ATI LPN
PN Adult Medical Surgical 2023 Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has heart failure. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heart failure management hinges on detecting decompensation, where weight gain from fluid retention is a red flag. Sudden increases (e.g., 2-3 lbs overnight) signal worsening congestion, necessitating prompt provider action like diuretic adjustment. Activity tolerance reflects functional status but is subjective and less urgent unless acutely dropping. Chest x-ray results show pulmonary edema or cardiomegaly, but weight offers earlier, actionable data. Echocardiogram results assess heart function long-term, not immediate changes. Daily weight monitoring is a cornerstone of heart failure care fluid overload precedes symptoms like dyspnea, making it the priority to report. This aligns with clinical guidelines (e.g., ACC/AH
A), enabling timely intervention to prevent hospitalization or acute failure, emphasizing its critical role in ongoing assessment.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is collecting data from a client who is perimenopausal. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Perimenopause involves hormonal shifts causing various symptoms, but priority follows clinical urgency. Urinary frequency stands out it could indicate a urinary tract infection, bladder dysfunction, or even a gynecologic issue like prolapse, all requiring prompt evaluation. Difficulty sleeping, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness are classic perimenopausal symptoms from estrogen decline, managed symptomatically unless severe. Frequency, however, suggests a potential complication beyond hormonal changes, possibly impacting renal or pelvic health. Using the ABCs or Maslow's hierarchy, urinary issues tie to elimination needs, outranking sleep or comfort concerns. Reporting this ensures timely diagnosis (e.g., urinalysis) and treatment, preventing progression to pyelonephritis or chronic conditions, making it the most pressing finding to escalate.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has a closed-chest tube drainage system. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Closed-chest tube systems manage pleural fluid or air, requiring patency and safety. Replacing the unit when the drainage chamber is full maintains system function overflow risks backpressure or infection, per manufacturer guidelines. Monitoring for 150 mL/hr is excessive; normal drainage tapers post-insertion, and sudden high output signals bleeding, not a routine action. Clamping the tube risks tension pneumothorax by trapping air or fluid, only done briefly under specific orders (e.g., checking for leaks). Pinning tubing to sheets prevents dislodgement but isn't the primary maintenance action. Full chamber replacement ensures continuous drainage, aligns with infection control (e.g., CDC standards), and prevents complications like lung collapse, making it the nurse's key responsibility in chest tube care.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is reviewing the results of a client's fecal occult blood screening test. Which of the following findings from the client's history should the nurse identify as potentially causing a false-positive result?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fecal occult blood tests detect hidden blood in stool, often for colorectal cancer screening, but false positives can skew results. Ibuprofen, an NSAID, irritates the gastric mucosa, causing microbleeding that may appear in stool, unrelated to colonic sources. Citrus juice doesn't affect heme detection vitamin C may cause false negatives, not positives, and 3 days prior minimizes impact. A hemorrhoidectomy 1 year ago is healed, unlikely to bleed now unless complications persist, which isn't suggested. Breast cancer history doesn't influence gastrointestinal bleeding unless metastatic, an unlikely scenario here. Ibuprofen's known GI side effects align with testing guidelines (e.g., avoiding NSAIDs pre-test), making it the most likely false-positive trigger, requiring the nurse to clarify timing and adjust interpretation.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory data of a client who is scheduled for a liver biopsy. Which of the following values should the nurse report to the provider?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Liver biopsy carries bleeding risk due to the organ's vascularity, so clotting ability is critical. Platelets at 60,000/mm³ are severely low (normal 150,000-400,000/mm³), increasing hemorrhage risk post-procedure. Bilirubin (1.0 mg/dL) and AST (34 units/L) are within normal limits, reflecting liver function but not bleeding tendency. Ammonia (55 mcg/dL) is normal, relevant to encephalopathy, not biopsy safety. Thrombocytopenia below 100,000/mm³ often prompts transfusion or delay per procedural protocols, as platelets are vital for hemostasis. Reporting this to the provider ensures risk assessment potentially canceling or modifying the biopsy prioritizing patient safety over proceeding with normal liver markers, making it the critical value to escalate.