Uworld NCLEX notes

During a thoracentesis, a needle is inserted into the pleural space to remove fluid for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Before the procedure, the nurse places the client in an upright sitting position on the side of the bed, leaning forward over the bedside table, with arms supported on pillows. This position ensures that the diaphragm is dependent, facilitates access to the pleural space through the intercostal spaces, and promotes client comfort. (Option 1) The fetal position is appropriate for a client having a lumbar puncture, not a thoracentesis. (Option 2) If unable to sit, the client can be positioned lying on the unaffected, not affected, side. (Option 3) Prone position is not used for this procedure, is uncomfortable, and would make it more difficult for a client with dyspnea to breathe. Educational objective: Before a thoracentesis, the nurse places the client in an upright sitting position on the side of the bed, leaning forward over the bedside table, with arms supported on pillows. This position ensures that the diaphragm is dependent, facilitates access to the pleural space through the intercostal spaces, and promotes client comfort. A central line or central venous catheter (CVC) is inserted by the health care provider in a "central" vein (eg, subclavian, internal jugular, femoral) and is used to administer fluids, medications, and parenteral nutrition and for hemodynamic monitoring. Proper hand hygiene should be performed when caring for a CVC to prevent infection, and nonsterile gloves should be worn to protect the nurse from blood or body fluids at the port site as one or more lumens are often used to draw blood (Option 3). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that catheter hubs always be handled aseptically to prevent catheter-associated infections. The hubs should be disinfected with a hospital-approved antiseptic (eg, 70% alcohol sterile pads; > 0.5% chlorhexidine with alcohol; 10% povidone-iodine). Always allow the antiseptic to dry before using the hub/port (Option 4). The nurse would expect to hear a murmur with an atrial septal defect. This defect is an abnormal opening between the right and left atria, allowing blood from the higher pressure left atrium to flow into the lower pressure right atrium. The back-and-forth flow of blood between the 2 chambers causes a vibration that is heard as a murmur on auscultation. ASD has a characteristic systolic murmur with a fixed split second heart sound. Some clients may also have a diastolic murmur. (Option 1) Muffled heart tones are not typical in ASD. Muffled heart tones that are heard postsurgical intervention are concerning for cardiac tamponade. (Option 3) Atrial and ventricular septal defects are acyanotic congenital heart defects because the blood from the high pressure left side (oxygenated blood) goes to the low pressure right side. (Option 4) Weak lower and strong upper extremity pulses are present in coarctation of the aorta. Educational objective: In a child with atrial septal defect, the nurse would expect to hear a heart murmur on auscultation of heart sounds. Copyright © UWorld. All rights reserved. (Option 1) CVCs may have multiple lumens. These are used to administer incompatible drugs simultaneously, for blood draws, and for hemodynamic monitoring. (Option 2) Enteral nutrition is given only through the GI tract (orally or through a feeding tube). Parenteral nutrition is administered through the IV route via a central vein. Educational objective: A central venous catheter is used to administer fluids, for simultaneous infusion of incompatible drugs, for parenteral nutrition, and for hemodynamic monitoring. The nurse should always handle the lumen ports and hubs aseptically with facility-approved antiseptics to prevent catheter-associated infections. A colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening (stoma) in the abdominal wall for the passage of stool to bypass an obstructed or diseased portion of the colon. Stool drains through the intestinal stoma into a pouch device secured to the skin. Colostomies can be performed on any part of the colon (ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid). Depending on the location of the colostomy, characteristics of the stool will vary, with the stool becoming more solid as it passes through the colon. Proper care of the stoma and pouch appliance that should be taught to the client or caregiver includes the following:  Ensure sufficient fluid intake (at least 3,000 mL/day unless contraindicated) to prevent dehydration; identify times to increase fluid requirements (hot weather, increased perspiration, diarrhea) (Option 4).  Identify and eliminate foods that cause gas and odor (broccoli, cauliflower, dried beans, brussels sprouts) (Option 1).  Empty the pouch when it becomes one-third full to prevent leaks due to increasing pouch weight (Option 2). (Option 3) Stool produced in the ascending and transverse colon is semiliquid, which eliminates the need for irrigation. Irrigation to promote a bowel regimen may be useful for descending or sigmoid colostomies as the stool is more formed. Educational objective: The stool changes from liquid to more solid as it passes through the colon. Proper care of the ostomy and pouching device in clients with a colostomy includes ensuring sufficient fluid intake, preventing gas and odor, and changing the pouching system when it becomes one-third full to prevent leaks. The highest priority intervention for an actively vomiting client with cholelithiasis is maintenance of strict NPO status to avoid additional gallbladder stimulation. Additional collaborative interventions (see table) for cholecystitis should also be taken into account. (Option 1) Promethazine 25 mg suppository is the second priority. Promethazine promotes the relief of nausea and vomiting and minimizes further fluid loss. (Option 2) Obtaining fluid and electrolyte replacement with sodium chloride 100 mL/hr is the third priority and assists in the maintenance of fluid balance. (Option 3) Insertion of a nasogastric (NG) tube to low suction is the fourth priority. NG suction provides gastric decompression, alleviates nausea and vomiting, and promotes bowel rest. Educational objective: The highest priority intervention for an actively vomiting client with acute cholecystitis is maintenance of strict NPO status to avoid additional stimulation of the gallbladder. Additional priorities include management of nausea and vomiting, pain, fluid balance, and gastric decompression. Contact precautions Organisms  MDR organisms (eg, MRSA, VRE)  Enteric organisms (eg, Clostridium difficile)  Scabies Infection-control measures  Hand hygiene (soap & water for C difficile)  Nonsterile gloves  Gown  Private room preferred MDR = multidrug-resistant; MRSA = methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; VRE = vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Clostridium difficile is a highly infectious bacteria causing severe colitis in infected clients. When caring for a client with C difficile, it is critical that the nurse implement contact isolation precautions to prevent transmission of microorganisms between clients, including:  Placing the client in a single-client room, if possible, or in a cohort with other clients infected with C difficile (Option 3)  Wearing a single-use, disposable gown and clean gloves during all client care and discarding the equipment before leaving the room (Option 5)  Performing hand hygiene before and immediately after client care with soap and water  Using dedicated medical equipment (eg, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff) that is not shared between clients and always remains in the client's room (Option 1) Clean, rather than sterile, gloves are required during care of a client with C difficile to prevent transmission of infection to other individuals. (Option 2) Surgical masks are required when caring for a client prescribed droplet isolation precautions but are needed only in clients with contact isolation precautions if performing activities with the possibility of body fluid splashing (eg, suctioning, wound care). (Option 4) When caring for clients with C difficile, it is critical to perform hand hygiene with soap and water, rather than alcohol-based sanitizers. Alcohol-based sanitizers are unable to effectively kill spore-forming bacteria (eg, C difficile, anthrax). Educational objective: Clostridium difficile is a highly infectious bacteria requiring contact isolation precautions, including a single-client room assignment if available, disposable gowns and clean gloves, and hand hygiene with soap and water. Surgical masks are not necessary unless performing client care with the possibility of body fluid splashing