SOLVED

Chapter 1 Question 1 The patient who had surgery yesterday reports his chest feels tight. Assessment reveals respiratory rate of 29, inspiratory wheezes, stridor, and an oxygenation saturation of 80%. The nurse would consider this patient to be which priority for transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU)? 1. Priority 1 2. Priority 2 3. Priority 3 4. Priority 4 Question 2 The daughter of a patient who is dying questions the placement of her father on the medical–surgical care unit (MSCU). She requests he be placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) because of concern her father may not receive close observation on a busy hospital unit. Which action is indicated by the nurse? 1. Notify the intensive care unit of an impending transfer. 2. Tell the daughter that her father does not meet criteria for placement in the more expensive ICU. 3. Discuss the care that can be provided on the unit with the family member. 4. Contact the physician. Question 3 A nurse who is contemplating taking a position in an intensive care unit is reviewing her strengths and weaknesses. Which characteristics of the nurse will be of the greatest benefit in the intensive care environment? 1. Feels comfortable in ever changing situations 2. Closely evaluates the pros and cons of each decision for a long period of time before making a decision 3. Is quiet and introverted 4. Is excited about all new experiences Question 4 The registered nurse is working as charge nurse on a busy high-acuity care unit. Unexpectedly, a coworker becomes ill and needs to leave. There is a period of time in which the unit is short staffed while the ill coworker’s replacement travels in to work. What action by the charge nurse is indicated? 1. Make no changes until the replacement nurse arrives. 2. Assign the less acute patients to be cared for by the unlicensed assistive personnel. 3. Assign the unlicensed assistive personnel to watch the monitors and call for help if a patient “gets into trouble.” 4. Contact the house supervisor and ask for a float nurse to be sent to the unit. Question 5 A recent nursing school graduate reports having an interview with a magnet hospital. When preparing for the interview, the graduate nurse researches the concept of magnet status. Which perceptions by the nurse indicate an adequate understanding? 1. Magnet status is an accreditation from the National League for Nurses. 2. Magnet status facilities pay substantial recruitment bonuses. 3. Magnet status facilities promote the interests of professional nursing. 4. Magnet status hospitals must establish nurse-to-patient ratios. Question 6 A team of nurses would like to research outcomes of intensive care that expand beyond those that are normally studied. This team would recognize which outcome as most commonly studied? 1. Patient comfort 2. Patient perceived quality of life 3. Functional status 4. Mortality Question 7 A newly employed nurse is working with an experienced registered nurse. During the shift, the experienced nurse routinely uses her personal digital assistant. How would the nurse explain the use of this device to the novice nurse? 1. “I use my PDA as a reference tool several times every day.” 2. “I can access my patient’s old medical records on this PDA.” 3. “I use my PDA to let the pharmacy know when I need medications.” 4. “I use my PDA to write nursing notes.” Question 8 A nurse says, “I worry that all of these machines in the intensive care unit interfere with my ability to to establish a therapeutic relationship with my patients.” What response by the nurse manager is indicated? 1. “Technology improves our patient outcomes.” 2. “I completely understand how you feel.” 3. “There are ways to increase your interaction with your assigned patients.” 4. “These feelings may be a sign that this is not the work environment for you.” Question 9 A recently hired nurse has been overheard saying she does not need to check as closely on her assigned patients as there are many machines that will “just do it for you.” What action by the nurse manager is indicated? 1. The nurse manager should plan a skills check off for the nurse. 2. The nurse should have a notation placed in her file indicating a lack of due care to assigned patients. 3. The manager should issue a verbal warning to the nurse. 4. The nurse manager should discuss assessment priorities with the nurse. Question 10 The nurse who transferred to the intensive care environment 6 months ago tells the nurse manager that she feels “burned out.” The nurse voices curiosity about how this could happen after such a short time in the unit. The charge nurse’s response should contain which information? 1. Burnout is not limited to long-term exposure to a work environment. 2. Burnout cannot be predicted. 3. The nurse most likely is not a good candidate for the intensive care unit. 4. The nurse is having a delayed response to change in work environment.