What is the priority nursing intervention for a client with shortness of breath and wheezing?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer bronchodilators. Bronchodilators help dilate the airways, relieving bronchospasm and improving airflow in clients experiencing shortness of breath and wheezing. This intervention directly addresses the underlying cause of the symptoms. Administering corticosteroids (B) may be considered in severe cases to reduce inflammation but is not the priority initial intervention. Administering pain relief (C) is not indicated unless pain is identified as a contributing factor. Placing the client in a sitting position (D) can help improve breathing but does not directly address the bronchoconstriction causing the wheezing.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because critical thinking helps nurses analyze complex situations, identify relevant information, and plan effective interventions. It allows for systematic problem-solving and decision-making, leading to optimal patient care outcomes. Choice A is incorrect as critical thinking doesn't guarantee immediate answers. Choice C is incorrect because critical thinking complements clinical guidelines rather than replacing them. Choice D is incorrect as physical assessments are essential in nursing care and critical thinking enhances, not bypasses, this process.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Place the client in a supine position. This is the first step when administering Heparin to prevent bleeding or bruising at the injection site. Placing the client in a supine position helps reduce the risk of injury and promotes optimal absorption. Administering antipyretics (Choice A) is not the first step in administering Heparin. Administering insulin (Choice C) is unrelated to Heparin administration. Monitoring vital signs (Choice D) is important but typically done after the initial step of positioning the client correctly.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Respect and compassion are essential in end-of-life care to support patients emotionally. Step 2: Nurses need to show empathy and understanding towards patients and their families. Step 3: Providing comfort and dignity in the final stages of life is crucial. Step 4: Assessing and intervening (Choice B) is important but not the primary competency in end-of-life care. Step 5: Setting goals and dynamic changes to care (Choice C) may be relevant but not as fundamental as respect and compassion. Step 6: Keeping sad news away (Choice D) goes against transparency and trust-building in end-of-life care.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: decrease maternal fluids. When fetal distress is indicated, decreasing maternal fluids helps prevent further stress on the fetus by reducing the volume of amniotic fluid. This can help improve blood flow to the placenta and oxygen delivery to the baby. Increasing maternal fluids (choice A) can worsen the situation by potentially increasing amniotic fluid volume and further compromising fetal oxygenation. Administering oxygen (choice B) is important to improve oxygen supply to the fetus. Turning the mother (choice D) can help relieve pressure on the baby but is not the primary action when fetal distress is indicated.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer bronchodilators. Bronchodilators help dilate the airways, relieving bronchospasm and improving airflow in clients experiencing shortness of breath and wheezing. This intervention directly addresses the underlying cause of the symptoms. Administering corticosteroids (B) may be considered in severe cases to reduce inflammation but is not the priority initial intervention. Administering pain relief (C) is not indicated unless pain is identified as a contributing factor. Placing the client in a sitting position (D) can help improve breathing but does not directly address the bronchoconstriction causing the wheezing.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Apply a splint. This is the first step because immobilizing the affected limb helps prevent further injury and reduces pain. Administering fluids (B) and oxygen (C) are important but not the priority in this situation. Elevating the limb (D) can wait until the fracture is stabilized.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Provide a source of fast-acting carbohydrate. This is because in hypoglycemia, the patient's blood sugar levels are low and need to be raised quickly to avoid serious complications like seizures or loss of consciousness. Fast-acting carbohydrates, such as glucose tablets or juice, can rapidly increase blood sugar levels. Administering insulin (choice A) would further lower blood sugar levels, monitoring without intervention (choice C) could lead to worsening symptoms, and administering an oral hypoglycemic agent (choice D) may not act quickly enough to raise blood sugar levels in an emergency situation.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Neutropenia. Neutropenia is a common side effect of chemotherapy where there is a decrease in neutrophil count, increasing the risk of infections. Monitoring for neutropenia is crucial to prevent serious infections and sepsis in chemotherapy patients. Hyperkalemia (B), chronic pain (C), and hypertension (D) are not direct complications of chemotherapy and do not pose immediate life-threatening risks to patients undergoing chemotherapy. Monitoring for neutropenia takes precedence due to the potential for life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients.