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A patient receiving palliative care for end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) expresses a desire to discuss advance care planning. What action should the palliative nurse take?
- A. Dismiss the patient's request and focus on symptom management.
- B. Initiate a conversation about advance directives and future care preferences.
- C. Encourage the patient to postpone discussions about advance care planning.
- D. Refer the patient to a social worker for assistance with advance care planning.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When a patient receiving palliative care for end-stage COPD expresses a desire to discuss advance care planning, the palliative nurse should initiate a conversation about advance directives and future care preferences. Advance care planning involves discussing and documenting a patient's preferences regarding future medical care, particularly in situations where the patient may no longer be able to make decisions. This discussion helps ensure that the patient's wishes are respected and followed in the event they are unable to communicate their preferences. By engaging in advance care planning discussions, the nurse can help the patient feel empowered, supported, and in control of their medical care decisions. It also allows healthcare providers to align care with the patient's values and goals, ultimately improving quality of life and ensuring dignity at the end of life.
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The nursing team plans to do chart audit project on post-op patients who and developed pressure sores at the Orthopedic unit over the past year to present. What type of audit is?
- A. Retrospective
- B. Concurrent
- C. Process
- D. Outcome
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A retrospective audit involves reviewing past cases or data to evaluate processes, outcomes, or compliance with standards. In this scenario, the nursing team plans to audit post-op patients who developed pressure sores over the past year at the Orthopedic unit. By looking at historical data from the past year, the audit is considered retrospective as it assesses what has occurred over a specified period. This type of audit helps identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement based on past events.
Which assessment findings is INDICATIVE of the diagnosis of hypertension?
- A. Family members with high blood pressure
- B. Elevation of blood cholesterol level
- C. Stressful work environment
- D. Consistent evaluation of blood pressure
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The assessment finding that is indicative of the diagnosis of hypertension is consistent evaluation of blood pressure. Hypertension is diagnosed based on repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Consistently high blood pressure readings, usually defined as systolic blood pressure consistently at or above 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure consistently at or above 90 mmHg, are a key factor in diagnosing hypertension. Family history of high blood pressure (Choice A), elevation of blood cholesterol level (Choice B), and a stressful work environment (Choice C) may be risk factors for hypertension but are not diagnostic criteria. In order to diagnose hypertension, healthcare providers rely on consistent measurement and evaluation of blood pressure over time.
A patient is complaining of urinary pain after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection the previous day. What is the nurse's best action?
- A. Administer ordered phenazopyridine hydrochloride (Pyridium).
- B. Administer ordered trimethoprim (Trimpex).
- C. Administer ordered bethanechol (Urecholine).
- D. Administer ordered acetaminophen (Tylenol) and a warm bath.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse's best action in this situation would be to administer the ordered antibiotic trimethoprim (Trimpex). A urinary tract infection (UTI) requires antibiotic treatment to eliminate the bacterial infection causing the symptoms. Phenazopyridine hydrochloride is a urinary tract analgesic that can help relieve urinary pain but does not treat the infection itself. Bethanechol is a cholinergic medication used to treat urinary retention, not a UTI. Acetaminophen and a warm bath may help with some discomfort but do not address the underlying infection causing the urinary pain. Therefore, administering the prescribed antibiotic would be the most appropriate action to target the source of the patient's symptoms.
A patient presents with redness, pain, and photophobia in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination reveals ciliary injection, corneal edema, and a mid-dilated pupil with fixed reaction to light. Which of the following conditions is most likely responsible for this presentation?
- A. Anterior uveitis
- B. Acute angle-closure glaucoma
- C. Endophthalmitis
- D. Corneal abrasion
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The presentation described is consistent with anterior uveitis. Anterior uveitis involves inflammation of the iris and ciliary body. Patients typically present with symptoms such as redness, pain, photophobia, and blurred vision. The slit-lamp examination findings of ciliary injection (redness and dilation of blood vessels in the iris and ciliary body), corneal edema, and a mid-dilated pupil with a fixed reaction to light (due to ciliary muscle spasm causing decreased accommodation) are characteristic of anterior uveitis. This condition is often idiopathic but can be associated with various systemic diseases like ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune disorders. Treatment involves addressing the inflammation with topical corticosteroids and, in some cases, cycloplegic agents to reduce pain and inflammation.
A patient presents with recurrent episodes of sudden, severe vertigo lasting hours, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and nystagmus. Vestibular function tests demonstrate unilateral weakness. Which of the following conditions is most likely responsible for this presentation?
- A. Vestibular neuritis
- B. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- C. Ménière's disease
- D. Acoustic neuroma Ophthalmology
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient's presentation of recurrent episodes of sudden, severe vertigo lasting hours with nausea, vomiting, and nystagmus, along with unilateral weakness on vestibular function tests, is most consistent with vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis is characterized by inflammation of the vestibular nerve leading to sudden onset vertigo that can last for hours to days. It is often associated with nausea, vomiting, and nystagmus. Unilateral weakness on vestibular function tests indicates dysfunction of one vestibular system. Differential diagnosis for this type of presentation includes other conditions such as Meniere's disease, BPPV, and acoustic neuroma. However, the combination of symptoms and unilateral vestibular weakness makes vestibular neuritis the most likely diagnosis in this case.