Chronic Disease Discussion Questions Related

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A nurse is creating a plan of care for an oncology patient and one of the identified nursing diagnoses is risk for infection related to myelosuppression. What intervention addresses the leading cause of infection-related death in oncology patients?

  • A. Encourage several small meals daily
  • B. Provide skin care to maintain skin integrity
  • C. Assist the patient with hygiene, as needed
  • D. Assess the integrity of the patient's oral mucosa regularly
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Myelosuppression from chemo or cancer slashes white cells, making infection a top killer sepsis often starts at breached barriers like skin. Maintaining skin integrity via cleansing and protection stops bugs (e.g., Staph) from sneaking in, directly tackling this risk. Small meals fight malnutrition, a secondary factor, not the leading death driver. Hygiene helps, but it's broad, not specific to the prime entry point. Oral mucosa checks catch stomatitis, another risk, but skin's the bigger battlefield in oncology stats. Nurses prioritize this, knowing intact skin's the first defense against fatal infections in these fragile patients.