A long-term goal for the nurse in planning care for a depressed, suicidal client would be to:
The following medications were noted on review of the client’s home medication profile. Which of the medications would most likely potentiate or elevate serum digoxin levels?
Which of the following nursing care goals has the highest priority for a child with epiglottitis?
During discharge planning, parents of a child with rheumatic fever should be able to identify which of the following as toxic symptoms of sodium salicylate?
In assessing cardiovascular clients with progression of aortic stenosis, the nurse should be aware that there is typically:
A client is being admitted to the labor and delivery unit. She has had previous admissions for “false labor.” Which clinical manifestation would be most indicative of true labor?
In teaching the client about proper umbilical cord care, the nurse recommends that:
An 18-year-old girl is admitted to the hospital with a depressed skull fracture as a result of a car accident. If the nurse were to observe a rising pulse rate and lowering blood pressure, the nurse would suspect that the client:
A 28-year-old multigravida has class II heart disease. At her prenatal visit at 34 weeks’ gestation, all of the following observations are made. Which would require intervention?
A 14-year-old boy fell off his bike while “popping a wheelie” on the dirt trails. He has sustained a head injury with laceration of his scalp over his temporal lobe. If he were to complain of headache during the first 24 hours of his hospitalization, the nurse would:
A client had a myocardial infarction 5 days ago. His physician has ordered an echocardiogram to determine how his myocardial infarction has affected his ventricular wall motion. When the client asks if this test is painful, an appropriate response is:
The child with iron poisoning is given IV deforoxamine mesylate (Desferal). Following administration, the child suffers hypotension, facial flushing, and urticaria. The initial nursing intervention would be to:
A client had a cardiac catheterization with angiography and thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase. The nurse should initiate which of the following interventions immediately after he returns to his room?
A 35-year-old client has returned to her room following surgery on her right femur. She has an IV of D5 in onehalf normal saline infusing at 125 mL/hr and is receiving morphine sulfate 10–15 mg IM q4h prn for pain. She last voided 51/2 hours ago when she was given her preoperative medication. In monitoring and promoting return of urinary function after surgery, the nurse would:
A child is admitted with severe headache, fever, vomiting, photophobia, drowsiness, and stiff neck associated with viral meningitis. She will be more comfortable if the nurse:
Which of the following ECG changes would be seen as a positive myocardial stress test response?
A male client has been hospitalized with congestive heart failure. Medical management of heart failure focuses on improving myocardial contractility. This can be achieved by administering:
A client has consented to have a central venous catheter placed. The best position in which to place the client is the Trendelenburg position. The reason is that the Trendelenburg position:
A client’s congestive heart failure has been treated, and he will soon be discharged. Discharge teaching should include instruction to call the physician if he notices a 2-lb weight gain in a 24-hour period. Increased weight gain may indicate:
A client has renal failure. Today’s lab values indicate he has an elevated serum potassium. What additional priority information does the nurse need to obtain?
A 26-year-old client has no children. She has had an abdominal hysterectomy. In the first 24 hours postoperatively, the nurse would be concerned if the client:
A client is in active labor and has been admitted to the labor and delivery unit. The RN has just done a sterile vaginal exam and determines that the client is dilated 5 cm, effaced 85%, and the fetus’s head is at 0 station. She asks if she could have a lumbar epidural now. The epidural is started, and the anesthetic agent used is bupivacaine (Marcaine). After the client has received her lumbar epidural, it is important for the RN to monitor her for which of the following side effects:
A nurse is performing a vaginal exam on a client in active
labor. An important landmark to assess during labor
and delivery are the ischial spines because:
A pregnant client is having a nonstress test (NST). It is noted that the fetal heart beat rises 20 bpm, lasting 20 seconds, every time the fetus moves. The nurse explains that:
The nurse is interviewing a client with a diagnosis of possible abdominal aortic aneurysm. Which of the following statements will be reflected in the client’s chief complaint?
In evaluating the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), which of the following might indicate that the client was developing MgSO4 toxicity?
A client is resting comfortably after delivering her first child. When assessing her pulse rate, the nurse would recognize the following finding to be typical:
A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit after lavage and stabilization in the emergency room for an overdose of antidepressants. This is her third attempt in 2 years. The highest priority intervention at this time is to:
A client at 9 weeks’ gestation comes for an initial prenatal visit. On assessment, the nurse discovers this is her second pregnancy. Her first pregnancy resulted in a spontaneous abortion. She is 28 years old, in good health, and works full-time as an elementary school teacher. This information alerts the nurse to which of the following:
Four days after admission for cirrhosis of the liver, the nurse observes the following when assessing a male client: increased irritability, asterixis, and changes in his speech pattern. Which of the following foods would be appropriate for his bedtime snack?
When interviewing parents who are suspected of child abuse, the nurse would use which of the following interview techniques?
A male client has a history of diverticulosis. He has questions about the foods that he should eat. His nurse gives him the following information:
In caring at home for a child who just ingested a caustic alkali, the nurse would immediately tell the mother to:
What is the appropriate nursing action for a child with increased intracranial pressure?
A family by court order undergoes treatment by a family therapist for child abuse. The nurse, who is the child’s case manager knows that treatment has been effective when:
A newborn girl’s father expresses concern that the newborn does not have good control of her hands and arms. It is important for the father to realize certain neurological patterns that characterize the newborn:
The doctor has ordered a restricted fluid intake for a 2- year-old child with a head injury. Normal fluid intake for a child of 2 years is:
The client will be more comfortable and the results more accurate when the nurse prepares the client for Leopold’s maneuvers by having her:
A 15-year-old child is admitted to the pediatric unit with a diagnosis of thalassemia. Which of the following would be included in educating the mother and child as part of discharge planning?
A male infant is to be discharged home this morning. Which instruction related to his cord care should be included in his mother’s discharge teaching plan?
At her monthly prenatal visit, a client reports experiencing heartburn. Which nursing measure should be included in her plan of care to help alleviate it?
A 79-year-old client with Alzheimer’s disease is exhibiting significant memory impairment, cognitive impairment, extremely impaired judgment in social situations, and agitation when placed in a new situation or around unfamiliar people. The nurse should include the following strategy in the client’s care:
An 11-year-old boy has received a partial-thickness burn to both legs. He presents to the emergency room approximately 15 minutes after the accident in excruciating pain with charred clothing to both legs. What is the first nursing action?
A schizophrenic is admitted to the psychiatric unit. What affect would the nurse expect to observe?
The nurse instructs a client on the difference between true labor and false labor. The nurse explains, “In true labor:
A 33-year-old client is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, acute phase. This is her first psychiatric hospitalization, and she is being evaluated for treatment with lithium. Which of the following diagnostic tests are essential prior to the initiation of lithium therapy with this client?
In discussing the plan of care for a child with chronic nephrosis with the mother, the nurse identifies that the purpose of weighing the child is to:
In planning daily care for a client with multiple sclerosis, the nurse would take into consideration that multiple sclerosis:
The nurse enters the room of a client on which a “do not resuscitate” order has been written and discovers that she is not breathing. Once the husband realizes what has occurred he yells, “please save her!” The nurse’s action would be:
A client develops an intestinal obstruction postoperatively. A nasogastric tube is attached to low, intermittent suction with orders to “Irrigate NG tube with sterile saline q1h and prn.” The rationale for using sterile saline, as opposed to using sterile water to irrigate the NG tube is:
When preparing insulin for IV administration, the nurse identifies which kind of insulin to use?
A psychiatric client has been stabilized and is to be discharged. The nurse will recognize client insight and behavioral change by which of the following client statements?
A 44-year-old client had an emergency cholecystectomy 3 days ago for a ruptured gallbladder. She complains of severe abdominal pain. Assessment reveals abdominal rigidity and distention, increased temperature, and tachycardia. Diagnostic testing reveals an elevated WBC count. The nurse suspects that the client has developed:
The nurse assists a client with advanced emphysema to the bathroom. The client becomes extremely short of breath while returning to bed. The nurse should:
A male client receives 10 U of regular human insulin SC at 9:00 AM. The nurse would expect peak action from this injection to occur at:
A schizophrenic client has made sexual overtures toward her physician on numerous occasions. During lunch, the client tells the nurse, “My doctor is in love with me and wants to marry me.” This client is using which of the following defense mechanisms?
A client has been diagnosed as being preeclamptic. The physician orders magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is used in the management of preeclampsia for:
When assessing fetal heart rate status during labor, the monitor displays late decelerations with tachycardia and decreasing variability. What action should the nurse take?
A 30-year-old male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. For the last 2 months, his family describes him as being “on the move,” sleeping 3–4 hours nightly, spending lots of money, and losing approximately 10 lb. During the initial assessment with the client, the nurse would expect him to exhibit which of the following?
A psychotic client who believes that he is God and rules all the universe is experiencing which type of delusion?
A female client was recently diagnosed with gastric cancer. She entered the hospital and had a total gastrectomy with esophagojejunostomy. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful. On conducting discharge teaching, the nurse discusses changes in bodily function and lifestyle changes with the client. In order to prevent pernicious anemia, the nurse stresses that the client must:
A female client comes for her second prenatal visit. The nurse-midwife tells her, “Your blood tests reveal that you do not show immunity to the German measles.” Which notation will the nurse include in her plan of care for the client? “Will need . . .
A 22-year-old client is 16 weeks pregnant. She and her husband are expecting their first baby. The client tells the nurse that her last normal menstrual period was February 16, with 3 days of spotting on February 17, 18, and 19. The nurse calculates her expected date of delivery to be:
A 24-year-old male client is admitted with a diagnosis of sickle cell anemia. The nurse discusses his disease with him and emphasizes the following information:
A client is pregnant for the fourth time and has had three normal vaginal deliveries. She is in active labor and fully dilated. Suddenly she calls, “Nurse, the baby is coming.” As the nurse responds to her call, which one of the following observations should the nurse make first?
A male client seeks counseling after his wife of 19 years threatened to divorce him. For most of their marriage, he has physically and verbally abused her. When asked about his behavior in the process of the nursing assessment, the client states, “I was mean to my wife because she insists on cooking meals and wearing clothes that I do not like.” This defense mechanism is an example of:
The FHR pattern in a laboring client begins to show early decelerations. The nurse would best respond by:
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit after experiencing severe depression. He states that he intends to kill himself, but he asks the nurse not to repeat his intentions to other staff members. Which response demonstrates understanding and appropriate action on the part of the nurse?
A 32-year-old male client is a marketing representative. His job requires him to have a tremendous amount of energy during the day. He frequently uses cocaine to sustain his energy level. Lately he has increased his use of cocaine and even experimented with crack cocaine. Realizing he can no longer continue this destructive behavior, he is seeking treatment for cocaine addiction. In planning nursing care for the client’s inpatient stay, which expected outcome is most appropriate?
Two weeks after a client’s admission for depression, the physician orders a consult for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Which of the following conditions, if present, would be a contraindication for ECT?
The nurse is caring for a 2-year-old girl with a subdural hematoma of the temporal area as a result of falling out of bed and notices that she has a runny nose. The nurse should:
A male client is experiencing auditory hallucinations. His nurse enters the room and he tells her that his mother is talking to him, and he will take his medicine after she leaves. The nurse looks around the room and sees that she and the client are the only ones in the room. The nurse’s most therapeutic response will be:
A husband and wife and their two children, age 9 and age 5, are requesting family therapy. Which of the following strategies is most therapeutic for the nurse to use during the initial interaction with a family?
The physician of an alcoholic client places him on a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet. When choosing his menu, the client’s best choice from the items below would be:
A female client has been treated since childhood for mitral valve prolapse. The antibiotic of choice for her during pregnancy would be:
A client’s prenatal screening indicated that she has no immunity to rubella. She is now 10 weeks pregnant. The best time to immunize her is:
An 8-year-old child is admitted to the hospital for surgery. She has had no previous hospitalizations, and both she and her family appear anxious and fearful. It will be most helpful for the nurse to:
On the first postpartal day, a client tells the nurse that she has been changing her perineal pads every 1/2 hour because they are saturated with bright red vaginal drainage. When palpating the uterus, the nurse assesses that it is somewhat soft, 1 fingerbreadth above the umbilicus, and midline. The nursing action to be taken is to:
The nurse who is caring for a client with pneumonia assesses that the client has become increasingly irritable and restless. The nurse realizes that this is a result of:
A 42-year-old client presents with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. She has become increasingly restless and verbally argumentative, and her speech has become pressured. She is exhibiting signs of:
A 70-year-old homeless woman is admitted with pneumonia. She is weak, emaciated, and febrile. The physician orders enteral feedings intermittently by nasogastric tube. When inserting the nasogastric tube, once the tube passes through the oropharynx, the nurse will instruct the client to:
A male client is diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism. He has been on dialysis for several years. He is experiencing symptoms such as numbness of the lips, muscle weakness, carpopedal spasms, and wheezing. Given the client’s symptoms, nursing assessment would focus on:
A 72-year-old male client had the Foley catheter that was inserted during the transurethral resection of his prostate removed today. He is concerned about the urinary incontinence he is having since removal of the Foley catheter. The nurse explains that:
A 49-year-old obese woman has been admitted to the general surgery unit with choledocholithiasis. As the nurse is admitting her to the unit, she states, “The doctor said I have stones that need to be removed; where are they?” The nurse knows that the best explanation for this is to tell her that:
A 2-year-old child will undergo a cardiac catheterization tomorrow to evaluate his ventricular septal defect. Based on his developmental stage, the nurse:
A 29-year-old client delivered her fifth child by the Lamaze method and developed a postpartal hemorrhage in the recovery room. What are the initial symptoms of shock that she may experience?
When caring for a postoperative cholecystectomy client, the nurse assesses patency and documents drainage of the T-tube. The nurse recognizes that the expected amount of drainage during the first 24 hours postoperatively is:
When giving discharge instructions to a 24-year-old client who had a short-arm cast applied for a fractured right ulna, the nurse recognizes the importance of telling him that the drying time for a plaster of Paris cast is approximately:
A 5-year-old child is hospitalized for an acute illness. The nurse encourages the family to bring her favorite objects from home. What is the nurse’s rationale?
A 45-year-old client has a permanent colostomy. Which of the following foods should he avoid?
A 3-year-old child was hospitalized for acute laryngotracheobronchitis. During her hospitalization, the child was placed under an oxygen mist tent. The nurse’s frequent monitoring of the child’s temperature frightened her parents. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A 32-year-old female client is being treated for Guillain- Barré syndrome. She complains of gradually increasing muscle weakness over the past several days. She has noticed an increased difficulty in ambulating and fell yesterday. When conducting a nursing assessment, which finding would indicate a need for immediate further evaluation?
The nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. The nurse would describe this client’s urine
output pattern as:
The mother of a 7-year-old mental health center client reports that the client has refused to attend gymnastics for the past 2 weeks. Prior to that time, the child liked going to this class and was attending 3 times a week. In talking with the client, the nurse would:
Azulfidine (Sulfasalazine) may be ordered for a client who has ulcerative colitis. Which of the following is a nursing implication for this drug?
Children often experience visual impairments. Refractive errors affect the child’s visual activity. The main refractive error seen in children is myopia. The nurse explains to the child’s parents that myopia may also be described as:
In addition to changing the mother’s position to relieve cord pressure, the nurse may employ the following measure (s) in the event that she observes the cord out of the vagina:
Which of the following signs might indicate a complication during the labor process with vertex presentation?
When a client with pancreatitis is discharged, the nurse needs to teach him how to prevent another occurrence of acute pancreatitis. Which of the following statements would indicate he has an understanding of his disease?
In assisting preconceptual clients, the nurse should teach that the corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which thickens the endometrial lining in which of the phases of the menstrual cycle?
A client is taught to eat foods high in potassium. Which food choices would indicate that this teaching has been successful?
A male client is started on IV anticoagulant therapy with heparin. Which of the following laboratory studies will be ordered to monitor the therapeutic effects of heparin?
A client is being discharged and will continue enteral feedings at home. Which of the following statements by a family member indicates the need for further teaching?
During a client’s first postpartum day, the nurse assessed that the fundus was located laterally to the umbilicus.
This may be due to:
The nurse working in a prenatal clinic needs to be alert to the cardinal signs and symptoms of PIH because:
A pregnant client is at the clinic for a third trimester prenatal visit. During this examination, it has been determined that her fetus is in a vertex presentation with the occiput located in her right anterior quadrant. On her chart this would be noted as:
A pregnant client comes to the office for her first prenatal examination at 10 weeks. She has been pregnant twice before; the first delivery produced a viable baby girl at 39 weeks 3 years ago; the second pregnancy produced a viable baby boy at 36 weeks 2 years ago. Both children are living and well. Using the GTPAL system to record her obstetrical history, the nurse should record:
The nurse would teach a male client ways to minimize the risk of infection after eye surgery. Which of the following indicates the client needs further teaching?
One of the medications that is prescribed for a male client is furosemide (Lasix) 80 mg bid. To reduce his risk of falls, the nurse would teach him to take this medication:
A 35-weeks-pregnant client is undergoing a nonstress test (NST). During the 20-minute examination, the nurse notes three fetal movements accompanied by accelerations of the fetal heart rate, each 15 bpm, lasting
15 seconds. The nurse interprets this test to be:
A pregnant client comes to the office for her first prenatal examination at 10 weeks. She has been pregnant twice before; the first delivery produced a viable baby girl at 39 weeks 3 years ago; the second pregnancy produced a viable baby boy at 36 weeks 2 years ago. Both children are living and well. Using the gravida and para system to record the client’s obstetrical history, the nurse should record:
MgSO4 is ordered IV following the established protocol for a client with severe PIH. The anticipated effects of this therapy are anticonvulsant and:
A mother brings her 3-year-old child who is unconscious but breathing to the ER with an apparent drug overdose. The mother found an empty bottle of aspirin next to her child in the bathroom. Which nursing action is the most appropriate?
A 26-year-old client is in a treatment center for aprazolam (Xanax) abuse and continues to manifest moderate levels of anxiety 3 weeks into the rehabilitation program, often requesting medication for “his nerves.” Included in the client’s plan of care is to identify alternate methods of coping with stress and anxiety other than use of medication. After intervening with assistance in stress reduction techniques, identifying feelings and past coping, the nurse evaluates the outcome as being met if:
After an infant is delivered by cesarean delivery and placed on the warmer, the RN dries and assesses the infant. At 1 and 5 minutes after birth, the RN does the Apgar scoring of the infant. The RN knows that because this infant was delivered by cesarean section, he is at increased risk for having which one of the following:
A 24-year-old graduate student recognizes that he has a phobia. He suffers severe anxiety when he is in darkness. It has altered his lifestyle because he is unable to go to a movie theater, concert, and other events that may require absence of light. The client is seeking assistance because he is no longer able to socialize with friends due to his phobia. The psychologist working with him is using desensitization. He has asked the nursing staff to assist the client in muscle relaxation techniques. What result would indicate client education has been successful?
An 11-month-old infant is admitted with a possible diagnosis of pyloric stenosis. Which of the following best describes the characteristic clinical manifestations of pyloric stenosis?
The postpartum nurse should include which of the following instructions to breast-feeding mothers?
A pregnant woman at 36 weeks’ gestation is followed for PIH and develops proteinuria. To increase protein in her diet, which of the following foods will provide the greatest amount of protein when added to her intake of 100 mL of milk?
A child sustains a supracondylar fracture of the femur. When assessing for vascular injury, the nurse should be alert for the signs of ischemia, which include:
During burn therapy, morphine is primarily administered IV for pain management because this route: