Which of the following assessment finding is typical of extracellular fluid loss?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Extracellular fluid loss (e.g., dehydration) reduces blood volume, causing a rapid, thready pulse as the heart compensates for hypovolemia. Distended jugular veins suggest fluid overload, not loss. Elevated hematocrit reflects hemoconcentration, but pulse is a more immediate sign. Increased sodium occurs with water loss, not always fluid volume. Nurses monitor pulse to detect early shock, guiding fluid replacement to restore circulation and prevent organ damage.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Battery is the intentional, unconsented physical contact, like striking a patient, a civil tort with legal repercussions. Negligence is unintentional harm, tort is a broader category, and crime involves criminal law. Nurses avoid battery by obtaining consent, respecting autonomy, as violations breach ethical and legal standards, risking lawsuits or discipline.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Aspirating urine from the tubing port with a sterile syringe is the appropriate action for obtaining a sterile urine specimen from an indwelling catheter. This maintains the closed system's integrity, minimizing infection risk by avoiding exposure to external contaminants. The port is designed for sterile sampling, ensuring the specimen reflects bladder contents accurately for testing. Using sterile gloves aids asepsis but isn't the complete action; it supports the procedure, not defines it. Opening the drainage bag introduces bacteria, risking contamination and infection. Disconnecting the catheter breaks the sterile circuit, increasing urinary tract infection likelihood contrary to best practice. Aspiration via the port, paired with aseptic technique, upholds infection control standards, ensuring patient safety and reliable diagnostic results, making it the optimal nursing action.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Stopping the infusion is the nurse's first intervention when observing a red, swollen venipuncture site, as this may indicate phlebitis, infiltration, or infection. Halting the IV prevents further tissue damage or fluid extravasation, prioritizing patient safety. Redness and swelling suggest inflammation or leakage into surrounding tissue, requiring immediate cessation to assess severity and plan next steps, like site relocation or physician consultation. Calling the physician follows assessment, not precedes stopping the infusion, as the nurse acts within scope to mitigate harm first. Slowing the infusion might worsen damage if fluid is already escaping the vein. A cold towel could reduce swelling later but doesn't address the active infusion causing the issue. Stopping the infusion is the critical initial step, enabling evaluation and preventing complications, aligning with nursing's focus on prompt, protective action.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Basic critical thinking involves following established guidelines or procedures, like using a manual for nasogastric tube insertion, typical for novices relying on concrete rules. The nurse here seeks confirmation, indicating dependence on external standards rather than independent judgment. Commitment reflects decisive action based on internalized reasoning, not manual reliance. Complex critical thinking analyzes and adapts procedures (e.g., modifying technique for patient anatomy), requiring experience beyond rote steps. The scientific method tests hypotheses, not applicable to routine protocol checks. Basic critical thinking suits this scenario, as the nurse applies learned steps without deviation, a foundational level ensuring safe practice while building toward higher-order skills in dynamic clinical settings.