A hospice patient with end-stage renal disease refuses to eat or drink and is very weak but reports no pain. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
- A. Teach the family about the use of enteral feedings to improve nutrition.
- B. Discuss the benefits of inserting a feeding tube for hydration.
- C. Provide support for the patient’s decision and ensure comfort measures.
- D. Inform the patient about the risks of refusing food and fluids.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most appropriate nursing action in this scenario is choice C: Provide support for the patient’s decision and ensure comfort measures. This is because the patient is in hospice care, indicating a focus on comfort and quality of life rather than aggressive treatments. By respecting the patient’s decision and providing comfort measures, the nurse promotes dignity and autonomy. Choices A and B are not suitable as they go against the patient's wishes and may cause distress. Choice D, while important, is not the immediate priority when the patient is not in pain and has chosen to refuse food and fluids. Overall, choice C aligns with the principles of hospice care and prioritizes the patient's comfort and autonomy.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is caring for a very seriously ill patient in the CCU. The family visits sporadically, stays for only a short time, and does not ask many questions. How could the nurse best begin to involve the family in the patients care?
- A. Ask one family member to assist with the patients bath.
- B. Encourage family members to stay longer at each visit.
- C. Focus nursing efforts on the patients legal next of kin.
- D. Ask the family to complete the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Ask the family to complete the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory. This tool helps assess the family's needs and concerns, enabling the nurse to tailor care accordingly. By understanding the family's specific needs, the nurse can provide appropriate support and information, fostering better involvement and understanding.
A: Asking one family member to assist with the patient's bath may not address the overall family's needs or involvement in care.
B: Encouraging family members to stay longer does not necessarily address their specific needs or facilitate effective communication.
C: Focusing solely on the legal next of kin may exclude important family members who also need support and involvement in the patient's care.
When fluid is present in the alveoli what is the result?
- A. Alveoli collapse and atelectasis occurs.
- B. Diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide is impaired.
- C. Hypoventilation occurs.
- D. The patient is in heart failure.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Alveoli collapse and atelectasis occurs. When fluid is present in the alveoli, it impairs the surface tension necessary for the alveoli to remain open, leading to collapse and atelectasis. This prevents proper gas exchange, resulting in hypoxemia. Choice B is incorrect because impaired gas diffusion typically occurs with conditions affecting the alveolar-capillary membrane, not fluid in the alveoli. Choice C is incorrect as hypoventilation refers to decreased ventilation, not specifically related to fluid in the alveoli. Choice D is incorrect as fluid in the alveoli is not a direct indicator of heart failure.
What is the primary mode of action of a neuromuscular bl ocking agent?
- A. Analgesia
- B. Anticonvulsant
- C. Paralysis
- D. Sedation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Paralysis. Neuromuscular blocking agents work by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses at the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle paralysis. This paralysis helps facilitate intubation, surgical procedures, and mechanical ventilation.
A: Analgesia - Neuromuscular blocking agents do not provide pain relief; they primarily induce muscle paralysis without affecting pain sensation.
B: Anticonvulsant - Neuromuscular blocking agents do not prevent or treat seizures; their mechanism of action is not related to controlling convulsions.
D: Sedation - Neuromuscular blocking agents do not induce sedation; they specifically target the neuromuscular junction to cause muscle paralysis.
The nurse is caring for a mechanically ventilated patient b eing monitored with a left radial arterial line. During the inspiratory phase of ventilation, th e nurse assesses a 20 mm Hg decrease in arterial blood pressure. What is the best interpretation of this finding by the nurse?
- A. The mechanical ventilator is malfunctioning.
- B. The patient may require fluid resuscitation.
- C. The arterial line may need to be replaced.
- D. The left limb may have reduced perfusion.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: The patient may require fluid resuscitation. A decrease in arterial blood pressure during the inspiratory phase of ventilation suggests decreased preload, indicating possible hypovolemia. This can be addressed by administering fluid resuscitation to improve cardiac output and blood pressure.
Incorrect Choices:
A: The mechanical ventilator is malfunctioning - There is no evidence to suggest a ventilator malfunction based on the arterial pressure change.
C: The arterial line may need to be replaced - The arterial line itself is unlikely to cause the observed pressure change.
D: The left limb may have reduced perfusion - This is less likely as the pressure change is likely systemic due to decreased preload.
Which statement is true regarding venous thromboembolisambir b(.VcoTm/Ete)s ta nd pulmonary embolus (PE)?
- A. PE should be suspected in any patient who has unexpla ined cardiorespiratory complaints and risk factors for VTE.
- B. Bradycardia and hyperventilation are classic symptom s of PE.
- C. Dyspnea, chest pain, and hemoptysis occur in nearly a ll patients with PE.
- D. Most critically ill patients are at low risk for VTE and PE and do not require prophylaxis.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because PE should be suspected in patients with unexplained cardiorespiratory complaints and risk factors for VTE. This is important because PE can present with nonspecific symptoms, making it crucial to consider it in the differential diagnosis.
Explanation:
1. PE can present with various symptoms, including dyspnea, chest pain, and hemoptysis, but these are not present in all patients.
2. Bradycardia and hyperventilation are not classic symptoms of PE, as it can present with tachycardia and other respiratory findings.
3. Critically ill patients are actually at higher risk for VTE and PE, so prophylaxis is typically recommended.
In summary, choice A is correct because it emphasizes the importance of considering PE in patients with cardiorespiratory complaints and risk factors for VTE, while the other choices contain inaccuracies or incomplete information.