When an IV pump alarms because of pressure, what action does the nurse take first?
a. Check for kinking of the catheter.
b. Flush the catheter with a thrombolytic enzyme.
c. Get a new infusion pump.
d. Remove the IV catheter.
A
Fluid flow through the infusion system requires that pressure on the external side be greater than pressure at the catheter tip. Fluid flow can be slowed for many reasons. A common reason, and one that is easy to correct, is a kinked catheter. If this is not the cause of the pressure alarm, the nurse may have to ascertain whether a clot has formed inside the catheter lumen, or if the pump is no longer functional.
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The nurse prepares to assess for the Trousseau and Chvostek signs in a client. For which health problem is the nurse assessing this client?
a. Anemia b. Hypokalemia c. Hypocalcemia d. Hypophosphatemia
Two data collectors scored pressure ulcers similarly using the Braden Scale for pressure ulcer assessment. This finding indicates what?
a. Interrater reliability between the two data collectors was high. b. Interrater reliability between the two data collectors was low. c. The data collection method was inappropriate for the investigation. d. Interrater reliability cannot be established without the two data collectors examining each pressure ulcer together at the same time.
During her first prenatal visit to the clinic at seven weeks' gestation, a 24-year-old primiparous client comments, "My blood type is A negative, and my husband's blood type is B positive
Will that cause problems with my pregnancy?" The nurse's best response would be: A. "There is no danger to your baby, but there could be a few minor complications for you. Let's talk about what we can do to prevent those." B. "We will do a blood test to see if your body is responding to the baby's blood type. If so, we will give the baby some medication to prevent harm." C. "Because your partner is positive and you are negative, there is some risk to the baby, but because this is your first pregnancy the risks are very small." D. "If you were O negative, you might have ABO incompatibility because of your partner's blood type; but since you are type A, there should be no problem."
If the RN has several LPNs on the shift to supervise, which of the following responsibilities will fall to the RN?
1. Evaluating the care provided to the client. 2. Administering intramuscular (IM) medications. 3. Performing dressing changes. 4. Delegating appropriate tasks to unlicensed client care providers (such as a nurse's aide).