The nurse is monitoring a client admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of appendicitis who is scheduled for surgery in 2 hours. The client begins to complain of increased abdominal pain and begins to vomit. On assessment, the nurse notes the abdomen is distended and bowel sounds are diminished.
Which is the most appropriate nursing intervention?

Administer the prescribed medication.

Reposition the client and apply a heating pad on the warm setting to the client’s abdomen.

Call the healthcare provider.

Call and ask the operating room team to perform surgery as soon as possible.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

The client may have a ruptured appendix, which is a life-threatening complication of appendicitis. A ruptured appendix can cause peritonitis, which is an infection of the lining of the abdomen, or an abscess, which is a collection of pus around the appendix. These conditions require immediate medical attention and surgery to remove the appendix and clean the abdominal cavity.

Choice A is wrong because administering the prescribed medication may mask the symptoms of a ruptured appendix and delay diagnosis and treatment.

Choice B is wrong because repositioning the client and applying a heating pad may increase the risk of rupture or spread of infection.

Choice D is wrong because calling the operating room team is not the nurse’s responsibility and may not be feasible depending on the availability of the surgical team and the operating room.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The role of the risk manager is to identify and analyze the factors that contributed to the adverse event and to implement strategies to prevent or reduce the likelihood of recurrence. The risk manager is not concerned with assigning blame or protecting the staff from litigation, but rather with improving the quality and safety of care.

Choice A is wrong because it implies a punitive approach that does not address the underlying system issues.

Choice B is wrong because it suggests a defensive attitude that does not foster a culture of learning and improvement.

Choice D is wrong because it assumes that the nurses were not aware of the patient’s fall risk, which may not be the case.

The risk manager should investigate all aspects of the situation, including the communication and documentation of the patient’s fall risk assessment and interventions.

A. Call emergency services for the client. B. Increase the oxygen flow to 3 L/min. C. Have the client cough and expectorate secretions. D. Assess the client’s respiratory status.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

This is the nurse’s priority because it will help determine the severity of the client’s difficulty breathing and guide the appropriate interventions. According to the Mayo Clinic, oxygen therapy for COPD is indicated when there is not enough oxygen in the blood, which can be measured by a pulse oximeter or a blood gas test. Increasing the oxygen flow without assessing the oxygen level could be harmful or ineffective. Having the client cough and expectorate secretions may help clear the airway, but it is not the first action to take. Calling emergency services may be necessary if the client’s condition is life threatening, but it should not be done before assessing the respiratory status.

Choice A is wrong because it does not address the immediate need of assessing the respiratory status and may cause unnecessary panic or delay in treatment.

Choice B is wrong because it does not follow the guidelines for oxygen therapy for COPD, which require a prescription and monitoring of oxygen levels.

Increasing the oxygen flow without assessing the oxygen level could cause oxygen toxicity or suppress the respiratory drive.

Choice C is wrong because it is not the most urgent action to take.

Having the client cough and expectorate secretions may help clear the airway, but it may also increase the work of breathing and worsen hypoxia.

Assessing the respiratory status should come first.

Normal ranges for oxygen saturation are 95% to 100% for healthy individuals and 88% to 92% for most people with COPD. Normal ranges for blood gas tests vary depending on the laboratory, but generally, normal values for arterial blood gas are: pH 7.35 to 7.45, PaCO2 35 to 45 mm Hg, PaO2 80 to 100 mm Hg, HCO3 22 to 26 mEq/L.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

An elderly man fell during his hospitalization and has died from a head injury sustained in the fall. What is the role of the risk manager in this situation?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A home health nurse visits a client who has COPD and receives oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. The client reports difficulty breathing. Which of the following actions is the nurse’s priority?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A charge nurse is providing an inservice for staff nurses on the use of new IV pumps. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take to best evaluate staff competency with the new equipment?

The nurse is performing a cultural assessment with a client; the nurse should include which of the following? (Select All That Apply).

The nurse includes which of the following as an appropriately constructed goal statement for the client with COPD?

The nurse identifies chronic pain as an appropriate nursing priority (or problem/diagnosis) for a client with fibromyalgia. Which manifestation did the client most likely report that caused the nurse to select this priority?

The nurse is conducting an assessment on a client who is 36 hours postoperative following an appendectomy. During the assessment, the nurse is unable to hear any bowel sounds. The client denies passing flatus (gas). Given this information, which action is most appropriate by the nurse?

A client is hospitalized and is in police custody after being arrested for driving while intoxicated for the third time. The nurse assigned to the client lost her brother to a drunk driver two years prior. Which action on the part of the nurse aligns with the professional code of ethics for nurses?

The nurse utilizes the SBAR format to give report to the next nurse. Which one of the following statements is correct about the SBAR?

The nurse is assigned to care for a client admitted to the hospital with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which medication does the nurse anticipate to decrease this client’s risk for developing a respiratory infection?