A 40-year-old woman is admitted in labor with high blood pressure, edema, and proteinuria. She is started on magnesium sulfate. The nurse caring for her should be sure to keep which drug at the bedside:

A 45-year-old woman is admitted with weight gain, moon face, and hypertension. Laboratory results confirm elevated cortisol levels, and she is diagnosed with Cushing syndrome. The nurse is planning her dietary management. Which of the following diets would be most appropriate for this patient?

A nurse is caring for a newborn who is scheduled to receive a prophylactic dose of Vitamin K shortly after birth to prevent bleeding. Before administering the injection, the nurse reviews appropriate injection sites for neonates. In which muscle should the nurse administer the medication?

An elderly woman visits the clinic for a routine check-up. The nurse discusses lifestyle measures to help prevent osteoporosis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend?

An adult patient is admitted to the hospital with complaints of shortness of breath and fatigue. On assessment, the nurse observes neck vein distention and slight peripheral edema. The nurse recognizes that these findings are most indicative of which condition?

An adult client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of left-sided congestive heart failure. During the nursing assessment, which of the following findings would the nurse most likely expect to observe?

A nurse is caring for a newborn in the nursery. When the nurse accidentally bumps the infant’s bassinet, the neonate suddenly throws out both arms with fingers spread and begins to cry. The nurse recognizes this response as which reflex?

A patient has been on mechanical ventilation for several days. The nurse reviews the latest arterial blood gas (ABG) results: pH 7.48, PaO2 85 mm Hg, PaCO2 32 mm Hg, HCO3 25 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these findings?

A patient presents to the clinic with complaints of fatigue and shortness of breath. The nurse reviews the arterial blood gas (ABG) results: pH 7.32, PaO2 88 mm Hg, PaCO2 37 mm Hg, HCO3 16 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these findings?

During a busy shift, a nurse realizes that a prescribed medication was not administered to a patient. When the head nurse inquires about the incident, the nurse admits, “That was my mistake.” How should this situation be categorized?

A patient is recovering in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after abdominal surgery. The nurse observes the patient vomiting. What is the most important nursing objective in this situation?

A client with iron-deficiency anemia is meeting with the nurse for dietary counseling. The nurse asks the client to select a menu that would help increase iron intake. Which menu choice indicates the client understands the dietary recommendations?

A client is recovering from abdominal surgery and has a large abdominal wound. The nurse discusses nutrition to promote healing and encourages the client to eat foods naturally high in vitamin C. Which food item should the nurse recommend?

A nurse is performing a newborn assessment in the nursery. To evaluate neurological development, the nurse tests for reflexes. Which of the following reflexes is considered a normal reflex in a newborn?

A patient is diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm and is being monitored closely in the hospital. The nurse reviews potential complications. Which of the following is the most dangerous complication associated with this condition?

A 56-year-old patient with a history of heart failure is admitted to the unit. During lung assessment, the nurse hears crackles at the bases of the lungs. What does this finding most likely indicate?

A nurse is educating a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) about monitoring for complications. The nurse instructs the client to watch for signs and symptoms of right-sided heart failure. Which of the following should be included in the teaching plan?

A patient is admitted with acute appendicitis and requires surgery. The nurse reviews the surgical schedule and notes that the procedure must be performed within 24 hours. How is this type of surgery classified?

A patient is admitted to the ICU following severe pneumonia and is considered at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The nurse monitors for early signs. Which of the following would indicate an early sign of ARDS?

A female client with multiple trauma is admitted to the ICU and is at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). During assessment, which of the following should the nurse recognize as the earliest sign of ARDS?

A 36-year-old male patient presents to the clinic with fever and headache for 3 days. During the physical examination, the nurse assesses for signs that may indicate meningitis. Which of the following findings would support this suspicion?

A patient presents to the emergency department with high fever, headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness for the past 3 days. The nurse anticipates that the healthcare provider will initiate which first diagnostic intervention to confirm the suspected condition?

A nurse is educating staff about infection control after a patient is diagnosed with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Which of the following routes is the primary mode of MRSA transmission?

A patient with congestive heart failure (CHF) is taking Lasix (furosemide) as part of the treatment plan. During follow-up, the nurse assesses which finding would best indicate that the treatment is effective?

A patient with congestive heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix) to manage fluid overload. The nurse knows that which supplemental medication is most frequently ordered alongside furosemide to prevent a common side effect?

A client arrives at the emergency department reporting sudden severe chest pain radiating to the left arm. The nurse suspects a myocardial infarction (MI). What is the first intervention the nurse should take?

A 45-year-old client is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and is experiencing joint pain and stiffness. The nurse anticipates that which type of medication is commonly prescribed to manage this condition?

A male client undergoes a total gastrectomy. Several hours postoperatively, the nurse observes that the client’s nasogastric (NG) tube has stopped draining. What is the nurse’s best initial action?

A patient has just returned from surgery and is recovering in the post-anesthesia care unit. The nurse knows that, postoperatively, the patient is expected to void within what timeframe?

A female client reports severe menstrual cramps interfering with daily activities. Which of the following drugs would the nurse recommend to help relieve her dysmenorrhea?

A child with a tracheostomy has thick secretions and requires suctioning. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include to ensure safe and effective tracheostomy suctioning?

A 40-year-old female presents with abdominal pain that worsens after eating, particularly after spicy or fatty meals. Over-the-counter antacids provide no relief. On abdominal examination, which of the following findings would increase your suspicion of cholecystitis?

An unconscious adult male is brought to the emergency department. During the rapid assessment, which pulse should the nurse palpate first to quickly evaluate circulation?

A nurse is caring for a postpartum mother following a vaginal delivery. Which nursing measure is most important in preventing thrombophlebitis during the postpartum period?

A nurse is providing health education to a group of women about breast cancer prevention. Which of the following measures is considered the most effective aid in early detection and prevention?

A 32-year-old woman comes to the clinic for prenatal care. The nurse assesses her medical and obstetric history to identify factors that may place her at high risk for pregnancy. Which of the following factors would contribute to a high-risk pregnancy?

A nurse is caring for an infant with a high fever and places the infant in cool water to help reduce the temperature. Which mechanism of heat loss is occurring in this situation?

A child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of Wilms’ tumor, Stage II. The nurse reviews the staging criteria. Which statement most accurately describes Stage II Wilms’ tumor?

A 12-year-old child is admitted with a diagnosis of Wilms’ tumor. During the assessment, which of the following should the nurse be most careful to avoid?

A 45-year-old woman is meeting with the nurse to discuss increasing potassium intake in her diet. She dislikes bananas, which are commonly known to be high in potassium. Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend to help meet her potassium needs?

A patient is admitted with SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion). When developing the plan of care, which interventions should the nurse include to manage this condition effectively?

A client is admitted to the unit for treatment of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to include in the plan of care?

A school nurse is educating staff about infection control after several children are diagnosed with streptococcal pharyngitis. How is streptococcal infection most commonly transmitted from one person to another?

A hospitalized client is found comatose with a blood glucose level of 50 mg/dL. What should the nurse do first to address this emergency?

A patient is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in the hospital. Which nursing action is most important to minimize the risk of fluid volume excess while administering TPN?

A client with a history of asthma presents to the clinic with increased shortness of breath. Which of the following findings would most likely indicate the presence of a respiratory infection in this client?

A nurse is teaching a mother how to properly administer eye drops to her child. Where should the nurse instruct her to place the drops to ensure effective delivery and minimize discomfort?

A patient with asthma is admitted with increased airway secretions. Which nursing intervention would best facilitate the removal of secretions?

A 6-year-old boy has just undergone revision of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Which of the following is an expected nursing intervention in the postoperative period?

A patient presents with itchy, erythematous, vesicular, weeping, and crusting patches on the skin. Based on these clinical findings, which skin condition is most likely?