The practical nurse (PN) is preparing for shift change. Which task has the highest priority and should be completed first?
Clean up and organize the nurses' workstation.
Verify completion of all new prescriptions.
Calculate and record intake and output totals.
Write a narrative shift summary for each client.
The Correct Answer is B
The correct answer is choice B. Verify completion of all new prescriptions. This task is crucial to ensure patient safety and proper medication administration.
Choice A rationale:
Clean up and organize the nurses’ workstation: While maintaining an organized workstation is important for efficiency and reducing stress, it is not the highest priority task. Patient safety and care tasks take precedence over organizational tasks.
Choice B rationale:
Verify completion of all new prescriptions: This is the highest priority because verifying new prescriptions ensures that patients receive the correct medications as prescribed by their healthcare providers. This step is critical to prevent medication errors, which can have serious or even fatal consequences. Ensuring the accuracy of medication orders directly impacts patient safety and care quality.
Choice C rationale:
Calculate and record intake and output totals: Monitoring and recording intake and output is important for assessing a patient’s fluid balance and overall health status. However, this task can be delegated to another team member and does not take precedence over verifying medication orders, which is more time-sensitive and directly related to patient safety.
Choice D rationale:
Write a narrative shift summary for each client: Documenting a shift summary is essential for continuity of care and communication between healthcare providers. However, this task can be completed after ensuring that all critical patient care tasks, such as verifying new prescriptions, are addressed first.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The injury description by the mother varies from the child's version.
Choice A rationale:
The practical nurse (PN) should note the significant indicator of possible child abuse, which is the discrepancy between the mother's description of the injury and the child's version. In cases of child abuse, perpetrators often provide inconsistent or conflicting explanations about how the injuries occurred, raising suspicion of maltreatment. This inconsistency can be a red flag for the PN to further assess the situation and, if necessary, report concerns to the appropriate authorities.
Choice B rationale:
While the child looking at the floor when answering questions might be a behavior worth noting, it alone is not a definitive indicator of child abuse. Children may exhibit various emotional responses for various reasons, and it requires further assessment to determine if there are signs of abuse.
Choice C rationale:
The healing of abrasions on the child's arms, legs, and chest does not necessarily indicate child abuse. Children are active and prone to minor injuries, which are a normal part of growing up. The PN should investigate further to determine the cause of the injuries.
Choice D rationale:
The mother describing in detail what she did for her injured child does not automatically suggest child abuse. It is essential for the PN to gather more information and conduct a comprehensive assessment before drawing any conclusions.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is choice D. Cleanse the finger with soap and water.
Choice A rationale:
Explaining the occurrence to the client is not the first action the PN should take in this situation. The priority is to address the potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens and ensure the PN's safety.
Choice B rationale:
Observing the appearance of the injection site is important for routine assessment but is not the first action the PN should take after getting stuck with the used needle. Immediate action to clean the wound site is essential to reduce the risk of infection.
Choice C rationale:
While notifying the charge nurse about the incident is important, it should not be the first action taken. The PN's safety should be addressed first by cleansing the finger.
Choice D rationale:
The PN should first cleanse the finger with soap and water immediately after getting stuck with the used needle. This action helps reduce the risk of infection and contamination. After cleansing, the PN can follow the facility's protocol for reporting incidents and seek necessary medical attention if required.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.