Potter Book

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Sample questions from Potter Book

This material has 90 questions with answers and rationales. Here are the first 5.

1. 1.At change of shift on a medical-surgical unit, a charge nurse receives reports about four clients. Which client should the charge nurse assess first?

   • A.A 56-year-old client admitted for cellulitis who has a temperature of 38.1 C and is due for an antibiotic
   • B.A 45-year-old client who is postoperative day 1 and reports incisional pain of 7/10
   • C.A 68-year-old client with pneumonia who has an SpO2 of 88% on 2 L/min oxygen, new confusion, and a respiratory rate of 30/min
   • D.A 73-year-old client with diabetes whose premeal glucose is 248 mg/dL and who is waiting for a scheduled insulin dose

   Rationale: The client with hypoxemia, tachypnea, and new confusion has signs of impaired oxygenation and possible acute deterioration, so this client requires immediate assessment. The postoperative client's pain needs timely treatment, but the available cues do not indicate an immediate threat to life. The elevated glucose and fever require follow-up and treatment, but neither takes priority over the respiratory compromise. Use airway, breathing, and circulation priorities when deciding which client to assess first.

2. 2.During a home visit, a community health nurse reviews medication safety with the parent of a 3-year-old who has asthma. The child uses a prescribed inhaler and takes a liquid medication; the family also keeps household cleaners at home. Which actions should the nurse recommend? Select all that apply.

   • A.Store medications and cleaners in locked locations out of the child's reach.
   • B.Use a household teaspoon to measure each dose of liquid medication.
   • C.Keep medications in their original, labeled containers.
   • D.Describe a medication by its color and shape when asking a family member to give a dose.
   • E.Call the local poison control center promptly if the child may have swallowed a medication.

   Rationale: Locked storage reduces the risk of accidental ingestion, and original labeled containers help caregivers identify the medication and its instructions. Promptly contacting poison control after a possible ingestion supports timely, situation-specific guidance; caregivers should not wait for symptoms to appear. Household teaspoons are not standardized measuring devices, so an oral syringe or other calibrated device should be used. Medication identity should be verified by its label, not by color or shape.

3. 3.In a long-term care facility, a 79-year-old resident with a new prescription for an oral antibiotic has difficulty reading the label and reports taking several medications at home. Which action should the nurse take first to support safe medication administration?

   • A.Ask the resident to identify all current medications and compare them with the medication administration record and available medication containers.
   • B.Give the antibiotic now and ask the pharmacist to reconcile the medication list later.
   • C.Ask the unlicensed assistive personnel to administer the antibiotic while the nurse completes other tasks.
   • D.Tell the resident to stop all home medications until the antibiotic course is finished.

   Rationale: The nurse should first establish the resident's current medication use and reconcile it with the available medication record to identify discrepancies, interactions, or duplication. Medication administration cannot be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel. Telling the resident to stop all home medications could interrupt necessary treatment and requires prescriber guidance. Giving the antibiotic before clarifying the medication history skips an important safety check.

4. 4.In a pediatric clinic, the parent of a 6-year-old asks how to prepare the child for an upcoming procedure requiring consent. The parent says, "I do not understand the form." Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

   • A.Ask another family member to sign the form so the procedure is not delayed.
   • B.Ask the child to decide whether the procedure should be performed.
   • C.Explain the procedure's risks and benefits in detail and ask the parent to sign.
   • D.Notify the provider that the parent needs further explanation before signing the consent.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.

5. 5.A client's potassium is 6.1 mEq/L (reference range 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L). In an outpatient dialysis center, a 52-year-old client reports new muscle weakness, and the electrocardiogram shows peaked T waves. Which action should the nurse take first?

   • A.Offer a potassium-rich snack and recheck the level in 2 hours.
   • B.Notify the provider immediately and initiate the facility's emergency response for suspected hyperkalemia.
   • C.Document the findings and wait for the next scheduled provider round.
   • D.Ask the client to walk to the treatment area to improve circulation.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.