Upon entering the room of a patient with a right radial arte rial line, the nurse assesses the waveform to be slightly dampened and notices blood to bea bbirabc.ckoemd/te ustp into the pressure tubing. What is the best action by the nurse?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Disconnect the flush system from the arterial line catheter. This action is necessary to prevent air from entering the patient's bloodstream, which can lead to air embolism. By disconnecting the flush system, the nurse stops the flow of air and ensures patient safety. Checking the inflation volume of the pressurized bag (A) is not the immediate concern in this situation. Zero referencing the transducer system (C) is unrelated to the issue of air entering the arterial line. Reducing the number of stopcocks in the flush system tubing (D) does not address the immediate risk of air embolism.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B (80 to 125 mL/min) because this range reflects the normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in adults. GFR measures the rate at which blood is filtered by the kidneys, typically around 125 mL/min. A GFR below 60 mL/min indicates kidney dysfunction, making option A incorrect. Option C (125 to 180 mL/min) is above the normal range. Option D (more than 189 mL/min) is too high and could indicate hyperfiltration, common in conditions like diabetes. Therefore, choice B is the most appropriate within the normal GFR range.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: contact the provider and expect a prescription for a normal saline bolus. The patient is showing signs of hypovolemia with decreased urine output, low blood pressure, and elevated heart rate. This indicates inadequate perfusion and potential hypovolemic shock. Administering a normal saline bolus will help restore intravascular volume and improve perfusion. Waiting for the provider to make rounds (option B) could delay necessary intervention. Continuing to evaluate urine output for 2 more hours (option C) is not appropriate given the patient's current condition. Ignoring the urine output (option D) is dangerous as it could lead to further complications.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The elevated BUN and creatinine levels with a normal BUN/creatinine ratio indicate impaired kidney function. This pattern is commonly seen in acute kidney injury, such as acute tubular necrosis (ATN). In ATN, there is damage to the renal tubules leading to decreased excretion of waste products, resulting in elevated BUN and creatinine levels. The normal BUN/creatinine ratio suggests that the impairment is due to renal tubular dysfunction rather than prerenal causes like hypovolemia or postrenal causes like urinary obstruction. Increased nitrogen intake would not produce this specific pattern of results. Fluid resuscitation would likely result in dilution of BUN and creatinine levels, leading to lower values.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C (80 mL/hour) because the minimum acceptable urine output for a patient is approximately 0.5-1 mL/kg/hour. For a 75 kg patient, this equates to 37.5-75 mL/hour. Therefore, an output of 80 mL/hour is within this range and is considered minimally acceptable. A: Less than 30 mL/hour is incorrect because it is below the recommended range for a 75 kg patient. B: 37 mL/hour is close to the lower end of the acceptable range, but it is not the minimum acceptable output. D: 150 mL/hour is above the recommended range and would be considered excessive for a 75 kg patient.