A nurse who took drugs from the unit for personal use was temporarily released from duty. After completion of mandatory counseling, the impaired nurse has asked nursing administration to allow a return to work. When the nurse administrator approaches the charge nurse with the impaired nurse's request, which action is best for the charge nurse to take?

Ask to meet with the impaired nurse's therapist before allowing the nurse back on the unit.

Allow the impaired nurse to return to work and monitor medication administration.

Meet with staff to assess their feelings about the impaired nurse's return to the unit.

Since treatment is completed, assign the nurse to routine registered nurse (RN) responsibilities.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. The safest and most appropriate action is to confirm the impaired nurse’s readiness to return to work through consultation with their therapist or treatment provider. This ensures that the nurse has received adequate rehabilitation, demonstrates accountability, and has a professional plan for safe practice. Collaboration with the therapist supports patient safety and helps the charge nurse make an informed decision about work assignments.

B. Allowing the impaired nurse to return without verifying their readiness or progress in treatment, even with monitoring, is unsafe. Direct patient care, particularly medication administration, involves high-risk responsibilities, and returning without professional clearance could jeopardize patient safety.

C. While staff input is valuable for team cohesion, staff feelings alone should not determine whether the impaired nurse is permitted to return. The primary concern must be patient safety and the nurse’s demonstrated fitness for duty.

D. Assigning the nurse to routine responsibilities solely because treatment is completed assumes full recovery and readiness, which cannot be confirmed without professional evaluation. This approach neglects the need for safeguards to ensure patient safety.

Nursing Test Bank

Test Bank #1: RN Pharmacology Exams Test Bank #2: RN Medical-Surgical Exams Test Bank #3: RN Fundamentals Exams Test Bank #4: RN Maternal-Newborn Exams Test Bank #5: RN Anatomy and Physiology Exams Test Bank #6: RN Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Test Bank #7: RN Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Test Bank #9: RN Adult Health Test Bank #10: RN Dosage Calculation Test Bank #11: RN Community Health Exams Test Bank #12: RN Psychology Exams Test Bank #13: RN Nursing Care Of Children Test Bank #14: RN Foundations of Nursing Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exam #1: RN Comprehensive predictor 2023 proctored exam Exam #2: Ati rn vati comprehensive predictor proctored exam Exam #3: Ati Rn Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam 2023 Exam #4: Rn Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Proctored Exam - St. Joseph Exam #5: RN Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam (National U CA San Diego) Exam #6: Ati rn comprehensive predictor 2023 retake proctored exam Exam #7: RN Hesi Exit Proctored Exam Exam #8: Hesi RN Exit proctored exam Exam #9: Hesi rn exit proctored exam Exam #10: Hesi Rn compass exit B proctored exam

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is ["125"]

Explanation

Step 1: Identify total volume and time
Total volume = 1000 mL, Time = 8 hours

Step 2: Use the formula
mL/hour = Total volume ÷ Time

Step 3: Insert values
= 1000 ÷ 8

Step 4: Calculate
= 125 mL/hour

Correct Answer is []

Explanation

Rationale for Correct Choices

• Wound healing by secondary intention: This occurs when a wound has extensive tissue loss and the edges are "non-approximated" (cannot be pulled together). The wound is left open to fill in from the bottom up with granulation tissue. The orders specify "wet to moist dressings," which are the gold standard for open wounds that must fill with granulation tissue. Because the wound was left open due to tissue loss (secondary to trauma and debridement), it cannot heal by primary intention (simple suturing).

• Encourage the client to consume a balanced diet: Adequate protein, vitamins, and minerals support tissue regeneration, collagen synthesis, and overall wound healing.
• Use sterile procedure to change dressing: Maintaining sterility prevents introduction of pathogens into the wound, reducing the risk of infection and promoting safe healing.
• Drainage on the dressing: Monitoring exudate helps detect infection or delayed healing and guides dressing changes.
• The formation of granulation tissue: Indicates proper healing progression in secondary intention wounds.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices
• Wound healing by primary intention: Occurs with clean, closed surgical incisions; the client’s open thigh wound requires secondary intention healing.
• Wound healing by tertiary intention: Involves delayed closure of a contaminated wound; no indication of this in the order.
• Wound healing by quaternary intention: Not a standard classification.
• Culture the wound: Not routinely indicated unless infection is suspected; unnecessary for standard dressing changes.
• Squeeze the wound to remove any drainage: This can damage tissue and introduce infection; never recommended.
• Use aseptic procedure to change dressing: Sterile technique, not just aseptic, is required for open wounds.
• Blood pressure: Not a primary indicator of wound healing.
• Skin blanching around the wound: Important for pressure areas, not for tracking wound healing progression.
• Intake and output: Not directly related to wound healing in this context.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The healthcare provider prescribes 1 liter of lactate Ringer's to infuse in 8 hours. The IV administration set delivers 15 gtt/mL. How many mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)

Correct Answer is ["125"]

Explanation

Patient Data Complete the diagram by dragging from the choices below to specify what condition the client is most likely experiencing, 2 actions the nurse should take to address that condition, and 2 parameters the nurse should monitor to assess the client's progress.

Correct Answer is []

Explanation

The nurse is preparing to administer an IM injection to an adult client who weighs 200 pounds (90 kg). Which equipment is needed for this procedure? Select all that apply.

A client who is experiencing a first gouty arthritis attack and reports excruciating pain in the right great toe. The nurse inspects the inflamed joint and administers ibuprofen 800 mg by mouth as prescribed. Which instruction should the nurse include in the discharge teaching?

The nurse is evaluating a tertiary prevention program for clients with cardiovascular disease implemented in a rural health clinic. Which outcome indicates the program is effective?

A client with leukemia who is receiving a myelosuppressive chemotherapy has a platelet count of 25,000/mm3 (25 x 109/L). Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in this client's plan of care? Reference Range: Platelet Count [150,000 to 400,000/mm3 (150 to 400 x 109/L)]

The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) applying an alcohol-based hand rub while leaving a client's room after taking vital signs. Which action should the nurse take?

The healthcare provider prescribes a liter of normal saline to be infused at a rate of 1.5 mL/kg/hr. The client weighs 176 pounds. The nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)

The nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted with recurring migraine headaches. To assess the quality of the client's pain experienced from the migraine headache, which approach should the nurse use?

A client is scheduled for an IV pyelogram today. The nurse instructs the client that the x-ray visualizes the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Which information is most important for the nurse to gather before the client goes for the x-ray?