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.

Nursing Test Bank

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Correct Answer is ["B","D"]

Explanation

The correct answers are Choice B and D:

Choice B: Report the appearance of the dressing to the charge nurse,

Choice D: Compress the drainage device before closing the tab.

Choice A rationale:

Documenting the appearance of the wound as inflamed is not appropriate. As a practical nurse, the immediate concern is to take action and report any concerning findings to the appropriate healthcare provider rather than just documenting it.

Choice B rationale:

Reporting the appearance of the dressing to the charge nurse is essential. The charge nurse or a more experienced healthcare provider needs to be informed of any abnormal findings or signs of infection for further evaluation and appropriate intervention.

Choice C rationale:

Removing the drainage device and applying a pressure dressing is not within the scope of practice for a practical nurse. These actions require a higher level of expertise and are typically performed by a registered nurse or healthcare provider.

Choice D rationale:

Compressing the drainage device before closing the tab is a correct action. This helps to ensure that the device is functioning properly, and there are no leaks or obstructions in the drainage system.

Choice E rationale:

Clamping the drainage tubing for the next four hours is not recommended unless specifically ordered by a healthcare provider. Clamping the drainage tubing without appropriate orders may disrupt the normal drainage process and cause complications.

A. Heating pad B. Body lotion C. Soft blanket D. Moist clothes

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The correct answer is Choice C. Soft blanket.

Choice A rationale:

A heating pad should not be applied to the client's legs with a mottled appearance. A mottled appearance indicates poor circulation, and applying heat could potentially worsen the situation by dilating blood vessels and further reducing blood flow to the extremities.

Choice B rationale:

The body lotion is not appropriate in this situation. While it may help moisturize the skin, it will not address the underlying circulation issues causing the mottled appearance. Moreover, applying lotions to areas with compromised circulation can be harmful.

Choice C rationale:

The correct choice. A soft blanket can be applied to the client's legs with a mottled appearance to provide warmth and comfort. It is essential to keep the client comfortable during palliative care, and a soft blanket can help maintain a suitable temperature without causing harm.

Choice D rationale:

Moist clothes are not indicated in this situation. They may potentially worsen the mottled appearance by adding moisture to the skin, and it won't address the circulation issues causing the discoloration.

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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:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The practical nurse (PN) observes a client’s initial postoperative dressing, which is saturated with serosanguinous fluid, and a drainage device that appears partially compressed. Which follow-up actions should the PN implement? (Select all that apply.).

Correct Answer is ["B","D"]

Explanation

A client is receiving palliative care, and death is anticipated within the next 24 hours. The practical nurse (PN) observes that the client's legs have a mottled appearance. What should the PN apply to the client's legs?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

An older male client is returning to the surgical unit after a total right knee replacement. Which assessment findings are most important for the practical nurse (PN) to document in this client's electronic medical record (EMR)?

The practical nurse (PN) reviews the history of an older adult who is newly admitted to a long-term care facility. Which factor in the resident's history should the PN consider the most likely to increase the client's risk for falls?

A client is being treated for hepatic failure. On examination, the client has an elevated pulse rate and exhibited changes in mental status. Which intervention in the plan of care should the practical nurse (PN) implement?

The unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reports to the practical nurse (PN) that a male clientwith fluid volume overload will not allow the UAP to obtain his daily weight. Which action should the PN implement?

The parents of a one-year-old child with the diagnosis of hypospadias informed the practical nurse (PN) that they plan to delay corrective surgery to see if the child will outgrow the problem. Which information should the PN provide to these parents?