment will help in identifying any immediate need for interventions such as oxygen therapy or diuretics. Restricting fluid intake (choice A) is important but not the first step. Administering diuretics (choice C) should be based on assessment findings. Notifying the healthcare provider (choice D) can be done after assessing the client's respiratory status.