ATI RN
foundation of nursing questions and answers Questions
Question 1 of 9
During the admission assessment of an HIV-positive patient whose CD4+ count has recently fallen, the nurse carefully assesses for signs and symptoms related to opportunistic infections. What is the most common life-threatening infection?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Pneumocystis pneumonia. This is the most common life-threatening infection in HIV-positive patients with low CD4+ counts. Pneumocystis pneumonia is caused by the opportunistic pathogen Pneumocystis jirovecii, which can lead to severe respiratory distress and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. The other choices, A: Salmonella infection, B: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and C: Clostridium difficile, can also cause infections in HIV-positive patients, but they are not as commonly associated with life-threatening complications in this population compared to Pneumocystis pneumonia. It is crucial for the nurse to prioritize assessment for signs and symptoms of Pneumocystis pneumonia in this patient to promptly intervene and prevent further complications.
Question 2 of 9
A nurse is caring for an 87-year-old Mexican-American female patient who is in end-stage renal disease. The physician has just been in to see the patient and her family to tell them that nothing more can be done for the patient and that death is not far. The physician offers to discharge the patient home to hospice care, but the patient and family refuse. After the physician leaves, the patients daughter approaches you and asks what hospice care is. What would this lack of knowledge about hospice care be perceived as?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: A barrier to hospice care for this patient. The lack of knowledge about hospice care can be perceived as a barrier to accessing this type of care for the patient and her family. Understanding hospice care is crucial in making informed decisions about end-of-life care options. This lack of knowledge does not necessarily indicate lack of education (choice A), language barrier (choice B), or inability to grasp American concepts of health care (choice D), as hospice care is a universal concept that transcends cultural and educational backgrounds.
Question 3 of 9
A nurse is preparing a patient for allergy skin testing. Which of the following precautionary steps is most important for the nurse to follow?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Having emergency equipment readily available is crucial during allergy skin testing as it can lead to severe allergic reactions. This precaution ensures prompt intervention in case of anaphylaxis. Other choices are incorrect because: A) Recent immunizations do not directly impact the skin testing process. B) Administering albuterol is not a standard pre-test requirement. C) Prophylactic epinephrine is not routinely given before allergy skin testing.
Question 4 of 9
A nurse is creating a plan of care for an oncology patient and one of the identified nursing diagnoses is risk for infection related to myelosuppression. What intervention addresses the leading cause of infection- related death in oncology patients?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Assess the integrity of the patients oral mucosa regularly. Myelosuppression leads to decreased white blood cells, increasing infection risk. The oral mucosa can be a common site for infections. Regular assessment helps in early detection and intervention. A: Encouraging small meals does not directly address infection risk in myelosuppressed patients. B: Providing skin care is important for overall patient care but does not directly address the leading cause of infection-related death. C: Assisting with hygiene is important but does not specifically target the leading cause of infection-related death in oncology patients.
Question 5 of 9
Before giving the patient an intermittent gastric tube feeding, what should the nurse do?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because injecting air into the stomach via the tube and auscultating helps confirm the tube placement in the stomach before administering the feeding. This step ensures the safety of the patient by preventing accidental lung feeding. Choice A is incorrect because securing the tube with a safety pin to the gown is not a standard practice and can lead to complications. Choice C is incorrect because the temperature of the feeding does not affect the tube placement or safety. Choice D is incorrect because checking the pH level is not a reliable method for verifying tube placement.
Question 6 of 9
A nurse is inserting a catheter into a female patient. When the nurse inserts the catheter, no urine is obtained. The nurse suspects the catheter is not in the urethra. What should the nurse do?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct choice is C because if no urine is obtained, it indicates that the catheter is not in the urethra. The nurse should remove the catheter, wipe with alcohol to maintain cleanliness, and reinsert after lubrication to ensure proper placement in the urethra. This step-by-step approach allows for a more accurate catheter insertion and prevents potential complications. Choice A is incorrect as discarding the catheter and starting over without addressing the issue does not solve the problem. Choice B is incorrect as filling the balloon with sterile water is not relevant to the situation of catheter misplacement. Choice D is incorrect as leaving the catheter in the vagina can lead to infection and is not a recommended practice.
Question 7 of 9
The nurse learns about cultural issues involvedin the patient’s health care belief system and enables patients and families to achieve meaningful and supportive care. Which concept is the nurse demonstrating?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Culturally congruent care. This concept refers to providing care that aligns with the patient's cultural beliefs and practices. By learning about cultural issues and enabling patients to receive care that is meaningful and supportive within their cultural context, the nurse is demonstrating culturally congruent care. A: Marginalized groups - This refers to groups in society who are disadvantaged and face discrimination. While understanding cultural issues may be important when caring for marginalized groups, it is not the main concept demonstrated in this scenario. B: Health care disparity - This refers to differences in access to healthcare and health outcomes among different populations. While cultural competence can help address healthcare disparities, it is not the concept being demonstrated here. C: Transcultural nursing - This refers to providing care across different cultures. While related, it does not specifically address the nurse's role in understanding and enabling culturally appropriate care for individual patients and families.
Question 8 of 9
A 23-year-old woman comes to the free clinic stating I think I have a lump in my breast. Do I have cancer? The nurse instructs the patient that a diagnosis of breast cancer is confirmed by what?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mammography. Mammography is the gold standard for diagnosing breast cancer as it can detect abnormalities such as lumps or tumors in the breast tissue. It provides detailed images that can help healthcare providers identify suspicious areas that may require further testing or biopsy. Supervised breast self-examination (choice A) is important for early detection but is not a diagnostic tool. Fine-needle aspiration (choice C) is a procedure used to obtain a sample of cells for further analysis but is not definitive for diagnosing breast cancer. Chest x-ray (choice D) is used to evaluate the lungs and heart, not the breast tissue for cancer.
Question 9 of 9
A patient with genital herpes is having an acute exacerbation. What medication would the nurse expect to be ordered to suppress the symptoms and shorten the course of the infection?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Acyclovir (Zovirax). Acyclovir is an antiviral medication specifically used to treat herpes infections, including genital herpes. It works by inhibiting the replication of the herpes virus, thereby suppressing symptoms and shortening the course of the infection. Clotrimazole (A) is an antifungal medication used to treat yeast infections, not effective against viral infections like herpes. Metronidazole (B) is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, not effective against viruses. Podophyllin (C) is a topical treatment for genital warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), not effective for herpes. Therefore, the correct choice is Acyclovir (D) for treating genital herpes exacerbation.