A patient with a history of heart failure presents at the emergency department reporting fatigue and weakness. The patient has been taking 50 mg spironolactone tablets orally every day.

The nurse receives a lab report indicating the patient’s serum potassium level is 6.2 mEq/L (6.2 mmol/L). What is the most important intervention for the nurse to implement?

A client with end-stage Alzheimer’s disease is brought to the clinic by the caregiver for an appointment with the healthcare provider.

The caregiver speaks privately to the nurse about not sleeping well at night and experiencing frequent periods of crying.

Which intervention should the nurse implement?

A client on the mental health unit has been displaying signs of agitation, such as scowling and pacing rapidly up and down the hallway for several minutes.
Which behaviors should the nurse prioritize for monitoring?

A 49-year-old male patient has been experiencing flu-like symptoms, including fever and chest congestion, for the past four days.

He visited the emergency department (ED) last night due to increased difficulty in breathing.

The patient has a 20-year history of smoking half a pack of cigarettes per day and has no significant medical or surgical history.

The nurse has placed the patient on a cardiorespiratory monitor and administered a nasal cannula. After completing an assessment, the nurse documented the findings in the patient’s chart.

Which assessment findings indicate hypoxia?

The patient is a 49-year-old male who has been experiencing flu-like symptoms, including fever and chest congestion, for 4 days.

He came to the emergency department (ED) last night when his breathing difficulties increased. He has a history of smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years.

He has no significant medical or surgical history.

Which two orders should the nurse prioritize?

A nurse is providing education to a new graduate nurse regarding the correct application and use of a simple face mask for a client with a respiratory rate of 24/min and an oxygen saturation of 89%. Which of the following statements by the new graduate nurse indicates an understanding of the procedure?

A nurse in the emergency department is collecting evidence for a rape kit from a woman who reports that she was raped while returning to her dormitory from the university library.
Which intervention is most crucial for the nurse to implement?

An elderly male patient, who has been experiencing abdominal pain, is admitted to the hospital from a long-term care facility.

He hasn’t had a bowel movement in 7 days, his abdomen is distended, and he recently vomited 150 mL of dark brown emesis.

In what order should the nurse carry out the following interventions? Arrange from the highest to the lowest priority.

A client on the cardiac telemetry unit suddenly starts showing signs of ventricular fibrillation. The advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) team defibrillates the client, restoring a normal sinus rhythm. Later in the day, a family member Questions why the code was called, telling the nurse that the client has a living will.
How should the nurse respond?

The nurse is collecting a heel-stick blood specimen for a neonatal screen, which includes thyroxine (T4) and thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, prior to discharging a 2-day-old patient.
When the parents ask why these tests are being conducted, which explanation should the nurse provide?

An older adult patient arrives at the clinic reporting decreased strength in knees and handgrips. What action should the nurse include in a functional assessment of this patient?