NCLEX Exam: Nursing Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment 4
The high-pressure alarm on a patient’s ventilator goes off. When you enter the room to assess the patient, who has ARDS, the oxygen saturation monitor reads 87% and the patient is struggling to sit up. Which action should you take next?
Manual ventilation of the patient will allow you to deliver an Fio2 of 100% to the patient while you attempt to determine the cause of the high-pressure alarm. The patient may need reassurance, suctioning, and/or insertion of an oral airway, but the first step should be assessment of the reason for the high-pressure alarm and resolution of the hypoxemia.
The nursing assistant tells you that a patient who is receiving oxygen at a flow rate of 6 L/min by nasal cannula is complaining of nasal passage discomfort. What intervention should you suggest to improve the patient’s comfort for this problem?
When the oxygen flow rate is higher than 4 L/min, the mucous membranes can be dried out. The best treatment is to add humidification to the oxygen delivery system. Application of a water-soluble jelly to the nares can also help decrease mucosal irritation. None of the other options will treat the problem.
The patient with COPD has a nursing diagnosis of Ineffective Breathing Pattern. Which is an appropriate action to delegate to the experienced LPN under your supervision?
Experienced LPNs/LVNs can use observation of patients to gather data regarding how well patients perform interventions that have already been taught. Assisting patients with ADLs is more appropriately delegated to a nursing assistant. Planning and consulting require additional education and skills, appropriate to an RN.
The patient with COPD tells the nursing assistant that he did not get his annual flu shot this year and has not had a pneumonia vaccination. You would be sure to instruct the nursing assistant to report which of these?
A patient who did not have the pneumonia vaccination or flu shot is at increased risk for developing pneumonia or influenza. An elevated temperature indicates some form of infection, which may be respiratory in origin. All of the other vital sign values are slightly elevated but are not a cause for immediate concern.
To improve respiratory status, which medication should you be prepared to administer to the newborn infant with RDS?
Exosurf neonatal is a form of synthetic surfactant. An infant with RDS may be given two to four doses during the first 24 to 48 hours after birth. It improves respiratory status, and research has show a significant decrease in the incidence of pneumothorax when it is administered.
When a patient with TB is being prepared for discharge, which statement by the patient indicates the need for further teaching?
Patients taking isoniazid must continue the drug for 6 months. The other 3 statements are accurate and indicate understanding of TB. Family members should be tested because of their repeated exposure to the patient. Covering the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and placing the tissues in plastic bags help prevent transmission of the causative organism. The dietary changes are recommended for patients with TB.
When assessing a 22-year old patient who required emergency surgery and multiple transfusion 3 days ago, you find that the patient looks anxious and has labored respirations at the rate of 38 breaths/min. The oxygen saturation is 90% with the oxygen delivery at 6 L/min via nasal cannula. Which action is most appropriate?
The patient’s history and symptoms suggest the development of ARDS, which will require intubation and mechanical ventilation. The maximum oxygen delivery with a nasal cannula is an Fio2 of 44%. This is achieved with the oxygen flow at 6 L/min, so increasing the flow to 10 L/min will not be helpful. Helping the patient to cough and deep breathe will not improve the lung stiffness that is causing his respiratory distress. Morphine sulfate will only decrease the respiratory drive and further contribute to his hypoxemia.
Which intervention for a patient with a pulmonary embolus could be delegated to the LPN on your patient care team?
An LPN who has been trained to auscultate lungs sounds can gather data by routine assessment and observation, under supervision of an RN. Independently evaluating patients, assessing for symptoms of respiratory failure, and monitoring and interpreting laboratory values require additional education and skill, appropriate to the scope of practice of the RN.
Which of these medication orders for a patient with a pulmonary embolism is more important to clarify with the prescribing physician before administration?
Medication safety guidelines indicate that use of a trailing zero is not appropriate when writing medication orders because the order can easily be mistaken for a larger dose, such as 10 mg. The order should be clarified before administration. The other orders are appropriate, based on the patient’s diagnosis.
The patient being looked for by the nurse is thought to be in the beginning stages of dementia. The nurse notes some minor restlessness, short-term memory loss, and confusion. The nurse does a quick mental status examination. Which of the following critical thinking techniques is the nurse utilizing?
Interpretation is the component of critical thinking that involves understanding and explaining the meaning of information gathered from observations, assessments, and other sources. In this scenario, the nurse is observing and assessing the patient's symptoms of mild confusion, short-term memory loss, and restlessness. By conducting a mini-mental status exam, the nurse is collecting data to further evaluate the patient's cognitive function and determine if they are displaying signs of early-stage dementia.
Interpretation in critical thinking involves analyzing the collected data, recognizing patterns or abnormalities, and forming conclusions or hypotheses based on the information at hand. The nurse's observation of the patient's symptoms and the subsequent decision to conduct a mini-mental status exam demonstrate the use of interpretation in critical thinking.
A patient has received instructions on how to administer insulin shots on their own. As the patient tries to recap the needle, the nurse notices that more instruction is required. Which nursing critical thinking technique is the nurse using?
A patient has been instructed in self-administration of insulin injections. The nurse observes the patient attempting to recap the needle and realizes that further teaching is needed. The nurse is applying which critical-thinking skill of the nursing process?
Analysis involves breaking down information, examining the components, and identifying any issues, inconsistencies, or areas that require further attention or intervention. In this case, the nurse observes the patient attempting to recap the needle after self-administering an insulin injection. Recapping the needle can pose a risk of accidental needlestick injuries and is generally discouraged.
Examples of: Case Management, Home Health Care, Physical Therapy
Collaborative interventions refer to actions taken by multiple healthcare professionals working together to address the healthcare needs of a patient. Physical therapy, home health care, and case management involve the collaboration of different professionals to provide comprehensive care.
Utilizing critical thinking abilities during the nursing procedure' assessment phase guarantees that the nurse
The use of critical thinking skills during the assessment phase of the nursing process ensures that the nurse completes a comprehensive database.
During the assessment phase, the nurse gathers relevant information about the patient's health status, including physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Critical thinking skills are essential in this phase as they enable the nurse to collect data systematically, analyze it, and interpret the findings accurately.
An illustration of a quantifiable objective is:
"The patient will be able to lift 10 lb by October 19th at 1500" is an example of a measurable goal.
Which of the following claims qualifies as objective data? (Check every box that applies.)
Please select 2 correct answers
Using Maslow's hierarchy of demands, the nurse decides what medical attention a client with diabetes mellitus requires first. Which need is considered to be the client's top priority?
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NCLEX Nursing Prioritization Test #5