A client is admitted following a motor vehicle collision.

When assessing the client's level of consciousness, the nurse notes that the client no longer responds to commands.

The nurse initiates a painful stimulus and the client responds by pulling the arms inward with elbows and wrists flexed and extending the legs with the toes pointed downward.

Which action should the nurse implement?

Report the finding to the healthcare provider.

Document the purposeful response to pain.

Initiate seizure precautions immediately.

Administer a prescribed PRN analgesic.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A rationale:

Reporting the finding to the healthcare provider is important when the client no longer responds to commands and exhibits a specific response to pain. However, it should not be the first action. The nurse's initial response should be to assess and document the client's neurological status and response to pain to provide accurate information to the healthcare provider.

Choice B rationale:

Documenting the purposeful response to pain is the correct initial action in this scenario. The client's response, which involves pulling the arms inward with elbows and wrists flexed and extending the legs with the toes pointed downward, is known as decerebrate posturing. It is a specific neurological response to painful stimuli and may indicate a brain injury. Documenting this response is crucial for the client's medical record and helps the healthcare provider assess the severity of the neurological injury.

Choice C rationale:

Initiating seizure precautions immediately is not the first action to take in this scenario. While the client's response to pain may resemble posturing seen in seizures, it is more indicative of a neurological injury or dysfunction. Further assessment and evaluation are needed before implementing seizure precautions.

Choice D rationale:

Administering a prescribed PRN analgesic is not the first action to take when the client exhibits decerebrate posturing in response to pain. This response indicates a neurological issue or injury that requires assessment and evaluation. Administering pain medication without a clear understanding of the underlying cause may not be appropriate and could potentially mask important neurological signs.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The correct answer is choice d. Activate the lockdown procedure.

Choice A rationale:

Asking the mother if any visitors were expected to arrive is important for gathering information, but it is not the immediate priority when a newborn is missing. The primary concern is to ensure the safety and security of the infant.

Choice B rationale:

Matching ID bands of all infants and mothers on the unit is a crucial step in verifying the identity of the newborn, but it should be done after ensuring that the unit is secure and the baby cannot be taken out of the facility.

Choice C rationale:

Determining if the newborn is in the nursery is also important, but it should be done after securing the unit to prevent any potential abduction.

Choice D rationale:

Activating the lockdown procedure is the first and most critical action. This ensures that all exits are secured, preventing anyone from leaving the unit with the infant. It is a safety measure to protect the newborn and is the immediate priority in such situations.

A. Ibuprofen 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed for temperature greater than 100.5 °F (38 °C). B. Enalapril 10 mg every morning. C. Supplemental oxygen 10 L/min via nasal cannula. D. Continuous pulse oximetry. E. Send blood for a complete blood count, electrolytes, blood cultures, and procalcitonin. F. Admit to the medical floor. G. Vital signs every 4 hours.

Correct Answer is ["A","B","C"]

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Ibuprofen 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed for temperature greater than 100.5 °F (38 °C). This order is questionable because ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can potentially increase blood pressure, which could be harmful to a patient with hypertension. Furthermore, NSAIDs can mask the symptoms of infection, which could delay the diagnosis and treatment of serious infections.

Choice B rationale:

Enalapril 10 mg every morning. This order is questionable because enalapril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat hypertension. However, ACE inhibitors can cause a dry cough, which could exacerbate the patient’s existing cough due to pneumonia. Additionally, ACE inhibitors can potentially cause hyperkalemia (high potassium levels), so it’s important to monitor the patient’s electrolyte levels.

Choice C rationale:

Supplemental oxygen 10 L/min via nasal cannula. This order is questionable because a high flow rate of oxygen can potentially cause oxygen toxicity or hyperoxia, which can lead to cellular damage. The typical flow rate for a nasal cannula is between 1-6 L/min. A flow rate of 10 L/min may be too high for this patient, especially without a specified target SpO2 range.

Choice D rationale:

Continuous pulse oximetry. This order is appropriate because it allows for continuous monitoring of the patient’s oxygen saturation levels, which is crucial in a patient with pneumonia and shortness of breath.

Choice E rationale:

Send blood for a complete blood count, electrolytes, blood cultures, and procalcitonin. This order is appropriate because these tests can help monitor the patient’s overall health status and response to treatment.

Choice F rationale:

Admit to the medical floor. This order is appropriate because the patient requires hospitalization for treatment and monitoring due to his pneumonia.

Choice G rationale:

Vital signs every 4 hours. This order is appropriate because it allows for regular monitoring of the patient’s vital signs, which can help detect any changes in his condition.

Choice H rationale:

Chest x-ray now. This order is appropriate because a chest x-ray can help confirm the diagnosis of pneumonia and assess its severity.

Choice I rationale:

Sputum culture and sensitivity. This order is appropriate because it can help identify the specific organism causing the pneumonia and determine its antibiotic sensitivity, which can guide antibiotic therapy.

Choice J rationale:

Levofloxacin 500 mg intravenously every 24 hours. This order is appropriate because levofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic commonly used to treat pneumonia.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A new mother on the postpartum unit runs out of the room screaming that her newborn infant's crib is empty and the baby is missing. Which action should the nurse take first?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Patient Data. Exhibits Which order would the nurse question? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer is ["A","B","C"]

Explanation

When developing a teaching plan for a client with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, the nurse should explain that an increased thirst is an early sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Which action should the nurse instruct the client to implement if this sign of DKA occurs?

An unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reports that a client's right hand and fingers spasm when taking the blood pressure using the same arm. After confirming the presence of the spasms, which action should the nurse take?

A client asks a nurse about the differences between major depressive disorder (MDD) and dysthymia. Which of the following responses by the nurse is accurate?

A newly hired unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is assigned to a home healthcare team along with two experienced UAPs. Which intervention should the home health nurse implement to ensure adequate care for all clients?

A woman at 12 weeks' gestation comes to the clinic for her first prenatal visit. After completing a health history, the nurse should discuss which topic about pregnancy at this initial visit?

The nurse is caring for a client who receives a prescription for valproic acid in which the maximum safe dosage is 60 mg/kg/day. How many mg/day is the maximum safe dosage for a client who weighs 176 pounds? (Enter numerical value only.).

The healthcare provider prescribes the antibiotic cefdinir 300 mg by mouth every 12 hours for a client with a postoperative wound infection. Which foods should the nurse encourage this client to eat?