A patient asks the nurse to make a decision for her about whether or not to continue taking hormone replacement therapy (estrogen). Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
- A. "You should check with a doctor; I cannot give you advice about drugs."
- B. "My friend has taken estrogen for more than 5 years without any problems."
- C. "I can answer any questions you have but it is up to you to make this decision."
- D. "Herbal supplements were much better for me than prescription-strength estrogen."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it emphasizes patient autonomy and informed decision-making, aligning with ethical principles. The nurse should not make decisions for the patient but should provide information and support. Choice A deflects responsibility and does not empower the patient. Choice B is anecdotal and not a reliable source of information. Choice D is not relevant to the patient's question and could potentially lead to misinformation. Ultimately, choice C encourages the patient to take an active role in their healthcare decisions, which promotes patient-centered care.
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The first-semester nursing student tells the team leader that her clinical assignment for the day is to take vital signs and obtain a client history that will take about 1 or 2 hours to complete. Which clients would the leader recommend that she approach to fulfill her assignment? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Mr. N (non-Hodgkin lymphoma)
- B. Mr. L (tracheostomy and partial laryngectomy)
- C. Mr. B (bladder cancer)
- D. Ms. C (bowel resection and colostomy)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because Mr. L, who has a tracheostomy and partial laryngectomy, will likely require vital signs monitoring and a detailed client history due to his complex respiratory and communication needs. This assignment will provide the student with valuable experience in caring for clients with specialized needs.
Incorrect choices:
A: Mr. N (non-Hodgkin lymphoma) - While Mr. N may require vital signs monitoring, his condition does not necessarily involve complex care needs that would warrant a 1-2 hour history-taking session.
C: Mr. B (bladder cancer) - Vital signs monitoring and history-taking for a client with bladder cancer may not require as much time as the scenario suggests, as the care needs may not be as complex as those of a client with a tracheostomy and laryngectomy.
D: Ms. C (bowel resection and colostomy) - While Ms. C may require vital signs monitoring and history-taking
To convey the intervention of active listening, the nurse would:
- A. maintain eye contact by staring at the patient.
- B. prompt the patient when the patient stops talking for a moment.
- C. make a conscious effort to block out other sounds in the immediate environment.
- D. write down remarks on a clipboard to facilitate later topics of conversation. An active listener maintains eye contact without staring, gives the patient full attention, and makes a conscious effort to block out other sounds and distractions.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because active listening involves making a conscious effort to block out other sounds in the immediate environment, demonstrating full focus on the speaker. This allows the nurse to truly understand the patient's perspective and feelings. Maintaining eye contact (A) is important but staring can be intimidating. Prompting the patient (B) may disrupt their train of thought. Writing down remarks (D) can be perceived as disengagement. In summary, active listening requires focused attention and empathy, which choice C exemplifies.
When communicating with a hearing impaired patient, the nurse appropriately:
- A. shouts repeatedly at the patient.
- B. speaks directly into the patient's ear.
- C. uses long, complex sentences.
- D. uses short, simple sentences.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: uses short, simple sentences. This is the most appropriate approach because hearing-impaired patients may have difficulty processing complex information. Using short, simple sentences helps improve comprehension. Shouting repeatedly (choice A) can be distressing and ineffective. Speaking directly into the patient's ear (choice B) may be invasive and uncomfortable. Using long, complex sentences (choice C) can overwhelm the patient and lead to confusion. Therefore, option D is the best choice for effective communication with a hearing-impaired patient.
The nurse caring for a patient who is concerned about her 10-pound weight loss relative to her chemotherapy tells the patient, "Lucky you! Every cloud has a silver lining." The nurse's statement is an example of which type of communication block?
- A. Defensive response
- B. Asking probing questions
- C. Using clichés
- D. Changing the subject
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Using clichés. The nurse's statement, "Lucky you! Every cloud has a silver lining," is a cliché that minimizes the patient's concerns about her weight loss and chemotherapy. Clichés are overused phrases that lack originality and can be dismissive or unhelpful in communication. In this case, the nurse's response does not address the patient's emotional or physical needs and fails to provide meaningful support.
Incorrect choices:
A: Defensive response - This choice involves reacting defensively to the patient's concerns, which is not demonstrated in the nurse's statement.
B: Asking probing questions - This choice involves seeking further information from the patient, which is not reflected in the nurse's cliché response.
D: Changing the subject - This choice involves diverting the conversation away from the patient's concerns, which is not explicitly done in the given scenario.
Which demonstrates the nurse's genuine concern for clients?
- A. Tell a patient who has a terminal illness that everything will be fine.
- B. Delay notifying the patient about the death of a dependent child.
- C. Provide a placebo to a patient in severe pain to assess for substance abuse.
- D. Inform the patient about a medication error along with symptoms to report.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because informing the patient about a medication error and symptoms to report shows transparency, honesty, and prioritizes patient safety. This action also promotes trust in the nurse-patient relationship.
A: Choice A is incorrect because falsely reassuring a terminally ill patient does not demonstrate genuine concern and lacks honesty.
B: Choice B is incorrect because delaying important information about the death of a dependent child is unethical and can cause unnecessary distress to the patient.
C: Choice C is incorrect because providing a placebo without informed consent violates ethical principles and does not prioritize the patient's well-being.