Mr. Mariano was on his way home from a party. Apparently, he got drunk and lost his balance and suffered a vehicular accident. Upon arrival at the hospital, the nurse noticed that his only injury is an open fracture of the left humerus. Which assessment finding by the nurse is critical?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: status of client’s tetanus immunization. It is critical because an open fracture poses a risk of infection, and tetanus prophylaxis is necessary to prevent tetanus infection. Tetanus is caused by a bacterium commonly found in soil and can enter the body through open wounds. Assessing the client's tetanus immunization status helps determine the need for a tetanus booster to prevent potential complications. Incorrect choices: B: Current blood alcohol level - While relevant to the situation, the priority in this case is preventing infection from the open fracture. C: Support systems available at home to assist with care - Important for discharge planning but not the immediate priority. D: Last time client voided - Not critical in this scenario compared to preventing infection from the open fracture.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Ambulating a patient. Direct care interventions involve hands-on activities directly impacting patient outcomes. Ambulating a patient is a direct care intervention as it involves physically assisting the patient to move, promoting circulation, preventing complications, and improving overall well-being. Inserting a feeding tube (B) and performing resuscitation (C) are also direct care interventions as they involve immediate patient care actions. Documenting wound care (D) is not a direct care intervention as it involves recording information about a care activity rather than physically performing the care itself.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because developing a standard formal nursing diagnosis helps nurses focus on the scope of their practice. By identifying specific patient problems and their potential causes, nurses can provide appropriate interventions and evaluate patient outcomes effectively. This process enhances the quality of care delivery and promotes patient safety. A: This is incorrect because nursing diagnoses are not meant to be a language exclusive to nurses but rather a standardized way to communicate patient data. B: This is incorrect as nursing diagnoses are not about distinguishing roles but rather about identifying and addressing patient problems. C: This is incorrect as nursing diagnoses are based on evidence and critical thinking, not solely on intuition.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: “Your heart is not an efficient pump.” This response is the best choice as it accurately describes heart failure, which is a condition where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively. This leads to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention. Explanation: 1. Choice A is incorrect because heart failure does not mean the heart stops; it means the heart is not functioning properly. 2. Choice B is incorrect because heart failure does not necessarily mean there is dead muscle tissue in the heart. 3. Choice C is incorrect because heart failure is not about pumping too much blood; it is about the heart's inability to pump blood efficiently, leading to circulation problems and other symptoms.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. Metabolic acidosis is characterized by low pH and low plasma bicarbonate. 2. In this condition, there is an excess of acids or a loss of bicarbonate. 3. The kidneys are unable to adequately excrete acids or retain bicarbonate. 4. This leads to a decrease in bicarbonate levels and a decrease in pH. 5. Respiratory acidosis (A) is characterized by low pH and high CO2 levels. 6. Respiratory alkalosis (C) is characterized by high pH and low CO2 levels. 7. Metabolic alkalosis (D) is characterized by high pH and high bicarbonate levels. Summary: - Choice A is incorrect as it describes a condition with high CO2 levels. - Choice C is incorrect as it describes a condition with high pH. - Choice D is incorrect as it describes a condition with high bicarbonate levels. - Choice B is correct as it accurately describes the characteristics of a condition with low pH

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: status of client’s tetanus immunization. It is critical because an open fracture poses a risk of infection, and tetanus prophylaxis is necessary to prevent tetanus infection. Tetanus is caused by a bacterium commonly found in soil and can enter the body through open wounds. Assessing the client's tetanus immunization status helps determine the need for a tetanus booster to prevent potential complications. Incorrect choices: B: Current blood alcohol level - While relevant to the situation, the priority in this case is preventing infection from the open fracture. C: Support systems available at home to assist with care - Important for discharge planning but not the immediate priority. D: Last time client voided - Not critical in this scenario compared to preventing infection from the open fracture.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because focusing on the patient's presenting situation is the first step in the problem-oriented approach. This allows the nurse to gather relevant data related to the current health issue, which is crucial for identifying the problem and formulating a care plan. Option A is incorrect as chronological order may not prioritize the most critical data. Option C is incorrect as interpretations come after data collection. Option D is incorrect as observation typically follows data collection and analysis. Focusing on the patient's presenting situation ensures efficient and effective data collection for problem-solving.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Focus on the patient's presenting situation. In the problem-oriented approach, the nurse starts by gathering data related to the patient's current health issue or concern. This step is crucial as it helps identify the primary problem and sets the direction for further data collection and analysis. By focusing on the patient's presenting situation, the nurse can prioritize information gathering and make informed decisions about the next steps in care. Incorrect choices: A: Completing questions in chronological order may not be relevant to the patient's current issue and could lead to missing important details. C: Making accurate interpretations of the data comes after data collection, so it is not the first step. D: Conducting an observational overview is important but typically follows focusing on the presenting situation to gather specific information.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Step 1: Antibiotics are prescribed to treat urethritis, indicating a bacterial infection in the urinary tract. Step 2: Increasing water intake (2-3 L daily) promotes renal blood flow, dilutes urine, and helps flush out bacteria from the urinary tract, aiding in the elimination of infection. Step 3: Adequate hydration helps prevent the formation of concentrated urine, reducing the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections. Step 4: Therefore, choice B is correct as it directly addresses the underlying cause of the client's symptoms. Summary: Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not directly target the bacterial infection causing the urinary discomfort. Drinking water will not specifically help with incontinence, eliminate odors, or provide pain relief.