Which nursing action is best when managing a client with severe anxiety?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to maintain a calm manner. When managing a client with severe anxiety, the nurse's calm presence can help the client feel more secure and reduce their anxiety levels. It is essential to create a safe and supportive environment. Helping the client identify thoughts prior to anxiety (choice B) may be beneficial in cognitive-behavioral interventions but may not be the initial best action for severe anxiety. Administering anti-anxiety medication (choice C) should be done by a healthcare provider's order and is not the first-line intervention for managing severe anxiety. Initiating seclusion (choice D) should only be considered as a last resort if the client is at risk of harm to themselves or others, as it can further escalate anxiety and should not be the initial action.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B - 'Identify the underlying causative condition.' When a client is experiencing delirium, it is crucial to determine the root cause of this acute change in mental status. This can involve a thorough assessment to identify any medical conditions, medications, infections, or environmental factors that may be contributing to the delirium. By pinpointing the underlying cause, appropriate interventions can be implemented to address the specific issue. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because controlling behavioral symptoms with low-dose psychotropics, increasing environmental stimulation, and administering antipsychotic medication do not target the primary need of identifying and addressing the causative condition of delirium.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Performing a wound culture before applying ointment is crucial when providing wound care to a client with a pressure ulcer. This action helps identify any underlying infections, allowing healthcare providers to select the most appropriate treatment. Options A, B, and D are not as critical as performing a wound culture, as they focus on wound dressing and cleansing rather than identifying potential infections.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The nurse should prioritize performing a wound culture before administering antibiotics to ensure appropriate treatment. This step helps identify the specific infecting organism and its susceptibility to different antibiotics, guiding effective antibiotic therapy. Changing the dressing daily (Choice A) is important but comes after assessing the infection and initiating appropriate treatment. Cleansing the wound with an antiseptic solution (Choice B) and applying a wet-to-dry dressing (Choice C) are interventions that may be necessary but are secondary to determining the most suitable antibiotic therapy based on the wound culture results.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Performing a wound culture before administering antibiotics is crucial when managing a client with a wound infection. This step helps identify the specific pathogens causing the infection, allowing for the prescription of the most effective antibiotics. Changing the wound dressing every 24 hours (Choice A) is important for wound care but not the priority when an infection is present. Cleansing the wound with alcohol-based solutions (Choice C) can be too harsh and may delay wound healing. Applying a wet-to-dry dressing (Choice D) is not recommended for infected wounds as it can cause trauma to the wound bed during dressing changes.