A Beginners Quiz On Fundamentals Of Nursing

1. The most important nursing intervention to correct skin dryness is:

Avoid bathing the patient until the condition is remedied. and notify the physician

Ask the physician to refer the patient to a dermatologist. and suggest that the patient wear home-laundered sleepwear

Consult the dietitian about increasing the patient’s fat intake. and take necessary measures to prevent infection

Dry skin will eventually crack. ranking the patient more prone to infection. To prevent this. the nurse should provide adequate hydration through fluid intake. use nonirritating soaps or no soap when bathing the patient. and lubricate the patient’s skin with lotion. Bathing may be limited but need not be avoided entirely. The attending physician and dietitian may be consulted for treatment. but home-laundered items usually are not necessary.

Explanation

Dry skin will eventually crack. ranking the patient more prone to infection. To prevent this. the nurse should provide adequate hydration through fluid intake. use nonirritating soaps or no soap when bathing the patient. and lubricate the patient’s skin with lotion. Bathing may be limited but need not be avoided entirely. The attending physician and dietitian may be consulted for treatment. but home-laundered items usually are not necessary.

2. Which of the following is the nurse's legal responsibility when applying restraints?

Document the patient’s behavior

Document the type of restraint used

All of the above

When applying restraints. the nurse must document the type of behavior that prompted her to use them. document the type of restraints used. and obtain a physician’s written order for the restraints.

Explanation

When applying restraints. the nurse must document the type of behavior that prompted her to use them. document the type of restraints used. and obtain a physician’s written order for the restraints.

3. Kubler-Ross's five successive stages of death and dying are:

Anger. bargaining. denial. depression. acceptance

Denial. anger. depression. bargaining. acceptance

Denial. anger. bargaining. depression acceptance

Bargaining. denial. anger. depression. acceptance

Kubler-Ross’s five successive stages of death and dying are denial. anger. bargaining. depression. and acceptance. The patient may move back and forth through the different stages as he and his family members react to the process of dying. but he usually goes through all of these stages to reach acceptance.

Explanation

Kubler-Ross’s five successive stages of death and dying are denial. anger. bargaining. depression. and acceptance. The patient may move back and forth through the different stages as he and his family members react to the process of dying. but he usually goes through all of these stages to reach acceptance.

4. When bathing a patient's extremities. the nurse should use long. firm strokes from the distal to the proximal areas. This technique:

Provides an opportunity for skin assessment

Avoids undue strain on the nurse

Increases venous blood return

Causes vasoconstriction and increases circulation

Washing from distal to proximal areas stimulates venous blood flow. thereby preventing venous stasis. It improves circulation but does not result in vasoconstriction. The nurse can assess the patient’s condition throughout the bath. regardless of washing technique. and should feel no strain while bathing the patient.

Explanation

Washing from distal to proximal areas stimulates venous blood flow. thereby preventing venous stasis. It improves circulation but does not result in vasoconstriction. The nurse can assess the patient’s condition throughout the bath. regardless of washing technique. and should feel no strain while bathing the patient.

5. The natural sedative in meat and milk products (especially warm milk) that can help induce sleep is:

Flurazepam

Temazepam

Tryptophan

Methotrimeprazine

Tryptophan is a natural sedative; flurazepam (Dalmane). temazepam (Restoril). and methotrimeprazine (Levoprome) are hypnotic sedatives.

Explanation

Tryptophan is a natural sedative; flurazepam (Dalmane). temazepam (Restoril). and methotrimeprazine (Levoprome) are hypnotic sedatives.

6. Restraints can be used for all of the following purposes except to:

Prevent a confused patient from removing tubes. such as feeding tubes. I.V. lines. and urinary catheters

Prevent a patient from falling out of bed or a chair

Discourage a patient from attempting to ambulate alone when he requires assistance for his safety

Prevent a patient from becoming confused or disoriented

By restricting a patient’s movements. restraints may increase stress and lead to confusion. rather than prevent it. The other choices are valid reasons for using restraints.

Explanation

By restricting a patient’s movements. restraints may increase stress and lead to confusion. rather than prevent it. The other choices are valid reasons for using restraints.

7. Vivid dreaming occurs in which stage of sleep?

Stage I non-REM

Rapid eye movement (REM) stage

Stage II non-REM

Delta stage

Other characteristics of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep are deep sleep (the patient cannot be awakened easily). depressed muscle tone. and possibly irregular heart and respiratory rates. Non-REM sleep is a deep. restful sleep without dreaming. Delta stage. or slow-wave sleep. occurs during non-REM Stages III and IV and is often equated with quiet sleep.

Explanation

Other characteristics of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep are deep sleep (the patient cannot be awakened easily). depressed muscle tone. and possibly irregular heart and respiratory rates. Non-REM sleep is a deep. restful sleep without dreaming. Delta stage. or slow-wave sleep. occurs during non-REM Stages III and IV and is often equated with quiet sleep.

8. A terminally ill patient usually experiences all of the following feelings during the anger stage except:

Rage

Envy

Numbness

Resentment

Numbness is typical of the depression stage. when the patient feels a great sense of loss. The anger stage includes such feelings as rage. envy. resentment. and the patient’s questioning “Why me?”

Explanation

Numbness is typical of the depression stage. when the patient feels a great sense of loss. The anger stage includes such feelings as rage. envy. resentment. and the patient’s questioning “Why me?”

9. Nursing interventions that can help the patient to relax and sleep restfully include all of the following except:

Have the patient take a 30- to 60-minute nap in the afternoon

Turn on the television in the patient’s room

Provide quiet music and interesting reading material

Massage the patient’s back with long strokes

Napping in the afternoon is not conductive to nighttime sleeping. Quiet music. watching television. reading. and massage usually will relax the patient. helping him to fall asleep.

Explanation

Napping in the afternoon is not conductive to nighttime sleeping. Quiet music. watching television. reading. and massage usually will relax the patient. helping him to fall asleep.

10. Nurses and other health care provides often have difficulty helping a terminally ill patient through the necessary stages leading to acceptance of death. Which of the following strategies is most helpful to the nurse in achieving this goal?

Taking psychology courses related to gerontology

Reading books and other literature on the subject of thanatology

Reflecting on the significance of death

Reviewing varying cultural beliefs and practices related to death

According to thanatologists. reflecting on the significance of death helps to reduce the fear of death and enables the health care provider to better understand the terminally ill patient’s feelings. It also helps to overcome the belief that medical and nursing measures have failed. when a patient cannot be cured.

Explanation

According to thanatologists. reflecting on the significance of death helps to reduce the fear of death and enables the health care provider to better understand the terminally ill patient’s feelings. It also helps to overcome the belief that medical and nursing measures have failed. when a patient cannot be cured.