1. 1. Question Which action(s) should you delegate to the experienced nursing assistant when caring for a patient with a thrombotic stroke with residual left-sided weakness? Select all that apply. o A. Assist the patient to reposition every 2 hours. o B. Reapply pneumatic compression boots. o C. Remind the patient to perform active ROM. o D. Check extremities for redness and edema. Correct Answer: A, B, & C. The experienced nursing assistant would know how to reposition the patient and how to reapply compression boots and would remind the patient to perform activities he has been taught to perform. o Option D: Assessing for redness and swelling (signs of deep venous thrombosis {DVT}) requires additional education and is still appropriate to the professional nurse.  2. Question The patient who had a stroke needs to be fed. What instruction should you give to the nursing assistant who will feed the patient? o A. Position the patient sitting up in bed before you feed her. o B. Check the patient’s gag and swallowing reflexes. o C. Feed the patient quickly because there are three more waiting. o D. Suction the patient’s secretions between bites of food. Correct Answer: A. Position the patient sitting up in bed before you feed her. Positioning the patient in a sitting position decreases the risk of aspiration. o Option B: The nursing assistant is not trained to assess gag or swallowing reflexes. o Option C: The patient should not be rushed during feeding. o Option D: A patient who needs to be suctioned between bites of food is not handling secretions and is at risk for aspiration. This patient should be assessed further before feeding.  3. Question You have just admitted a patient with bacterial meningitis to the medical-surgical unit. The patient complains of a severe headache with photophobia and has a temperature of 102.60 F orally. Which collaborative intervention must be accomplished first? o A. Administer codeine 15 mg orally for the patient’s headache. o B. Infuse ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 2000 mg IV to treat the infection. o C. Give acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg orally to reduce the fever. o D. Give furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV to decrease intracranial pressure. Correct Answer: B. Infuse ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 2000 mg IV to treat the infection. Untreated bacterial meningitis has a mortality rate approaching 100%, so rapid antibiotic treatment is essential. o Option A: Pain medications may be given after treating the infection that is most probably causing it. o Option C: Acetaminophen should be given to decrease the fever after administering the antibiotics first. o Option D: Furosemide will help reduce CNS stimulation and irritation and should be implemented as soon as possible.  4. Question You are mentoring a student nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) while caring for a patient with meningococcal meningitis. Which action by the student requires that you intervene immediately? o A. The student enters the room without putting on a mask and gown. o B. The student instructs the family that visits are restricted to 10 minutes. o C. The student gives the patient a warm blanket when he says he feels cold. o D. The student checks the patient’s pupil response to light every 30 minutes. Correct Answer: A. The student enters the room without putting on a mask and gown. Meningococcal meningitis is spread through contact with respiratory secretions so use of a mask and gown is required to prevent the spread of the infection to staff members or other patients. The other actions may not be appropriate but they do not require intervention as rapidly. o Option B: The presence of a family member at the bedside may decrease patient confusion and agitation. o Option C: Patients with hyperthermia frequently complain of feeling chilled, but warming the patient is not an appropriate intervention. o Option D: Checking the pupil response to light is appropriate, but it is not needed every 30 minutes and is uncomfortable for a patient with photophobia. Focus: Prioritization