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
This is the best action for the PN to take because it provides immediate relief for the client's pain, which can be severe and debilitating in Herpes zoster. The PN should also assess the client's pain level, location, and characteristics and document the response to the medication.
B. Obtaining an oxygen tank for home administration is not indicated for this client and does not address his pain issue. Herpes zoster does not affect the respiratory system and does not cause hypoxia or dyspnea.
C. Giving the next prescribed dose of antiviral medication is not a priority for this client and may not have an immediate effect on his pain. Antiviral medication can help reduce the duration and severity of Herpes zoster, but it does not provide analgesia.
D. Notifying the nursing supervisor of uncontrolled pain is not a priority for this client and may delay his pain relief. The PN should notify the nursing supervisor only if the prescribed analgesic is ineffective or causes adverse effects.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
This is the best action for the PN to use in assisting this client to deal with his pain because it provides a non- pharmacological method of pain relief that can enhance the effect of the opioid analgesic. Slow, rhythmic breathing can help the client relax, distract from the pain, and increase oxygenation and blood flow.
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