Nokea
A client on hospice home care is taking sips of water but refusing food. Family members appear distressed and insist that the personal care worker 'force feed' the client. What is the priority nursing action?
- A. Explain to the family that this is a normal physiological response to dying
- B. Explore the family’s thoughts and concerns about the client’s refusal of food
- C. Recommend a feeding tube
- D. Tell the family that 'force feeding' the client could cause the client to choke on the food
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Explaining that anorexia is normal in dying (A) addresses family distress and aligns with hospice goals. Exploring concerns (B) is secondary, feeding tubes (C) are inappropriate, and choking warnings (D) may escalate distress.
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The nurse assists with a community teaching program for parents and caregivers of infants. Which statement by a participant indicates that teaching has been successful?
- A. After age 6 months, it's safe to use honey to sweeten my infant's formula
- B. I should wait until my infant is 1 year old to introduce egg products
- C. I switch my 1-year-old to low-fat milk instead of commercial formula
- D. My infant should be able to pick up small finger foods by age 12 months
Correct Answer: B,D
Rationale: Honey (A) is unsafe for infants under 1 year due to the risk of botulism. Waiting until 1 year to introduce egg products (B) is correct to reduce allergy risks. Switching to low-fat milk (C) is incorrect, as infants need whole milk or formula for adequate fat and nutrients. The ability to pick up finger foods by 12 months (D) is a correct developmental milestone, indicating successful teaching.
The nurse is reviewing a depressed client's history from an earlier admission. Documentation of anhedonia is noted. The nurse understands that this finding refers to
- A. Reports of difficulty falling and staying asleep
- B. Expression of persistent suicidal thoughts
- C. Lack of enjoyment in usual pleasures
- D. Reduced senses of taste and smell
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lack of enjoyment in usual pleasures. Anhedonia, a common finding in depression, is the lack of enjoyment in usual pleasures.
The practical nurse on the mental health unit is planning care with the registered nurse. Which client should be seen first?
- A. Client with bulimia nervosa who has been in the restroom for the past hour since breakfast
- B. Client with major depressive disorder who has suicidal ideation with a plan and is on one-to-one observation
- C. Client with obsessive-compulsive disorder who refuses to attend group therapy because it interrupts handwashing ritual
- D. Client with schizophrenia who is experiencing delusions and is pacing the room and yelling at caregivers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suicidal ideation with a plan (B) poses an immediate safety risk, requiring urgent assessment despite one-to-one observation. Bulimia (A) and schizophrenia (D) behaviors need monitoring but are less acute. OCD refusal (C) is a lower priority, as it does not indicate immediate harm.
A client in the hospital is receiving chemotherapy. Based on today’s blood laboratory results, which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Check for hematuria
- B. Check for peaked T waves
- C. Obtain prescription for epoetin alfa
- D. Place a face mask on the client
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Chemotherapy often causes neutropenia, increasing infection risk. A face mask (D) protects the client. Hematuria (A), peaked T waves (B), and epoetin (C) address other issues not directly indicated.
A mother noticed a large abdominal mass when helping her 3-year-old child bathe. The child is taken to the physician and admitted to the hospital after an intravenous pyelogram (IVP) confirms the diagnosis of Wilms' tumor. Which nursing action is essential to include in the nursing care plan?
- A. Strain all urine and save for analysis.
- B. Avoid palpating the abdomen.
- C. Prepare the child for permanent dialysis.
- D. Help the family understand the poor prognosis.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Avoiding abdominal palpation prevents potential tumor rupture or metastasis in Wilms' tumor, a critical precaution. Urine straining, dialysis, or poor prognosis are inappropriate.