While taking the history of an older adult client, which assessment finding alerts the nurse that the client needs further assessment for fluid or electrolyte imbalance?

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Endocrinology Exam Questions

Question 1 of 9

While taking the history of an older adult client, which assessment finding alerts the nurse that the client needs further assessment for fluid or electrolyte imbalance?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'My rings seem to be tighter this week.' This assessment finding indicates possible fluid retention, which can be a sign of fluid or electrolyte imbalance in an older adult. Choices A, B, and C do not specifically point towards fluid or electrolyte imbalance. Feeling cold, increased urination with coffee consumption, and feeling thirsty in the summer are not direct indicators of fluid or electrolyte imbalance in this context.

Question 2 of 9

When obtaining a client's vital signs, the nurse assesses a blood pressure of 134/88 mm Hg. What is the nurse's best intervention?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is to teach the client lifestyle modifications to decrease blood pressure. A blood pressure reading of 134/88 mm Hg falls within the prehypertension range. The initial approach to managing prehypertension involves lifestyle modifications such as dietary changes, exercise, and stress reduction techniques. Calling the healthcare provider without attempting non-pharmacological interventions first is premature. Reassessing blood pressure at the next follow-up appointment may delay necessary interventions. Administering additional antihypertensive medication is not indicated at this stage as lifestyle modifications are the first line of treatment for prehypertension.

Question 3 of 9

A nurse is to administer a unit of whole blood to a postoperative client. What does the nurse do to ensure the safety of the blood transfusion?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Ensuring the safety of a blood transfusion is crucial to prevent potential errors or adverse reactions. Checking the blood identification numbers with the laboratory technician at the Blood Bank when the blood is dispersed helps confirm that the correct blood product is being administered to the right patient, reducing the risk of transfusion reactions. The other choices are incorrect because asking the client to say and spell their full name (Choice A) is a part of the identification process but not specific to ensuring the safety of the blood transfusion. While having another qualified healthcare professional check the unit (Choice B) is a good practice, the direct verification with the Blood Bank technician is a more critical step in ensuring the correct blood product is administered. Choice D is irrelevant to ensuring the safety of the blood transfusion as it addresses infection control measures.

Question 4 of 9

What intervention is most important to teach the client about identifying the onset of dehydration?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Obtaining and charting daily weight. Monitoring daily weight is crucial in identifying the onset of dehydration as weight loss can be an early sign. Measuring abdominal girth (choice A) is not the most reliable method for detecting dehydration. Converting ounces to milliliters (choice B) and selecting food items with high water content (choice D) may be important for overall hydration but are not the most critical interventions for identifying the onset of dehydration.

Question 5 of 9

The healthcare professional is assessing a client with hypertension. Which client outcome is indicative of effective hypertension management?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'No indication of renal impairment.' Effective hypertension management aims to prevent complications such as renal impairment. Checking for signs of kidney issues, like abnormal renal function tests, is crucial in monitoring the client's condition. Choices A, B, and D are not specific indicators of effective hypertension management. Pedal edema, sexual dysfunction, and a single blood pressure reading are important but do not solely determine the effectiveness of managing hypertension.

Question 6 of 9

The nurse assesses distended neck veins in a client sitting in a chair to eat. What intervention is the nurse's priority?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the pulse and blood pressure. Distended neck veins can indicate fluid volume overload or heart failure, which can lead to hemodynamic instability. Assessing the pulse and blood pressure will provide immediate information on the client's cardiovascular status. Documenting the observation in the chart (choice A) is important but not the priority when immediate assessment is needed. Measuring urine specific gravity and volume (choice B) is important for assessing renal function but is not the priority in this situation. Assessing the client's deep tendon reflexes (choice D) is not relevant to addressing distended neck veins in a client sitting to eat.

Question 7 of 9

How does the nurse interpret the client's actions of combing her hair only on the right side of her head and washing only the right side of her face after a stroke?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The client's selective grooming and washing habits indicate a condition known as 'unawareness of the existence of her left side,' also called hemispatial neglect. This condition is characterized by a lack of awareness or attention to one side of the body or space, typically the left side in stroke patients. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the client's actions are not due to poor motor control, paralysis, contractures, or limited visual perception. Instead, they are indicative of a specific cognitive deficit related to neglecting one side of the body.

Question 8 of 9

To obtain a sterile urine specimen from a client with a Foley catheter, the nurse begins by applying a clamp to the drainage tubing distal to the injection port. What does the nurse do next?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: After clamping the drainage tubing, the next step in obtaining a sterile urine specimen from a client with a Foley catheter is to clean the injection port cap of the drainage tubing with povidone-iodine solution. This cleaning step helps prevent contamination of the urine sample. Clamping another section of the tube isn't necessary and may not be a standard practice. Inserting a syringe into the injection port to aspirate urine isn't the correct step at this point. Withdrawing 10 mL of urine and discarding it before collecting the sample isn't appropriate and may lead to an inaccurate sample.

Question 9 of 9

When the client finds antiembolism stockings uncomfortably tight, what is the nurse's best action?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take when a client finds antiembolism stockings uncomfortably tight is to teach the client the purpose of wearing the stockings. This educates the client on the importance of the stockings in preventing blood clots and encourages compliance. Removing the stockings or pulling them down may compromise their effectiveness. Measuring the client's calf size is not necessary in this situation as the discomfort is due to tightness, not incorrect sizing.

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