A nurse assesses an older adult 24 hours after a retropubic suspension surgical procedure. The client is confused, exhibits muscle twitching, and states she is nauseated. Which laboratory data should the nurse assess?
A) Blood urea nitrogen
B) Sodium
C) Hemoglobin
D) White blood cell count
Ans: B
Older adults will more readily develop hyponatremia especially under conditions of physiologic stress (e.g., surgery). The concern is hyponatremia not hemoglobin, or blood urea nitrogen. An UTI increasing the neutrophil count might also impact the sodium level; however, the symptomology exhibited is hyponatremia.
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A nurse was trying to decrease the amount of respiratory illness in the community. Which of the following approaches should be used by the nurse?
a. Attend each farmworkers' meeting and listen to how they perceive and discuss their problems b. Offer to teach the farmers' spouses how to protect their families, such as having the farmer shower and change clothes before coming into the house c. Suggest the community work together to obtain a community college so farmworkers could be educated for other employment opportunities d. Teach children in the school system the importance of seeking employment in cities rather than staying on the farm
An older male patient, who has difficulty swallowing pills and tablets, will begin taking an androgen. What drug would the nurse identify as a good choice for this patient?
A) Danazol (Danocrine) B) Fluoxymesterone (Androxy) C) Methyltestosterone (Testred) D) Testosterone (Androderm)
The patient's husband is very upset because his wife, who is near death, has dyspnea and restlessness. The nurse explains to him that there are some ways to decrease her discomfort, including:
a. respiratory therapy treatments. b. opioid medications given as needed. c. incentive spirometry. d. increased hydration.
A group of nurses have been asked to meet with the emergency department manager for stress debriefing after working an incident in which several children were killed. One of the nurses says, "I don't know why this is necessary. We are all comfortable with our role in trying to save those kids." What response by the manager is indicated?
1. "We need to meet so everyone can share their feelings about our response." 2. "I thought we could use this situation to discuss who would be the best nurse to act as charge nurse when I am away from the department." 3. "We need to meet so that you will have documented stress management education for your next pay raise consideration." 4. "We need to review everyone's actions during the incident to be sure that no one did anything wrong."