Nokea
A patient who has blood drawn for screening has a positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test. Which of the following actions should the nurse take next?
- A. Ask the patient about past treatment for syphilis.
- B. Discuss the need for blood and spinal fluid cultures.
- C. Obtain a specimen for fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) testing.
- D. Assess for the presence of chanceres, fullike symptoms, or a bilateral rash on the trunk.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Once antibody testing is positive for syphilis, the antibodies remain present for an indefinite period of time even after successful treatment, so the nurse should inquire about previous treatment before doing other assessments or testing. Culture, FTA-ABS testing, and assessment for symptoms may be appropriate, based on whether the patient has been previously treated for syphilis.
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A patient with gonorrhea is treated with a single IM dose of ceftrixaone and is given a prescription for doxyeycline $100 \mathrm{mg}$ bid for 7 days. Which of the following explanations should the nurse tell the patient about this combination of antibiotics?
- A. Prevent reinfection during treatment.
- B. Treat any coexisting chlamydial infection.
- C. Eradicate resistant strains of $N$, gonorrhheae.
- D. Prevent the development of resistant organisms.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Because there is a high incidence of co-infection with gonorrhea and chlamydia, patients are usually treated for both. The other explanations about the purpose of the antibiotic combination are not accurate.
A patient has genital warts around her external genitalia and perianal area. She tells the nurse that she has not had treatment until now because 'the warts are so disgusting.' Which of the following nursing diagnoses is best?
- A. Disturbed body image related to alteration in self-perception (feelings about the genital warts)
- B. Ineffective coping related to inadequate confidence in ability to deal with a situation
- C. Risk for infection as evidenced by insufficient knowledge to avoid exposure to pathogens
- D. Anxiety related to threat to current status (impact of condition on interpersonal relationships)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient's statement that her lesions are disgusting suggests that disturbed body image is the major concern and is quite common in patients that have genital warts. There is no evidence to indicate ineffective coping or lack of knowledge about mode of transmission. The patient may be experiencing anxiety, but there is nothing in the data indicating that the genital warts are impacting interpersonal relationships.
The nurse is assessing a male patient who has a profuse, purulent urethral discharge with painful urination. Which of the following information is most important for the nurse to obtain?
- A. Contraceptive use
- B. Sexual orientation
- C. Immunization history
- D. Recent sexual contacts
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Information about sexual contacts is needed to help establish whether the patient has been exposed to an STI and because sexual contacts will also need treatment. The other information may also be gathered but is not as important in determining the plan of care for the patient's current symptoms.
When a patient returns to the clinic for follow-up after treatment for gonoccocal urethritis, a purulent urethral discharge is still present. When trying to determine the reason for the recurrent infection, which of the following questions is best for the nurse to ask the patient?
- A. Did you take the prescribed antibiotic for a week?
- B. Did you drink at least 2 quarts of fluids every day?
- C. Were your sexual partners treated with antibiotics?
- D. Do you wash your hands after using the bathroom?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: All sexual contacts of patients with gonorrhea must be examined and treated to prevent reinfection after resumption of sexual relations. The 'ping-pong' effect of re-exposure, treatment, and reinfection can cease only when infected partners are treated simultaneously. Because gonorrhea is treated with one dose of antibiotic, antibiotic therapy, for a week is not needed. An adequate fluid intake is important, but a low fluid intake is not a likely cause for failed treatment. Poor hygiene may cause complications such as ocular trachoma but will not cause a failure of treatment.
The nurse is counselling a patient who is having difficulty in conceiving. Which of the following infections is of most concern to the nurse?
- A. Chamyylla
- B. Treponema pallidum
- C. Condyloama acuminatum
- D. Herpes simplex virus type 2
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Complications from chlamydial infections in women may result in PID, scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can result in infertility and a higher risk of ectopic or tubal pregnancies. Syphilis, genital warts, and genital herpes do not lead to problems with conceiving, although transmission to the fetis (syphilis) or newborn (genital warts or genital herpes) is a concern.