A patient with a hip fracture is having difficulty defecating into a bedpan while lying in bed. Which action by the nurse will assist the patient in having a successful bowel movement?
- A. Preparing to administer a barium enema
- B. Withholding narcotic pain medication
- C. Administering laxatives to the patient
- D. Raising the head of the bed
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Rationale: Option D is correct because raising the head of the bed promotes a more natural position for defecation, allowing gravity to assist. This position helps align the rectum and anal canal, making it easier for the patient to have a bowel movement. Administering laxatives (Option C) may help, but adjusting the bed position is a non-invasive and more immediate intervention. Withholding pain medication (Option B) could lead to unnecessary discomfort for the patient. Administering a barium enema (Option A) is not indicated for addressing difficulty with defecation.
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A nurse is using core measures to reduce healthdisparities. Which group should the nurse focus on to cause themost improvement in core measures?
- A. Caucasians
- B. Poor people
- C. Alaska Natives
- D. American Indians
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Poor people. Focusing on poor people is likely to cause the most improvement in core measures because individuals living in poverty often face multiple barriers to accessing healthcare and have higher rates of chronic conditions. By targeting this group, the nurse can address social determinants of health, improve healthcare access, and address disparities in healthcare outcomes. Other choices (A, C, D) are not as impactful as poverty is a significant factor influencing health disparities.
A male patient presents at the free clinic with complaints of impotency. Upon physical examination, the nurse practitioner notes the presence of hypogonadism. What diagnosis should the nurse suspect?
- A. Prolactinoma
- B. Angioma
- C. Glioma
- D. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)producing adenoma
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Prolactinoma. Hypogonadism is often associated with decreased testosterone levels, which can be caused by excessive prolactin secretion from a prolactinoma. Prolactin inhibits the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), leading to decreased production of testosterone. Angioma, glioma, and ACTH-producing adenoma are not typically associated with hypogonadism. Angiomas are benign tumors of blood vessels, gliomas are tumors of the brain or spinal cord, and ACTH-producing adenomas are associated with Cushing's disease, not hypogonadism.
The nurse is providing care for a patient who has a diagnosis of hereditary angioedema. When planning this patients care, what nursing diagnosis should be prioritized?
- A. Risk for Infection Related to Skin Sloughing
- B. Risk for Acute Pain Related to Loss of Skin Integrity
- C. Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity Related to Cutaneous Lesions
- D. Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange Related to Airway Obstruction
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange Related to Airway Obstruction. This should be prioritized because hereditary angioedema can lead to swelling in the airway, potentially causing respiratory distress and compromising gas exchange. This nursing diagnosis addresses the immediate threat to the patient's respiratory function.
A: Risk for Infection Related to Skin Sloughing - While skin sloughing can occur with hereditary angioedema, it is not the priority over ensuring adequate gas exchange.
B: Risk for Acute Pain Related to Loss of Skin Integrity - Pain management is important, but addressing airway obstruction takes precedence due to the potential for respiratory compromise.
C: Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity Related to Cutaneous Lesions - Skin integrity issues may be present but do not pose as immediate a threat as airway obstruction.
A hospice nurse is well aware of how difficult it is to deal with others pain on a daily basis. This nurse should put healthy practices into place to guard against what outcome?
- A. Inefficiency in the provision of care
- B. Excessive weight gain
- C. Emotional exhaustion
- D. Social withdrawal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Emotional exhaustion. Dealing with others' pain daily can lead to burnout and emotional exhaustion for the nurse. This can result in decreased empathy and effectiveness in providing care. Healthy practices such as self-care, setting boundaries, and seeking support can help prevent emotional exhaustion.
Choice A: Inefficiency in the provision of care is incorrect because emotional exhaustion may affect the quality of care but does not necessarily lead to inefficiency.
Choice B: Excessive weight gain is incorrect as it is not directly related to the emotional toll of dealing with others' pain.
Choice D: Social withdrawal is incorrect as it is a potential outcome of emotional exhaustion but not the primary concern in this scenario.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a diagnosis of vulvar cancer who has returned from the PACU after undergoing a wide excision of the vulva. How should this patients analgesic regimen be best managed?
- A. Analgesia should be withheld unless the patients pain becomes unbearable.
- B. Scheduled analgesia should be administered around-the-clock to prevent pain.
- C. All analgesics should be given on a PRN, rather than scheduled, basis.
- D. Opioid analgesics should be avoided and NSAIDs exclusively provided.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Scheduled analgesia should be administered around-the-clock to prevent pain. After undergoing a wide excision of the vulva, the patient is likely to experience significant pain. Scheduled analgesia ensures that the patient receives pain relief consistently, preventing pain from becoming severe. This approach helps to maintain a therapeutic level of pain control and improves patient comfort and satisfaction.
Choice A is incorrect because withholding analgesia until the pain becomes unbearable can lead to unnecessary suffering and poor pain management. Choice C is incorrect as PRN dosing may result in inadequate pain relief and fluctuations in pain control. Choice D is incorrect as opioids are often necessary for postoperative pain management, and NSAIDs alone may not provide sufficient relief for the level of pain associated with a wide excision surgery.