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.

Answer and Explanation

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.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The correct answer is choice A. Consecutive evening serum glucose greater than 260 mg/dL.

Choice A rationale:

A consecutive evening serum glucose greater than 260 mg/dL indicates persistent hyperglycemia. Inadequate NPH insulin dosage may lead to consistently high blood glucose levels, which can result in various complications.

Choice B rationale:

The complaint of cold feet and numbness is not a specific indicator of inadequate insulin dosage. Neuropathy and circulation issues can occur with poorly controlled diabetes, but they are not solely indicative of inadequate insulin.

Choice C rationale:

Nausea in the morning, even with the ability to eat breakfast, does not necessarily point to inadequate insulin dosage. It could be due to various factors, including dietary choices or other medical conditions.

Choice D rationale:

The wound on the ankle that starts to drain and becomes painful is not a specific sign of inadequate insulin dosage. Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to delayed wound healing, but it does not necessarily indicate that the current insulin dosage is insufficient.

A. Measure the urinary output in the bag. B. Attach the drainage bag to the bed frame. C. Apply gloves and empty the drainage bag. D. Remove the looped tubing from the bed.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The correct answer is choice B. Attach the drainage bag to the bed frame.

Choice A rationale:

Measuring the urinary output in the bag is a routine task but does not address the improper placement of the drainage bag. The immediate concern is to ensure the drainage bag is correctly positioned to prevent complications.

Choice B rationale:

Attaching the drainage bag to the bed frame is the correct action. The drainage bag should be kept below the level of the bladder and attached to a non-movable part of the bed to prevent backflow and reduce the risk of infection.

Choice C rationale:

Applying gloves and emptying the drainage bag is not the immediate priority. The drainage bag should not be allowed to overfill, but in this scenario, it is only half-full, so this action is not urgent.

Choice D rationale:

Removing the looped tubing from the bed is important to ensure proper drainage and prevent backflow, but it does not address the incorrect placement of the drainage bag, which is the primary concern in this situation.

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The practical nurse (PN) is preparing for shift change. Which task has the highest priority and should be completed first?

Choice A rationale:

Choice B rationale:

Choice C rationale:

Choice D rationale:

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

An adult female client with type 1 diabetes mellitus is receiving NPH insulin 35 units each morning. Which finding should the practical nurse (PN) document as evidence that the amount of insulin is inadequate? (Reference Range: Glucose [0 to 50 years: less than 140 mg/dL or less than 7.8 mmo/L]).

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Before administering an antibiotic that can cause nephrotoxicity, which laboratory value is most important for the practical nurse (PN) to review?

A client is scheduled for a thoracentesis that will be done at the bedside. What should the practical nurse (PN) prepare before the healthcare provider arrives on the unit to perform the procedure?

During the past 30 days, an elderly client has exhibited a progressively decreasing appetite, is spending increasing amounts of the daytime hours in bed, and refuses to participate in planned daytime activities. Which action should the practical nurse (PN) take?

The charge nurse brings a #18 urinary catheter with a 30 mL balloon to the practical nurse (PN) who is preparing to insert a catheter in a female client who weighs 50 kg. Which action should the PN take first?

The practical nurse (PN) finds a postoperative client lying in bed with an unsecured surgical dressing. After reinforcing the dressing, which follow-up assessment is most important for the PN to implement?

A male client atends a community support program for mentally impaired and chemical abusing clients. The client tells the practical nurse (PN) that his drugs of choice are cocaine and heroin. What is the greatest health risk for this client?