Fundamentals of Nursing Practice Quiz 10

Answer: A – Influences on the nurse’s problem solving and decision making

Explanation: Cognitive skills are used in complex thinking processes, such as problem solving and decision making. Critical thinking attitudes determine how a person uses her cognitive skills. Critical thinking attitudes are traits of the mind, such as independent thinking, intellectual curiosity, intellectual humility, and fair-mindedness, to name a few.

Answer: D – The Joint Commission

Explanation: The Joint Commission has developed assessment standards, including that all clients be assessed for pain. The ANA has developed standards for clinical practice, including those for assessment, but not specifically for pain. State nurse practice acts regulate nursing practice in individual states. The NCSBN asserts that the scope of nursing includes a comprehensive assessment but does not specifically include pain.

Answer: B – The client states she feels feverish; you measure the oral temperature at 98°F.

Explanation: Validation should be done when subjective and objective data do not make sense. For instance, it is inconsistent data when the patient feels feverish and you obtain a normal temperature. The other distractors do not offer conflicting data. Validation is not usually necessary for laboratory test results.

Answer: D – Sitting, facing the client in a chair at the client’s bedside, using active listening

Explanation: Active listening should be used during an interview. The nurse should face the patient, have relaxed posture, and keep eye contact. Asking “why” may make the client defensive. Note-taking interferes with eye contact. The client may not understand medical terminology or health care jargon.

Answer: C – Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Explanation: Nursing models produce a holistic database that is useful in identifying nursing rather than medical diagnoses. Body systems and head-to-toe are not nursing models, and they are not holistic; they focus on identifying physiological needs or disease. Maslow’s hierarchy is not a nursing model, but it is holistic, so it is acceptable for identifying nursing diagnoses. Gordon’s functional health patterns are a nursing model.

Answer: D – Recorded an inference rather than a cue

Explanation: The nurse recorded a vague generality: “he has had a good night.” The nurse did not use the patient’s exact words, but she did not quote the patient at all, so that is not one of her errors. The nurse used the “waffle” word, “seems” worried instead of documenting what the patient said or did to lead her to that conclusion. The nurse recorded these inferences: worried and had a good night.

Answer: C – Focused physical assessment

Explanation: The nurse is performing a focused physical assessment, which is done to obtain data about an identified problem, in this case shortness of breath. An ongoing assessment is performed as needed, after the initial data are collected, preferably with each patient contact. A comprehensive physical assessment includes an interview and a complete examination of each body system.

Answer: A – Sitting upright

Explanation: If the patient is able, the nurse should have the patient sit upright to obtain vital signs in order to allow the nurse to easily access the anterior and posterior chest for auscultation of heart and breath sounds. It allows for full lung expansion and is the preferred position for measuring blood pressure. Additionally, patients might be more comfortable and feel less vulnerable when sitting upright (rather than lying down on the back) and can have direct eye contact with the examiner.

Answer: B – C, A, D, B

Explanation: Inspection begins immediately as the nurse meets the patient, as she observes the patient’s appearance and behavior. Observational data are not intrusive to the patient. When performing assessment techniques involving physical touch, the behavior, posture, demeanor, and responses might be altered. Palpation, percussion, and auscultation should be performed in that order, except when performing an abdominal assessment.

Answer: A – Sims

Explanation: Sims’ position is typically used to examine the rectal area. However, the position should be avoided if the patient has undergone hip replacement surgery The patient with a hip replacement can assume the supine, dorsal recumbent, or semi-Fowler’s positions without causing harm to the joint. Supine position is lying on the back facing upward. The patient in dorsal recumbent is on his back with knees flexed and soles of feet flat on the bed. In semi-Fowler’s position, the patient is supine with the head of the bed elevated and legs slightly elevated.