Nokea
A client comes to the clinic and reports having 'broken out in hives and itching since eating strawberries this morning.' The client states never having had problems with strawberries before. What is the best response by the nurse?
- A. It is probably not the strawberries that you are having an allergy to if you have eaten them before.'
- B. It is possible to develop an allergic reaction to something you have had prior exposure to previously.'
- C. Are you sure that you haven't had an allergic reaction before; this doesn't seem possible.'
- D. We will probably be admitting you to the hospital; this could cause respiratory arrest.'
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Allergies can occur at any age, and the pattern of allergic response can vary in the same person at different points in life. For example, a person may suddenly develop an allergic reaction to a substance such as latex, despite having had multiple prior contacts with latex and no past problems. Although an allergic reaction may cause laryngeal swelling, this client does not exhibit any of the signs and symptoms of respiratory distress that would lead to respiratory arrest.
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The nurse is caring for a client with an autoimmune disease. What is a characteristic of autoimmune disorders?
- A. Progressive tissue damage without any verifiable etiology
- B. Absence of a triggering event
- C. Profound fatigue with no identifiable cause
- D. Affects only older adults and infants less than 3 months
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diseases are considered autoimmune disorders and are characterized by unrelenting, progressive tissue damage without any verifiable etiology. In many autoimmune disorders, there tends to be a triggering event, such as an infection, trauma, or introduction of a drug that integrates itself into the membranes of the host's cells. Although older adults face a greater risk of developing autoimmune disorders, persons belonging to any age-group can be affected. Chronic fatigue syndrome is primarily characterized by profound fatigue with no identifiable cause, and this is not a characteristic of autoimmune disorders.
The nursing instructor is discussing hypersensitivity responses with a clinical group. What allergic reaction(s) would the nursing instructor talk about? Select all that apply.
- A. Typical
- B. Unmediated
- C. Cytotoxic
- D. Atopic
- E. Immune complex
Correct Answer: C,D,E
Rationale: Once sensitization occurs, one of four types of hypersensitivity responses can occur. These may be immediate or delayed depending on the time it takes for the immune system to mount a response. An immediate hypersensitivity response is due to antibodies interacting with allergens and occurs rapidly. There are three types of immediate hypersensitivity responses: type I, atopic or anaphylactic, which is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies; type II, cytotoxic, which is mediated by immunoglobulin M or G (IgM or IgG) antibodies; and type III, immune complex, which is mediated by IgG antibodies. The first two types of responses occur within minutes; type III responses reach a peak within 6 hours after exposure to an allergen. The nurse would not discuss atypical and unmediated hypersensitivity responses in this scenario.
A client sustained an injury in one eye during a basketball game after being hit with another player's elbow. The client reports now having difficulty with vision in the other eye too, although that eye was not hit by the elbow. What does the nurse understand this phenomenon to be known as?
- A. Cataracts
- B. Psychosomatic blindness
- C. Glaucoma
- D. Sympathetic uveitis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When a person experiences trauma followed by inflammation to the iris, ciliary body, and choroid layer of one eye, the vision in the untraumatized eye also becomes affected. The term for this phenomenon is sympathetic uveitis. Cataracts do not occur from trauma, they develop over time. Psychosomatic blindness does not relate to the client's visual disturbance because the client is not blind at this time. Glaucoma is an eye disorder that occurs over time and is not related to trauma to the eye.
The nurse is caring for a client with chronic fatigue syndrome. What is a realistic nursing intervention when taking care of a client with this diagnosis?
- A. Educate the client about the disease process.
- B. Advise the client to avoid moderate exertion.
- C. Instruct the client to reduce the intake of potassium-rich foods.
- D. Advise the client to avoid being in crowds.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should educate the client about the disease process and the limitations that it requires because nothing, as yet, holds promise for a complete cure. The client need not be advised to avoid moderate exertion because the physician may prescribe a modest exercise program to treat chronic fatigue syndrome. A client who experiences hypotension may be advised to increase salt and water intake but need not reduce the intake of potassium-rich foods or avoid being in crowds.
A client is in treatment for an allergic disorder. What might the treatment be?
- A. Autoimmune therapy
- B. Hypersensitive therapy
- C. Desensitization therapy
- D. Drug therapy for symptoms
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Besides avoiding the allergen if possible, many clients experience symptomatic relief with drug therapy. It is not likely the client would be in autoimmune, hypersensitive, or desensitization therapy for an allergic disorder.