The nurse is providing care for four patients: Patient A, diagnosed with emphysema and has an oxygen saturation of 94% on room air; Patient B, who is postoperative with a hemoglobin level of 8.2 mg/dL (82 g/L); Patient C, newly admitted with a potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L (3.8 mmol/L); and Patient D, who is scheduled for an appendectomy and has a white blood cell (WBC) count of 14,000 mm² (14 x 10°/L). What action should the nurse take next?

Transfer Patient D to an isolation room 24 hours prior to surgery.

Increase Patient A’s oxygen to 4 L/minute via nasal cannula.

Ensure that there are two units of packed cells available for Patient B.

Request the dietitian to include a banana in Patient C’s breakfast tray.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale

There is no indication that Patient D, who is scheduled for an appendectomy and has a white blood cell (WBC) count of 14,000 mm² (14 x 10°/L), needs to be transferred to an isolation room 24 hours prior to surgery.

Choice B rationale

Patient A, diagnosed with emphysema and has an oxygen saturation of 94% on room air, does not necessarily need an increase in oxygen. An oxygen saturation of 94% is within normal limits.

Choice C rationale

Patient B, who is postoperative with a hemoglobin level of 8.2 mg/dL (82 g/L), may require a blood transfusion. A hemoglobin level of 8.2 mg/dL is low, and having packed cells available is a prudent measure.

Choice D rationale

Patient C, newly admitted with a potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L (3.8 mmol/L), has a normal potassium level. Including a banana in the breakfast tray is not a priority.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Hematocrit is a measure of the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. While it can be affected by various conditions, it is not the most relevant lab value to check when purulent drainage is noticed at a postoperative patient’s dressing site.

Choice B rationale

Neutrophil count is a measure of the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, in the blood. An elevated neutrophil count can indicate an infection, making it the most relevant lab value to check in this scenario.

Choice C rationale

Platelet count is a measure of the number of platelets in the blood. While platelets play a crucial role in blood clotting, they are not directly related to infection and therefore not the most relevant lab value to check in this scenario.

Choice D rationale

Serum sodium level is a measure of the amount of sodium in the blood. While it can be affected by various conditions, it is not the most relevant lab value to check when purulent drainage is noticed at a postoperative patient’s dressing site.

A. Determine the amount of weight the patient has lost since increasing activity. B. Inquire about the patient’s exercise schedule. C. Inform the patient that lifestyle changes often take several weeks to be effective. D. Encourage the patient to exercise daily to reduce bedtime wakefulness.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Determining the amount of weight the patient has lost since increasing activity is relevant to the patient’s overall health and progress toward weight loss goals, but it does not directly address the issue of sleep difficulties. Weight loss and improved sleep may not always have a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

Choice B rationale

Inquiring about the patient’s exercise schedule is a reasonable action. It allows the nurse to gather information about the patient’s exercise routine and assess whether it might be contributing to the sleep difficulties. For instance, exercising too close to bedtime can interfere with sleep. Therefore, understanding the timing and intensity of the patient’s exercise can provide valuable insights into potential adjustments that could improve sleep quality.

Choice C rationale

Informing the patient that lifestyle changes often take several weeks to be effective is a general statement that might not address the specific concerns of the patient. While it’s true that lifestyle changes, including exercise, can take time to show results, this does not provide a targeted solution to the patient’s reported difficulty in falling asleep.

Choice D rationale

Encouraging the patient to exercise daily to reduce bedtime wakefulness is not appropriate advice in this scenario. It oversimplifies the issue and may not address the underlying causes of the patient’s sleep difficulties. Additionally, excessive exercise close to bedtime may actually interfere with sleep.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

While changing a postoperative patient’s dressing, the nurse notices purulent drainage at the site.Before reporting this to the healthcare provider, which of the patient’s lab values should the nurse check?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A patient informs the nurse about starting an exercise program a month ago to lose weight and improve sleep.The patient states, “It still takes at least two hours to fall asleep at night.”. What action should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse is teaching an older client about the prevention of osteoporosis.Which foods should the nurse recommend to the client to increase in the diet?

After a scheduled downtime, the computer documentation system fails to restart.What should be the nurse’s initial action?

Following the administration of albuterol and the subsequent assessment, what actions should the nurse plan for the rest of the shift?

The nurse is reviewing the nurse’s notes and flow chart to identify trends.Which notations require immediate follow-up?

When developing an educational program for older adult clients who are being discharged with new antihypertensive medications, which characteristics should the nurse ensure that the educational materials include? Select all that apply.

Which client is best to assign to the practical nurse (PN) who is assisting the registered nurse (RN) with the care of a group of clients?

The nurse is caring for a client with the sexually transmitted infection (STI) syphilis.The client reports having unprotected sex.Which response should the nurse provide?