Gas Exchange
What is the priority nursing intervention for a pediatric patient with cystic fibrosis experiencing thick mucus obstructing airways?
Administer chest physiotherapy.
Rationale: Chest physiotherapy is a nonpharmacologic intervention that helps clear mucus in CF, directly addressing airway obstruction to improve gas exchange.
What laboratory test is commonly used to monitor disease activity in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis?
C-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Rationale: CRP and ESR measure inflammation severity in RA, an autoimmune disorder (Inflammation Content: Labs - C-reactive protein, ESR; Immunity Content: Labs - C-reactive protein, ESR), helping nurses evaluate disease progression and plan care for altered immunity.
What is a key genetic risk factor for developing thyroid dysfunction?
Family history of autoimmune thyroid disorders (e.g., Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease).
Rationale: Genetics, including a family history of autoimmune conditions, significantly increases the risk of thyroid dysfunction.
What chronic medical condition is a major risk factor for developing peripheral neuropathy?
Diabetes mellitus.
Rationale: Outcome 2 requires evaluating risk factors for altered sensory perception. Diabetes is a leading chronic condition causing peripheral neuropathy due to nerve damage (Content: Risk Factors - Chronic medical condition). Understanding this connection helps nursing students identify at-risk patients and plan culturally competent care, a key skill for clinical practice.
What is a key patient teaching point for cystic fibrosis patients taking pancreatic enzymes to aid digestion?
Take the enzymes with meals or snacks to enhance nutrient absorption.
Rationale: The Gas Exchange module’s Outcome 5 emphasizes implementing evidence-based interventions. Pancreatic enzymes are prescribed for cystic fibrosis to manage malabsorption due to pancreatic insufficiency (Gas Exchange Content: Pharmacology - Pancreatic Enzymes). Teaching proper timing ensures effectiveness, a critical nursing responsibility to support nutrition (Gas Exchange Interrelated Concepts - Nutrition) and metabolic health. This aligns with clinical care planning for pediatric patients.
This diagnostic test is commonly used to confirm a tuberculosis diagnosis by identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs.
Answer: Sputum culture.
Rationale: Outcome 3 focuses on collecting assessment data using diagnostic tests to determine gas exchange status. Sputum culture is a key diagnostic tool for TB, as outlined in the content (Diagnostics - Sputum culture), helping students prioritize accurate data collection for safe care planning.
What class of medication, such as omeprazole, is typically prescribed to reduce inflammation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
Rationale: PPIs like omeprazole reduce acid production, decreasing esophageal inflammation in GERD
Which laboratory test is used to assess pituitary function in a patient suspected of having hypopituitarism?
drenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge test.
Rationale: The ACTH challenge test evaluates pituitary function by measuring adrenal response (Content: Labs - Adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge), enabling nurses to accurately assess pituitary dysfunction and guide interventions.
What diagnostic test is used to measure intraocular pressure in a patient suspected of having glaucoma?
Noncontact tonometry.
Rationale: Outcome 4 emphasizes collecting assessment data using diagnostic tests to determine sensory status. Noncontact tonometry measures intraocular pressure, critical for diagnosing glaucoma (Content: Diagnostics - Vision: Noncontact tonometry). This knowledge enables nurses to assess vision loss risk accurately, supporting timely interventions to preserve sensory perception.
What antiviral medication class is commonly prescribed for HIV management, requiring nurses to monitor for adherence to prevent resistance?
Antiretrovirals (e.g., tenofovir, emtricitabine).
Rationale: The Immunity module’s Outcome 6 focuses on implementing safe, evidence-based interventions for altered immunity. Antiretrovirals are the cornerstone of HIV treatment, suppressing viral load to maintain immune function (Immunity Content: Pharmacology - Anti-virals). Adherence education is a priority to prevent resistance, aligning with culturally competent care across the lifespan (Immunity Outcome 5) and addressing stress or fatigue (Immunity Interrelated Concepts - Stress, Fatigue).
This antitubercular drug requires monitoring for hepatotoxicity and can cause orange discoloration of bodily fluids.
Rifampin.
Rationale: Rifampin is a first-line TB medication - (Anti-tubercular drugs) with notable side effects like hepatotoxicity and orange discoloration, which nurses must monitor to ensure safe care.
What is a priority nursing intervention for a patient with HIV experiencing fatigue due to altered immunity?
Teach energy conservation techniques (e.g., pacing activities, prioritizing tasks).
Rationale: Addressing fatigue improves quality of life and supports immune function, a key skill for nursing students in providing evidence-based care.
What is a priority nursing intervention for a patient with adrenocortical dysfunction experiencing an Addisonian crisis?
Administer intravenous corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone) immediately.
Rationale: An Addisonian crisis, a life-threatening adrenocortical insufficiency, requires urgent corticosteroid replacement to restore cortisol levels (Content: Pharmacology - Corticosteroids). This intervention addresses fluid and electrolyte imbalances, ensuring safe, evidence-based care.
What is a priority nursing intervention for a patient with cataracts experiencing impaired vision to ensure safety?
Ensure a clutter-free environment and provide adequate lighting.
Rationale: Outcomes 5 and 8 focus on using the nursing process and prioritizing care for clients with altered sensory perception. For cataracts, environmental modifications reduce fall risks and enhance safety (Content: Nursing Process; Interrelated Concepts - Mobility, Functional Ability). This intervention addresses immediate patient needs, a core competency for nursing students.
What adverse effect should a nurse monitor for in a patient taking methimazole for hyperthyroidism, and what action is needed if it occurs?
Agranulocytosis; stop the medication and notify the provider immediately.
Rationale: The Metabolism module’s Outcome 5 involves implementing safe interventions. Methimazole, an anti-thyroid drug, treats hyperthyroidism but carries a risk of agranulocytosis, a life-threatening drop in white blood cells (Metabolism Content: Pharmacology - Methimazole). Monitoring and prompt action ensure patient safety, addressing interrelated concepts like infection risk (Metabolism Interrelated Concepts - Fluid and Electrolytes, via immune response), a key skill for nursing students.
Which interdisciplinary team member is primarily responsible for teaching a patient with cystic fibrosis how to use a nebulizer for bronchodilator therapy?
Respiratory therapist.
Rationale: The respiratory therapist specializes in airway management and breathing support ensuring effective delivery of bronchodilators for CF patients to optimize gas exchange.
What primary prevention strategy should a nurse recommend to reduce the risk of flare-ups in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease?
void trigger foods (e.g., high-fiber or spicy foods) or maintain a balanced diet.
Rationale: Dietary management reduces irritation and inflammation in IBD. This strategy empowers patients and prevents exacerbations.
What medication, often levothyroxine, is prescribed to treat hypothyroidism, and what key patient teaching should accompany it?
Synthetic thyroid hormone; teach to take it on an empty stomach in the morning to optimize absorption.
Rationale: Levothyroxine replaces deficient thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism (Content: Pharmacology - Synthetic thyroid hormone). Patient education on administration timing enhances effectiveness, a key nursing responsibility to improve metabolic function and patient outcomes.
What class of glaucoma medication, such as timolol, is used to reduce intraocular pressure by decreasing aqueous humor production?
Beta-blockers.
Rationale: Outcome 6 involves implementing evidence-based interventions, including pharmacology. Beta-blockers like timolol are commonly prescribed for glaucoma to prevent optic nerve damage (Content: Pharmacology - Glaucoma medications). Educating patients on proper administration is essential for nurses to maintain sensory perception and prevent vision loss.
What is a critical nursing consideration when administering timolol eye drops to a patient with glaucoma?
Instruct the patient to apply pressure to the nasolacrimal duct after administration to reduce systemic absorption.
Rationale: The Sensory Perception module’s Outcome 6 emphasizes evidence-based interventions. Timolol, a beta-blocker, reduces intraocular pressure in glaucoma but can cause systemic side effects like bradycardia if absorbed (Sensory Perception Content: Pharmacology - Glaucoma medications). Teaching nasolacrimal occlusion enhances safety, supporting vision preservation and addressing comfort (Sensory Perception Interrelated Concepts - Comfort/Rest), essential for clinical practice.
What is the name of the screening test used as a secondary prevention strategy to detect latent tuberculosis infection?
Mantoux skin test.
Rationale: The Mantoux skin test is a key secondary prevention method that allows early detection of TB, enabling timely intervention to prevent progression and spread, which is critical for nursing students to understand in community and clinical settings.
Which interdisciplinary team member should a nurse consult to develop a nutritional plan for a patient with Crohn’s disease experiencing malabsorption?
Dietitian.
Rationale: A dietitian addresses nutritional deficiencies caused by inflammation in Crohn’s disease ensuring holistic care.
What primary prevention strategy should a nurse recommend to reduce environmental risks for thyroid dysfunction in patients living in iodine-deficient areas?
Encourage consumption of iodine-rich foods (e.g., seafood, iodized salt) or iodine supplements.
Rationale: Outcome 2 emphasizes planning prevention strategies for altered metabolism. Iodine deficiency is an environmental risk factor for thyroid dysfunction, such as hypothyroidism or goiter (Content: Risk Factors - Environmental; Prevention - Modifying environmental exposure). Educating patients on dietary iodine intake prevents thyroid hormone imbalances, a key nursing intervention to promote metabolic health and address interrelated concepts like nutrition (Content: Interrelated Concepts - Nutrition).
Which interdisciplinary team member should a nurse refer a patient with hearing loss to for evaluation and fitting of a hearing aid?
Audiologist.
Rationale: Outcome 7 requires differentiating roles of interdisciplinary team members. An audiologist specializes in assessing hearing loss and providing devices like hearing aids (Content: Interrelated Concepts - Communication). This collaboration ensures comprehensive care, helping nursing students prioritize interventions that improve sensory perception and quality of life.
What electrolyte should a nurse monitor closely when administering desmopressin (DDAVP) to a patient with pituitary dysfunction causing diabetes insipidus?
Sodium (to prevent hyponatremia).
Rationale: The Metabolism module’s Outcome 5 emphasizes implementing safe, evidence-based interventions. Desmopressin, used for diabetes insipidus due to pituitary dysfunction, increases water reabsorption, which can lower sodium levels (Metabolism Content: Pharmacology - Desmopressin). Monitoring sodium prevents complications like hyponatremia, addressing interrelated concepts like fluid and electrolyte balance (Metabolism Interrelated Concepts - Fluid and Electrolytes). This vigilance is critical for nursing students to ensure patient safety in clinical practice.