foundation of nursing practice questions

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Chronic urinary retention can lead to an elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level due to impaired kidney function. When urine is not effectively eliminated from the body, waste products, including urea, accumulate in the bloodstream. This can result in an increase in BUN levels, indicating potential kidney dysfunction in the setting of chronic urinary retention. Hypertension (Choice A), peripheral edema (Choice B), and tachycardia and other dysrhythmias (Choice C) are not specifically associated with chronic urinary retention but may be related to other conditions or comorbidities.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition characterized by severe facial pain due to irritation or damage to the trigeminal nerve. Factors such as touching or lightly brushing the face, chewing, speaking, or even encountering a breeze can trigger an attack. Therefore, activities like washing the face that involve touching or stimulating the trigeminal nerve can precipitate an attack in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. It is important for patients to be aware of these triggers to help manage and prevent episodes of pain.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The signs of magnesium toxicity that the nurse should monitor for in a patient with severe preeclampsia on IV magnesium sulfate include an altered sensorium (confusion, lethargy, slurred speech) and a respiratory rate of less than 12 breaths per minute. Altered sensorium is a common symptom of magnesium toxicity, reflecting the drug's central nervous system depressant effects. A decreased respiratory rate can indicate respiratory depression, a potentially serious complication of magnesium toxicity. Monitoring for these signs is crucial to promptly identifying and managing magnesium toxicity in patients on magnesium sulfate therapy. Signs such as cool, clammy skin and a pulse oximeter reading of 95% would not be indicative of magnesium toxicity.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The order in which the structures of the large intestine are listed starting with the first portion is as follows: cecum (the pouch where the large intestine begins), ascending colon (runs vertically up the right side of the abdomen), transverse colon (crosses horizontally from the right side of the abdomen to the left), descending colon (descends vertically down the left side of the abdomen), sigmoid colon (the S-shaped curve that leads into the rectum), and rectum (the final portion where feces are stored before being eliminated from the body). Therefore, option A provides the correct order of structures in the large intestine during elimination.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The factor that most contributes to patients in hospice care not receiving adequate attention for their symptoms of the underlying illness is the unwillingness of patients and families to acknowledge that the patient is terminal. When patients and families are in denial or struggle to accept the terminal nature of the illness, they may avoid focusing on symptom management and comfort care that is essential in hospice care. This can prevent healthcare providers from effectively addressing and managing the patient's symptoms, leading to unnecessary suffering for the patient. Accepting the terminal nature of the illness allows for a shift in focus towards providing quality end-of-life care that prioritizes symptom management and comfort for the patient.