Chapter 69- Lewis Flashcards
- During the primary assessment of a victim of a motor vehicle collision, the nurse determines that the patient is breathing and has an unobstructed airway. Which action should the nurse take next?
a.
Palpate extremities for bilateral pulses.
b.
Observe the patient’s respiratory effort.
c.
Check the patient’s level of consciousness.
d.
Examine the patient for any external bleeding.
ANS: B
Even with a patent airway, patients can have other problems that compromise ventilation, so the next action is to assess the patient’s breathing. The other actions are also part of the initial survey but assessment of breathing should be done immediately after assessing for airway patency.
- During the primary survey of a patient with severe leg trauma, the nurse observes that the patient’s left pedal pulse is absent and the leg is swollen. Which action will the nurse take next?
a.
Send blood to the lab for a complete blood count.
b.
Assess further for a cause of the decreased circulation.
c.
Finish the airway, breathing, circulation, disability survey.
d.
Start normal saline fluid infusion with a large-bore IV line.
ANS: D
The assessment data indicate that the patient may have arterial trauma and hemorrhage. When a possibly life-threatening injury is found during the primary survey, the nurse should immediately start interventions before proceeding with the survey. Although a complete blood count is indicated, administration of IV fluids should be started first. Completion of the primary survey and further assessment should be completed after the IV fluids are initiated.
- After the return of spontaneous circulation following the resuscitation of a patient who had a cardiac arrest, therapeutic hypothermia is ordered. Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care?
a.
Apply external cooling device.
b.
Check mental status every 15 minutes.
c.
Avoid the use of sedative medications.
d.
Rewarm if temperature is <91° F (32.8° C).
ANS: A
When therapeutic hypothermia is used postresuscitation, external cooling devices or cold normal saline infusions are used to rapidly lower body temperature to 89.6° F to 93.2° F (32° C to 34° C). Because hypothermia will decrease brain activity, assessing mental status every 15 minutes is not needed at this stage. Sedative medications are administered during therapeutic hypothermia.
- A patient who is unconscious after a fall from a ladder is transported to the emergency department by emergency medical personnel. During the primary survey of the patient, the nurse should
a.
obtain a complete set of vital signs.
b.
obtain a Glasgow Coma Scale score.
c.
ask about chronic medical conditions.
d.
attach a cardiac electrocardiogram monitor.
ANS: B
The Glasgow Coma Scale is included when assessing for disability during the primary survey. The other information is part of the secondary survey.
- A 19-year-old is brought to the emergency department (ED) with multiple lacerations and tissue avulsion of the left hand. When asked about tetanus immunization, the patient denies having any previous vaccinations. The nurse will anticipate giving
a.
tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) only.
b.
TIG and tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td).
c.
tetanus-diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (Tdap) only.
d.
TIG and tetanus-diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (Tdap).
ANS: D
For an adult with no previous tetanus immunizations, TIG and Tdap are recommended. The other immunizations are not sufficient for this patient.
- A patient who has experienced blunt abdominal trauma during a motor vehicle collision is complaining of increasing abdominal pain. The nurse will plan to teach the patient about the purpose of
a.
peritoneal lavage.
b.
abdominal ultrasonography.
c.
nasogastric (NG) tube placement.
d.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
ANS: B
For patients who are at risk for intraabdominal bleeding, focused abdominal ultrasonography is the preferred method to assess for intraperitoneal bleeding. An MRI would not be used. Peritoneal lavage is an alternative, but it is more invasive. An NG tube would not be helpful in diagnosis of intraabdominal bleeding.
- A patient with hypotension and an elevated temperature after working outside on a hot day is treated in the emergency department (ED). The nurse determines that discharge teaching has been effective when the patient makes which statement?
a.
“I will take salt tablets when I work outdoors in the summer.”
b.
“I should take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if I start to feel too warm.”
c.
“I should drink sports drinks when working outside in hot weather.”
d.
“I will move to a cool environment if I notice that I am feeling confused.”
ANS: C
Electrolyte solutions such as sports drinks help replace fluid and electrolytes lost when exercising in hot weather. Salt tablets are not recommended because of the risks of gastric irritation and hypernatremia. Antipyretic medications are not effective in lowering body temperature elevations caused by excessive exposure to heat. A patient who is confused is likely to have more severe hyperthermia and will be unable to remember to take appropriate action.
- A 22-year-old patient who experienced a near drowning accident in a local pool, but now is awake and breathing spontaneously, is admitted for observation. Which assessment will be most important for the nurse to take during the observation period?
a.
Auscultate heart sounds.
b.
Palpate peripheral pulses.
c.
Auscultate breath sounds.
d.
Check pupil reaction to light.
ANS: C
Because pulmonary edema is a common complication after near drowning, the nurse should assess the breath sounds frequently. The other information also will be obtained by the nurse, but it is not as pertinent to the patient’s admission diagnosis.
- When planning the response to the potential use of smallpox as an agent of terrorism, the emergency department (ED) nurse manager will plan to obtain adequate quantities of
a.
vaccine.
b.
atropine.
c.
antibiotics.
d.
whole blood.
ANS: A
Smallpox infection can be prevented or ameliorated by the administration of vaccine given rapidly after exposure. The other interventions would be helpful for other agents of terrorism but not for smallpox.
- When rewarming a patient who arrived in the emergency department (ED) with a temperature of 87° F (30.6° C), which assessment indicates that the nurse should discontinue active rewarming?
a.
The patient begins to shiver.
b.
The BP decreases to 86/42 mm Hg.
c.
The patient develops atrial fibrillation.
d.
The core temperature is 94° F (34.4° C).
ANS: D
A core temperature of 89.6° F to 93.2° F (32° C to 34° C) indicates that sufficient rewarming has occurred. Dysrhythmias, hypotension, and shivering may occur during rewarming and should be treated but are not an indication to stop rewarming the patient.
- When assessing an older patient admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a broken arm and facial bruises, the nurse observes several additional bruises in various stages of healing. Which statement or question by the nurse is most appropriate?
a.
“Do you feel safe in your home?”
b.
“You should not return to your home.”
c.
“Would you like to see a social worker?”
d.
“I need to report my concerns to the police.”
ANS: A
The nurse’s initial response should be to further assess the patient’s situation. Telling the patient not to return home may be an option once further assessment is done. A social worker may be appropriate once further assessment is completed.
- A 20-year-old patient arrives in the emergency department (ED) several hours after taking “25 to 30” acetaminophen (Tylenol) tablets. Which action will the nurse plan to take?
a.
Give N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst).
b.
Discuss the use of chelation therapy.
c.
Start oxygen using a non-rebreather mask.
d.
Have the patient drink large amounts of water.
ANS: A
N-acetylcysteine is the recommended treatment to prevent liver damage after acetaminophen overdose. The other actions might be used for other types of poisoning, but they will not be appropriate for a patient with acetaminophen poisoning.
- A triage nurse in a busy emergency department (ED) assesses a patient who complains of 7/10 abdominal pain and states, “I had a temperature of 103.9° F (39.9° C) at home.” The nurse’s first action should be to
a.
assess the patient’s current vital signs.
b.
give acetaminophen (Tylenol) per agency protocol.
c.
ask the patient to provide a clean-catch urine for urinalysis.
d.
tell the patient that it will 1 to 2 hours before being seen by the doctor.
ANS: A
The patient’s pain and statement about an elevated temperature indicate that the nurse should obtain vital signs before deciding how rapidly the patient should be seen by the health care provider. A urinalysis may be appropriate, but this would be done after the vital signs are taken. The nurse will not give acetaminophen before confirming a current temperature elevation.
- The emergency department (ED) triage nurse is assessing four victims involved in a motor vehicle collision. Which patient has the highest priority for treatment?
a.
A patient with no pedal pulses.
b.
A patient with an open femur fracture.
c.
A patient with bleeding facial lacerations.
d.
A patient with paradoxic chest movements.
ANS: D
Most immediate deaths from trauma occur because of problems with ventilation, so the patient with paradoxic chest movements should be treated first. Face and head fractures can obstruct the airway, but the patient with facial injuries only has lacerations. The other two patients also need rapid intervention but do not have airway or breathing problems.
- The following interventions are part of the emergency department (ED) protocol for a patient who has been admitted with multiple bee stings to the hands. Which action should the nurse take first?
a.
Remove the patient’s rings.
b.
Apply ice packs to both hands.
c.
Apply calamine lotion to any itching areas.
d.
Give diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 50 mg PO.
ANS: A
The patient’s rings should be removed first because it might not be possible to remove them if swelling develops. The other orders should also be implemented as rapidly as possible after the nurse has removed the jewelry.
