A nurse is delegating tasks for an assistive personnel (AP) to perform for a client who is 1-day postoperative following cardiac surgery. Which of the following tasks should the nurse perform herself?
Helping the client into the shower
Ambulating the client in the hallway
Measuring vital signs
Removing the sternal dressing
The Correct Answer is D
A. Helping the client into the shower: This task can be safely delegated to an assistive personnel (AP). The AP can help the client with activities of daily living such as showering, as long as the client is stable and does not require close monitoring.
B. Ambulating the client in the hallway: This task can also be delegated to an AP. Assisting with ambulation is within the scope of practice for an AP, provided the client is stable and there are no specific concerns that require a nurse’s assessment.
C. Measuring vital signs: While measuring vital signs is a critical task, it can be delegated to an AP. The AP can be trained to accurately measure and report vital signs. However, the nurse should review and interpret the results.
D. Removing the sternal dressing: This is the correct answer. Removing a sternal dressing after cardiac surgery is a complex task that requires a nurse’s expertise2. The nurse needs to assess the surgical site for signs of infection or complications, which is beyond the scope of practice for an AP. Therefore, this task should not be delegated and should be performed by the nurse herself
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["C","D","E"]
Explanation
A. “Your cholesterol levels should be monitored monthly while taking this medication”: Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It does not typically affect cholesterol levels, so monthly cholesterol monitoring is not usually necessary.
B. “Make sure your diet contains a lot of potassium-rich foods.”: While a balanced diet is important for overall health, patients taking lisinopril should be cautious about consuming too much potassium. Lisinopril can increase potassium levels in the body, and consuming too many potassium-rich foods could lead to hyperkalemia, a condition characterized by high levels of potassium in the blood.
C. “Monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis.”: This is correct. Since lisinopril is used to treat high blood pressure, it’s important for patients to monitor their blood pressure regularly to ensure the medication is working effectively.
D. “Notify your doctor immediately if you become pregnant.”: This is correct. Lisinopril is not recommended during pregnancy as it can harm the unborn baby. If a patient becomes pregnant while taking lisinopril, they should notify their doctor immediately.
E. “Report the development of a persistent dry cough.”: This is correct. A persistent dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors like lisinopril. If a patient develops this symptom, they should report it to their healthcare provider.
Correct Answer is ["B","C","E"]
Explanation
(A) Decreased stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS): The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. When the SNS is stimulated, it causes vasoconstriction, or narrowing of the blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. Therefore, decreased stimulation of the SNS would typically lead to vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels, which would lower blood pressure, not increase it.
(B) Decreased elasticity of blood vessels: As people age, their blood vessels can lose elasticity, which can lead to hypertension. When blood vessels are elastic, they can easily expand and contract with each heartbeat, maintaining a healthy blood pressure. But when they become stiff or rigid, they can’t expand as easily, causing the pressure inside to increase.
(c) Increased peripheral vascular resistance (PVR): Peripheral vascular resistance is the resistance that blood must overcome to flow through the blood vessels. The more resistance, the harder the heart has to work to pump blood through the body, which can lead to increased blood pressure. Factors that can increase PVR include vasoconstriction, or narrowing of the blood vessels, and increased blood viscosity, or thickness.
(D) Decreased fluid volume: Decreased fluid volume, or hypovolemia, would typically lead to a decrease in blood pressure, not an increase. This is because blood pressure is directly related to the volume of blood in the blood vessels. When there’s less blood, the pressure inside the blood vessels is usually lower.
(E) Increased blood viscosity: Blood viscosity refers to the thickness of the blood. When blood is thicker, it’s harder for it to flow through the blood vessels, which increases the resistance to blood flow, leading to increased blood pressure.
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