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A nurse is providing education about sleep stages to a prenatal class. A participant asks, “I’ve been having such vivid, intense dreams lately. Is that normal during pregnancy?” Which response by the nurse demonstrates understanding of REM sleep?

A nurse is working with a patient who continues to smoke despite having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which approach best demonstrates motivational interviewing?  

A nurse is caring for a patient in hospice care whose family is at the bedside and asking questions regarding the plan of care. The nurse notes mottling of the lower extremities, irregular breathing with periods of apnea, and increased secretions causing a rattling sound. Which action should the nurse take first?

A nurse administers IV morphine to a post-operative patient. Thirty minutes later, the patient is difficult to arouse and the respiratory rate = 8/min. What is the nurse’s priority action?  

A nurse is conducting a home visit for a 72-year-old patient with progressive hearing loss. The patient’s daughter reports, “Mom used to love going to church and playing cards with her friends, but now she refuses to leave the house. She says people think she’s stupid because she can’t hear them.” Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse prioritize for this patient?  

A 58-year-old patient was recently diagnosed with stage III lung cancer. The oncologist recommends palliative care in addition to chemotherapy. The patient states, “I don’t understand. Isn’t palliative care just for people who are dying?” Which response by the nurse best demonstrates understanding of palliative care?

The nurse has a patient who has just started on a tricyclic antidepressant. What should the nurse include in patient education to address potential anticholinergic effects of the medication?  

A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient who reports a pain level of 7/10. The patient appears relaxed with eyes closed intermittently while watching television. The patient’s vital signs are stable. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates appropriate pain assessment principles?  

A patient is being discharged home following abdominal surgery with a 1-week supply of oxycodone for pain management. Which instruction is most important for the nurse to include in the discharge teaching?

Jane, a nurse, is caring for a patient whose cultural beliefs conflict with her personal values. The nurse feels emotionally uncomfortable but wants to maintain culturally congruent care. Which action is most appropriate?