An occupational health nurse works at a manufacturing plant where there is potential exposure to inhaled dust. Which action, if recommended by the nurse, will be most helpful in reducing the incidence of lung disease?
- A. Treat workers with pulmonary fibrosis.
- B. Teach about symptoms of lung disease.
- C. Require the use of protective equipment.
- D. Monitor workers for coughing and wheezing.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Prevention of lung disease requires the use of appropriate protective equipment such as masks to reduce exposure to inhaled dust, which is a significant risk factor for lung disease. Teaching about symptoms of lung disease, treating workers with pulmonary fibrosis, and monitoring for coughing and wheezing are important actions for early recognition and treatment of lung disease. However, the most effective strategy to prevent lung damage in this scenario is to require the use of protective equipment to minimize exposure to harmful substances.
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Which of the following white blood cells is the smallest and can be involved in humoral immunity?
- A. Lymphocyte
- B. Monocyte
- C. Basophil
- D. Erythrocyte
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Lymphocyte.' Lymphocytes are the smallest type of white blood cells and play a crucial role in humoral immunity by producing antibodies. Monocytes are actually the largest white blood cells and are involved in phagocytosis rather than humoral immunity. Basophils are a type of granulocyte involved in allergic reactions, and erythrocytes are red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport, not part of the immune system.
Which information given by a 70-year-old patient during a health history indicates to the nurse that the patient should be screened for hepatitis C?
- A. The patient had a blood transfusion in 2005
- B. The patient used IV drugs about 20 years ago
- C. The patient frequently eats in fast-food restaurants
- D. The patient traveled to a country with poor sanitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is 'The patient used IV drugs about 20 years ago.' Any patient with a history of IV drug use should be tested for hepatitis C due to the increased risk of transmission through sharing needles. Blood transfusions given after 1992, when an antibody test for hepatitis C became available, do not pose a risk for hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is not spread by the oral-fecal route, so contaminated food or traveling to countries with poor sanitation are not direct risk factors for hepatitis C.
Which is a physical, integumentary risk among the elderly population?
- A. Skin tears
- B. Thickened skin
- C. Thinning toe nails
- D. Less nasal hair
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Skin tears are a physical integumentary risk among the elderly population. As individuals age, their skin becomes thinner and more fragile, making them susceptible to skin tears. Thickened skin, thinning toenails, and reduced nasal hair are common age-related changes but do not pose the same level of risk as skin tears. Thickened skin may provide some protection, thinning toenails are primarily a cosmetic concern, and reduced nasal hair does not typically lead to significant health risks.
The clinic nurse teaches a patient with a 42 pack-year history of cigarette smoking about lung disease. Which information will be most important for the nurse to include?
- A. Options for smoking cessation
- B. Reasons for annual sputum cytology testing
- C. Erlotinib (Tarceva) therapy to prevent tumor risk
- D. Computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most critical information for the nurse to provide to a patient with a significant smoking history is options for smoking cessation. Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, making smoking cessation essential in reducing the risk of developing the disease. Annual sputum cytology testing is not a standard screening test for lung cancer; instead, CT scanning is being explored for this purpose. Erlotinib therapy is used in lung cancer treatment but not for preventing tumor risk in individuals without cancer. CT screening for lung cancer is still under investigation and is not primarily aimed at prevention but rather early detection in high-risk individuals.
A systemic sign of infection is ______________.
- A. swelling
- B. redness
- C. heat
- D. a lack of appetite
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is 'a lack of appetite.' When a person experiences a systemic infection, they may exhibit signs that affect the entire body. A lack of appetite is a common systemic sign of infection, along with other symptoms like rapid pulse, fever, and an elevated white blood cell count. Swelling, redness, and heat are more indicative of localized inflammation or infection, rather than systemic involvement.