ATI RN
Basic Principles of Patient Care Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient on the medical-surgical floor. Which activity will the nurse encourage to prevent venous stasis and the formation of thrombus?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Leg exercises. Leg exercises promote circulation, preventing venous stasis and thrombus formation postoperatively. Contracting leg muscles helps push blood back to the heart, reducing the risk of blood clots. Diaphragmatic breathing (A) and incentive spirometry (B) aid in lung expansion, not in preventing venous stasis. Coughing (D) helps clear secretions but does not directly prevent thrombus formation.
Question 2 of 5
Your adult patient sustained a right index finger amputation at work. On arrival, first responders have the bleeding controlled with sterile dressings, and the patient is conscious, alert, and oriented. What is the best way to manage the patient's amputated finger during transport to the hospital?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct Answer: B Rationale: 1. Wrapping the finger in moistened gauze helps maintain tissue hydration and minimizes desiccation. 2. Sealing the finger in a plastic bag prevents contamination and keeps the amputated part secure. 3. Placing the finger on ice helps preserve the amputated part by reducing metabolic activity and delaying tissue death. 4. Moistened gauze with normal saline is preferred over dry gauze to prevent further tissue damage. Summary: A: Incorrect - Not wrapping the finger increases the risk of contamination and desiccation. C: Incorrect - Rinsing the finger can further damage the tissues and is unnecessary. D: Incorrect - Placing the finger close to the patient's core does not provide adequate preservation as ice does.
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following operational modes used in EMS communication can transmit voice as well as telemetry simultaneously?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Multiplex mode. In multiplex mode, multiple signals are combined into a single signal for transmission, allowing voice and telemetry data to be sent simultaneously. This is achieved through time-division multiplexing or frequency-division multiplexing. Trunk system mode (A) involves sharing a pool of communication channels among multiple users, but does not specifically enable voice and telemetry transmission simultaneously. Duplex mode (C) allows for two-way communication but may not necessarily support both voice and telemetry simultaneously. Simplex mode (D) only allows communication in one direction, making it unsuitable for transmitting voice and telemetry simultaneously.
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following would be an early sign of a possible aortic dissection?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (C): An early sign of a possible aortic dissection is a blood pressure difference of 20 mmHg or more in the upper extremities. This is due to the unequal blood pressure distribution resulting from the dissection affecting the aorta. The pressure gradient occurs because the false lumen of the aorta created by the dissection leads to different blood pressures in the upper extremities. Monitoring blood pressure in both arms helps detect this discrepancy. Summary of Incorrect Choices: A: A narrowing pulse pressure and tachycardia - Not specific to aortic dissection. B: A sudden rise in systolic blood pressure and fall in diastolic blood pressure - More commonly seen in aortic rupture than dissection. D: A reddish-blue discoloration of the skin above the shoulders - Typically associated with different conditions and not a characteristic sign of aortic dissection.
Question 5 of 5
You are evaluating a trauma patient who may have sustained a spinal cord injury. Which of the following would you expect to see in a trauma patient with a spinal cord injury with autonomic nervous system involvement?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. In spinal cord injury with autonomic nervous system involvement, there is disruption of sympathetic and parasympathetic control. This leads to bradycardia due to loss of sympathetic tone, hypotension due to disrupted baroreceptor reflexes, and loss of sweating or shivering ability due to impaired temperature regulation. Choice B is incorrect because hypertension and warm, dry skin are more indicative of sympathetic overactivity, not autonomic dysfunction. Numbness of fingertips is not a typical feature of autonomic involvement. Choice C is incorrect as tachycardia and hypertension are more suggestive of sympathetic overactivity, and one-sided paralysis and amnesia are not specific to autonomic dysfunction. Choice D is incorrect as tachycardia and diaphoresis suggest sympathetic overactivity, while cool and clammy skin is more indicative of hypovolemia rather than autonomic dysfunction.