Crisis Management

The nurse is caring for a 40-year-old patient experiencing alcohol withdrawal syndrome and advocates for which medication for the patient?

You are the charge nurse of a psychiatric floor that has one free bed. Which of the following psychiatric patients would you anticipate most needing to be placed on your floor?

The nurse in the emergency department is obtaining a medical history from a female patient. Her husband answers the nurse’s questions before the patient can respond. The patient is quiet, trembling, and the nurse notes bruising to her face and arms. How does the nurse proceed?

A multiple-gunshot victim is brought by EMS to the emergency department, and subsequently expires. Which action by the nurse is completed first?

A patient tells the nurse that the government is spying on him using small drones. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?

The nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the psychiatric unit because of a suicidal overdose. Which action is most important when administering medication to the patient?

A 12-month-old male presents with injuries. Which is most indicative of child abuse?

The unresponsive patient is brought to the emergency department with pinpoint pupils and a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute. The nurse anticipates the patient’s toxicology results will be positive for which substance?

The patient with major depressive disorder tells the nurse, “I can’t stand it anymore. My life is worthless.” Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Which patient does the nurse assess first?

The nurse is caring for a patient who cannot read or write. The patient has a surgical procedure tomorrow and needs to give informed consent. Which of the following is the correct role for the nurse to take for obtaining consent from this patient?

The nurse is asked to help treat a patient brought in by ambulance in cardiogenic shock secondary to an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The patient is cyanotic with significant jugular venous distention, peripheral edema, and dyspnea from pulmonary edema. Which of the following treatments would be most appropriate for this patient?

The nurse is caring for a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis complicated by abdominal ascites. A diagnostic paracentesis is performed. Shortly after the procedure, the patient becomes hypotensive and quickly loses consciousness. On exam, the patient is pale, peripheral pulses are faint, and extremities are cool to the touch. Which of the following is the most likely etiology of this patient’s condition?

A young patient presents to the ER after consuming a full bottle of acetaminophen about 12 hours ago. She has nausea, vomiting, and malaise. Within hours, she develops right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain. Exam is significant for severe RUQ tenderness and a positive Murphy’s sign. The nurse anticipates administering which medication?

An adolescent patient admitted to the hospital with anorexia nervosa is experiencing extreme fatigue. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for providing hygiene care for this patient?

The patient has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following sexual assault. The nurse anticipates providing education about which medication?

The nurse is assigned to care for a 27-year-old male who presented with acute onset personality changes and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Upon entering the patient’s room, the nurse notices the patient is staring at the ceiling and muttering. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

The nurse is caring for a 32-year-old patient admitted for neuropsychiatric evaluation. The patient says to the nurse, “Can’t you hear them? The voices are telling me to end it. I’m so scared.” Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

A fire has started in one of the medical surgical units, and the staff has been instructed to perform a horizontal evacuation. Which action does the nurse take first?

An unconscious patient presents to the emergency department following a benzodiazepine overdose and is noted to have the words, “Do Not Resuscitate,” tattooed across the chest. Which action by the medical team is most appropriate?

A terminally ill patient has attempted to commit suicide by swallowing an entire bottle of opioid pain medication.The patient is brought to the emergency department and found to have a “Do Not Resuscitate” tattoo on her chest along with a handwritten note that states that she is tired of suffering and wishes her life to end. Which next step by the medical team is most appropriate?

The nurse is assigned to care for a 14-year-old male who has repeatedly ripped out his IV line and attempted to harm himself with various objects found in the room despite a family member sitting at his bedside around the clock. He is placed in wrist restraints that are secured to the bed per physician order. If the current order was written at 1030, at what time that same day does the order expire?

A nurse is assigned to care for a 45-year-old male who is admitted for alcohol withdrawal. On the second day of admission, the patient becomes disoriented and combative, and the provider places him in bilateral wrist restraints. Which physical exam finding is most important for this patient?

A nurse is assigned to care for a 28-year-old patient with seizures and neuropsychiatric symptoms secondary to cocaine abuse. The patient is combative and prone to hurting himself despite a 24-hour bedside sitter, so the provider writes for physical restraints. Which options are included in this order? Select all that apply.

The 29-year-old male patient admitted with schizophrenia has pulled out 4 IVs in the last 12 hours. Which intervention does the nurse include in this patient’s care plan?

The nurse is assessing a 55-year-old male in bilateral wrist and ankle restraints for violent behavior. The nurse notes that the patient’s toes have a 5 second capillary refill time. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has undergone surgery following a motor vehicle accident. The patient is stable and resting comfortably; he is expected to make a full recovery. Upon entering the room, the nurse notes the patient’s wife is holding his hand and crying. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?

The nurse is assessing the 75-year-old female patient whose spouse died unexpectedly six months ago. Which statement by the patient reflects ineffective coping mechanisms?

Following an assault by an unknown assailant, the patient is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Which intervention must be implemented first for this patient? 

Which patient is appropriate to assign to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?

The nurse learns the patient has a plan to kill as many people as possible by stabbing or shooting them. Which intervention by the nurse is most important?

Which is an example of the mitigation phase of disaster planning?

The patient with antisocial personality disorder is known to have violent outbursts. Which actions by the patient indicate the patient may become physically violent? Select all that apply.

Which action by the intensive care unit (ICU) nurse is most appropriate following the resolution of an active shooter emergency in the emergency department?

Which patient is at risk for failure to progress past the Industry vs. Inferiority stage of Erik Erikson’s developmental stages?

Following a motor vehicle accident, the patient is unable to make his wishes known and is close to death without immediate and extensive treatment. The patient’s girlfriend, who he has been living with for the last five years, wants the medical team to do everything possible to save him. The patient’s wife, who he left when he moved in with his girlfriend, states she would not like any lifesaving measures and will sign the Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) paperwork. The medical team looks to which entity for decision-making?

The patient presents with acute confusion after she was found outside by the police, and it appears she has taken some kind of illegal substance. She is unable to answer any questions. Which finding most indicates abuse?

The patient with acute psychosis tells the nurse he is going to leave this earth soon and go live in a house with the little green men on Mars. Which is the best response to this statement?

A patient who has severe depression asks if electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could help his depression. Which response is most appropriate?

The 15-year-old patient is hospitalized after harming herself when her mother would not let her use her cell phone. While she is awaiting inpatient psychiatric placement, she repeatedly expresses a desire to leave. Which intervention is most helpful to prevent the patient from eloping?

The patient states he wants to kill the psychiatrist who treated him the last time that he was hospitalized. Which is the best response by the nurse?

Which signs indicate that a patient with chronic depression may be planning to commit suicide? Select all that apply.

Which patient requires further screening as a potential abuse victim?

The patient with advanced dementia accuses the nurse of trying to poison him with his scheduled medications. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

Which question by the student nurse assessing a potentially suicidal patient requires prompt correction by the supervising nurse?

The patient with a history of psychiatric disorders tells the nurse that her neighbor is working with Mr. Dawsom at the World Financial Organization to bring the world under their control, and that she is the only one who knows about it. Which response by the nurse is best?

Place the nursing interventions for a 16-year-old patient in the hospital for severe malnutrition and depression with a history of falls in order from highest priority to lowest priority.

The patient is brought to the emergency department following a serious motor vehicular accident (MVA). List the assessments the nurse performs in order from highest to lowest priority.

The nurse is the first responder to a motor vehicular accident involving the injury of a 40-year-old male. Which action is the highest priority?

The nurse is involved in a motor vehicular accident in which a minor injury from the seatbelt was sustained. Which action does the nurse take first in helping the other victims?