A nurse is caring for a patient in the final stages of dying. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
- A. Encourage the patient to eat to maintain strength.
- B. Provide emotional support and comfort measures.
- C. Perform frequent assessments to monitor for recovery signs.
- D. Implement aggressive interventions to prolong life.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Provide emotional support and comfort measures. In the final stages of dying, the focus shifts from curative treatment to providing comfort and dignity. Emotional support helps alleviate anxiety and fear, promoting a peaceful transition. Comfort measures like pain management improve quality of life. Encouraging the patient to eat may be futile as the body shuts down. Performing frequent assessments for recovery signs is not appropriate in this situation. Implementing aggressive interventions could go against the patient's wishes for a natural death.
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The nurse is caring for a patient whose condition has deter iorated and is now not responding to standard treatment. The primary health care provider ca lls for an ethical consultation with the family to discuss potential withdrawal versus aggressivabei rtbr.ceoamtm/teestn t. The nurse understands that applying a model for ethical decision making involves which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Burden versus benefit
- B. Family’s wishes
- C. Patient’s wishes
- D. Potential outcomes of treatment options
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Burden versus benefit. In ethical decision-making, considering the burden of treatment on the patient versus the potential benefits is crucial. This involves weighing the risks, benefits, and potential harm of treatment options. Family's wishes (B) and patient's wishes (C) are important factors but may not always align with what is ethically best for the patient. Potential outcomes of treatment options (D) are relevant but do not directly address the ethical dilemma of balancing burden and benefit. Therefore, A is the correct choice as it directly relates to the ethical principles guiding decision-making in this scenario.
The patient is admitted with acute kidney injury from a postrenal cause. Acceptable treatments for that diagnosis include: (Select all that apply.)
- A. bladder catheterization.
- B. increasing fluid volume intake.
- C. ureteral stenting.
- D. placement of nephrostomy tubes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale:
1. Bladder catheterization helps relieve urinary obstruction, a common postrenal cause of acute kidney injury.
2. By draining urine from the bladder, it prevents further damage to the kidneys.
3. This intervention addresses the underlying cause of the kidney injury, leading to improvement.
Summary:
- Choice A is correct as it directly addresses the postrenal cause by relieving urinary obstruction.
- Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not target the specific postrenal cause of acute kidney injury.
Assuming each of these patients was discharged from the hospital, which older adult patient is at greatest risk for decreased functional status and quality of life?
- A. A 70-year-old who had coronary artery bypass surgery developed complications after surgery and had difficulty being weaned from meacbhirba.ncoicma/tle svt entilation. The patient required a tracheostomy and gastrostomy and is now being discharged to a long-term, acute care hospital. The patient lost their sig nificant other 3 years ago.
- B. A 79-year-old admitted for exacerbation of heart failure manages health care independently but needs diuretic medications adjusted . The patient states being compliant with prescribed medications but sometimes forgets to take them. The patient and 82-year-old spouse consider themselves to be independent and support each other.
- C. A 90-year-old admitted for a carotid endarterectomy lives in an assisted living facility (ALF) but is cognitively intact and claims to be the “social butterfly” at all of the events at the ALF. The patient is hospitalized for 4 days and discharged to the ALF.
- D. An 84-year-old who had stents placed to treat coronary artery occlusion has diabetes that has been managed, lives alone since losin g significant other 10 years ago, and was driving prior to hospitalization. The patieanbitr bw.caoms /dteisst charged home within 3 days of the procedure.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because this patient had a complex surgery with complications, requiring long-term care and loss of a significant other, which can impact their emotional well-being and support system. This can lead to decreased functional status and quality of life.
Choice B is incorrect as the patient has support from a spouse and manages health care independently, indicating a good support system. Choice C is incorrect as the patient is cognitively intact and social, which suggests a good quality of life. Choice D is incorrect as the patient had a less complex procedure, well-managed diabetes, and was living independently, which indicates a lower risk for decreased functional status and quality of life compared to choice A.
The patient is in need of immediate hemodialysis, but has no vascular access. The nurse prepares the patient for insertion of
- A. a percutaneous catheter at the bedside.
- B. a percutaneous tunneled catheter at the bedside.
- C. an arteriovenous fistula.
- D. an arteriovenous graft.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: a percutaneous catheter at the bedside. This is the most appropriate option for immediate hemodialysis when the patient has no vascular access. A percutaneous catheter can be quickly inserted at the bedside, allowing for immediate initiation of hemodialysis.
Choice B, a percutaneous tunneled catheter, involves a more complex insertion process and is not typically done at the bedside. Choices C and D, arteriovenous fistula and arteriovenous graft, require advanced planning and surgical procedures, making them unsuitable for immediate hemodialysis in this scenario.
The nurse obtains a heart rate of 92 and a blood pressure of 110/76 prior to administering a scheduled dose of verapamil (Calan) for a client with atrial flutter. Which action should the nurse implement?
- A. Give intravenous (IV) calcium gluconate.
- B. Withhold the drug and notify the healthcare provider.
- C. Administer the dose as prescribed.
- D. Recheck the vital signs in 30 minutes and then administer the dose.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Administer the dose as prescribed. Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to treat atrial flutter. The vital signs obtained are within normal range for this medication. A heart rate of 92 and blood pressure of 110/76 are not contraindications for administering verapamil. Option A is incorrect as calcium gluconate is not indicated in this situation. Option B is incorrect because the vital signs are stable and do not warrant withholding the medication. Option D is incorrect as there is no need to delay the administration of verapamil based on the vital signs provided.