A 16-year-old boy has just been admitted for overnight observation after being in an automobile accident. What is the nurse's best approach to communicating with him?
- A. Use periods of silence to communicate respect for him.
- B. Be totally honest with him, even if the information is unpleasant.
- C. Tell him that everything that is discussed will be kept totally confidential.
- D. Use slang language when possible to help him open up.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Be totally honest with him, even if the information is unpleasant. This is the best approach because honesty builds trust and credibility, crucial in a healthcare setting. It allows the teenager to make informed decisions about his care and fosters a therapeutic relationship.
Explanation for why the other choices are incorrect:
A: Using periods of silence may be misinterpreted as indifference or lack of engagement.
C: Promising total confidentiality may not be feasible in healthcare settings and could lead to potential harm if critical information needs to be shared with others for the patient's safety.
D: Using slang language may come across as unprofessional and may hinder effective communication and understanding between the nurse and the patient.
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Which of the following is an example of a secondary prevention activity?
- A. Routine immunizations
- B. Health screenings such as mammograms
- C. Smoking cessation programs
- D. Health education on healthy eating
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, Health screenings such as mammograms, because secondary prevention focuses on early detection and treatment of diseases to prevent progression. Health screenings help identify conditions at early stages, allowing for timely intervention. Routine immunizations (A) are considered primary prevention as they prevent diseases from occurring. Smoking cessation programs (C) and health education on healthy eating (D) are examples of primary prevention, as they aim to prevent the development of diseases by promoting healthy behaviors.
The nurse is obtaining a history from a 30-year-old male patient and is concerned about the adequacy of his health promotion activities. Which one of the following questions would be appropriate in this situation?
- A. "Do you perform testicular self-examinations?"
- B. "Have you ever noticed any pain in your testicles?"
- C. "Have you had any problems with passing urine?"
- D. "Do you have any history of sexually transmitted infection?"
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: "Do you perform testicular self-examinations?" This question is appropriate as it addresses health promotion activities specific to the patient's age and gender, promoting early detection of testicular cancer.
Explanation:
1. Testicular self-examination is a key health promotion activity for men in their 20s and 30s.
2. It encourages self-awareness and early detection of abnormalities in the testicles.
3. Testicular cancer is most common in younger men, making this question relevant.
4. Options B, C, and D are not directly related to health promotion activities for a 30-year-old male.
When examining an infant, which area should the nurse examine first?
- A. Ear
- B. Nose
- C. Throat
- D. Abdomen
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Ear. Examining the ear first is crucial in infants as it allows the nurse to assess for any signs of infection or abnormalities that could impact the infant's overall health. Ear infections are common in infants and can lead to serious complications if not detected early. By examining the ear first, the nurse can promptly address any issues and provide appropriate treatment.
Summary of why other choices are incorrect:
- B: Nose - While examining the nose is important, it is not the priority in infants as ear issues are more common and can have immediate implications on health.
- C: Throat - Throat examination is important but typically follows ear examination in infants, as ear infections are more prevalent.
- D: Abdomen - Abdominal examination is important for overall health assessment but is not the initial area to examine in infants as ear issues take precedence due to their frequency and potential impact.
A 45-year-old woman is at the clinic for a mental health assessment. When giving her the Four Unrelated Words Test, the nurse would be concerned if the patient:
- A. Could not give four unrelated words within 5 minutes.
- B. Could not give four unrelated words within 30 seconds.
- C. Could not recall four unrelated words after a 30-minute delay.
- D. Could not recall four unrelated words after a 60-minute delay.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the inability to recall four unrelated words after a 30-minute delay indicates potential issues with short-term memory retention, which is concerning for cognitive impairment or memory disorders. This delay allows for the consolidation of memory, so failure at this point suggests a more significant problem compared to immediate recall.
A: Not being able to give four unrelated words within 5 minutes may indicate some difficulty, but it does not necessarily indicate a severe issue as more time is typically allowed for this task.
B: Inability to give four unrelated words within 30 seconds could be due to various factors such as anxiety or processing speed, but it does not necessarily indicate a memory issue.
D: Not being able to recall four unrelated words after a 60-minute delay is expected to be more challenging than a 30-minute delay, so this alone does not raise as much concern as failing the 30-minute delay test.
A patient describes an unreasonable, irrational fear of snakes. The feeling is so persistent that he can no longer even look at pictures of snakes without feeling uncomfortable. He has tried to identify all the places where he might encounter snakes and avoids them. The nurse recognizes that:
- A. He has a snake phobia.
- B. He is a hypochondriac. Snakes are usually harmless.
- C. He has an obsession. In this case, it is about snakes.
- D. He has a delusion that snakes are harmful. It must stem from an early traumatic incident involving snakes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: He has a snake phobia. Phobias are irrational and persistent fears of specific objects or situations. In this case, the patient's fear of snakes is unreasonable and causes discomfort even when encountering pictures of snakes. This aligns with the characteristics of a phobia.
Choice B is incorrect as hypochondriasis involves excessive worry about having a serious illness despite medical reassurance. Choice C is incorrect as obsessions are intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety, while the patient's fear of snakes is more of a specific fear rather than an obsession. Choice D is incorrect as delusions are fixed false beliefs, and the patient's fear of snakes is not based on a false belief but rather an irrational fear.