The nurse is caring for a patient in the operating suite. Which outcome will be most appropriate for this patient at the end of the intraoperative phase?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: The patient will be free of burns at the grounding pad. This outcome is crucial in the intraoperative phase to ensure the patient's safety. Burns at the grounding pad can occur due to improper equipment setup or malfunction, potentially leading to serious complications. Ensuring the patient is free of burns at the grounding pad indicates that proper safety measures were taken during the surgery. Summary: - Choice B (The patient will be free of nausea and vomiting) is related to postoperative care, not intraoperative phase. - Choice C (The patient will be free of infection) is important but not specific to the intraoperative phase. - Choice D (The patient will be free of pain) is also important but not as critical as preventing burns at the grounding pad during the intraoperative phase.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the patient is showing signs of dehydration and metabolic imbalance characteristic of diabetic ketoacidosis. Dry skin and mucous membranes, along with increased thirst and frequent urination, are indicative of dehydration due to high blood sugar levels. Hypotension could be due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Shallow rapid respirations are a compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis. Choices A, B, and C do not align with the typical presentation of diabetic ketoacidosis, as they do not include the key signs of dehydration, metabolic acidosis, and electrolyte imbalances seen in this condition.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: ST segment. The ST segment on an ECG tracing represents the early part of ventricular repolarization. It begins at the end of the QRS complex and ends at the beginning of the T wave. This segment reflects the time when the ventricles are preparing to relax and reset for the next cycle. The PR interval (B) represents the time for the electrical impulse to travel from the atria to the ventricles. The QT interval (C) represents the total time for ventricular depolarization and repolarization. The QRS complex (D) represents ventricular depolarization.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because in a severely hypothermic patient in cardiac arrest, the decreased metabolism and altered drug distribution make standard medication intervals ineffective. By spacing IV medications at longer intervals, there is a reduced risk of toxicity due to the slowed drug metabolism. Option A is incorrect because simply administering warm fluids and initiating rewarming procedures does not address the altered drug metabolism in hypothermia. Option C is incorrect because it generalizes that the patient will not respond to cardiac medication, which may not be true in all cases. Option D is incorrect because higher than normal doses of cardiac medications can increase the risk of toxicity without providing any significant benefit due to the altered drug metabolism in hypothermia.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Subdural hematoma. A subdural hematoma is a collection of blood between the dura mater and arachnoid mater layers of the meninges. This type of injury typically occurs due to acceleration-deceleration forces causing tearing of bridging veins, common in closed head injuries. The symptoms described (headache, confusion, visual disturbances) are consistent with the presentation of a subdural hematoma. Other choices are less likely: A) Coup-contra-coup injury involves impact forces causing brain injury at the site of impact and opposite side, typically seen in motor vehicle accidents. B) Diffuse axonal injury is caused by shearing forces leading to widespread damage throughout the brain, often resulting in a comatose state. D) Epidural hematoma is a collection of blood between the dura mater and the skull, usually due to arterial bleeding, and is more commonly associated with a lucid interval followed by rapid deterioration, but