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A patient with a history of heavy alcohol use is seen at the clinic with acute gastritis. Which statement by the patient indicates that the patient is in the contemplation stage of change?
- A. I am older and wiser now, and I know I can change my drinking behaviour.
- B. Alcohol has never bothered my stomach. I think it's likely that I have the flu.
- C. I think my drinking is affecting my stomach, but maybe some drugs will help.
- D. People say that I drink too much, but I really feel pretty good most of the time.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This statement indicates that the patient recognizes that alcohol use is the reason for the gastritis but is not yet willing to make a change. The statement 'I am older and wiser now, and I know I can change my drinking behaviour' indicates a patient at the preparation stage. The remaining two statements are typical of the precontemplation stage.
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A young adult patient arrives at the emergency department with severe chest pain and agitation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Give the PRN naloxone IV.
- B. Ask about any use of stimulant drugs.
- C. Assess orientation to person, place, and time.
- D. Check blood pressure, pulse, respirations, and oxygen saturation.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The patient has symptoms consistent with the use of cocaine or amphetamines and is at risk for dysrhythmias, hypotension, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathy. The nurse also will ask about drug use and assess orientation, but these are not the priority actions. Naloxone may be given if the patient develops symptoms of CNS depression, but this patient's current symptoms indicate stimulant use.
A patient who is alcohol-intoxicated must undergo emergency surgery for abdominal trauma. Which of the following should the nurse anticipate when caring for the patient in the perioperative period?
- A. An increased dose of the general anaesthetic medication
- B. Frequent monitoring for bleeding and respiratory complications
- C. Development of withdrawal symptoms within a few hours after surgery
- D. Stimulation every hour to prevent prolonged postoperative sedation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients who are intoxicated at the time of surgery are at increased risk for problems with bleeding and respiratory complications such as aspiration. In an intoxicated patient, a lower dose of anesthesia is used because of the synergistic effect of the alcohol. Withdrawal is likely to occur later in the postoperative course because the medications used for anesthesia, sedation, and pain will delay withdrawal symptoms. The patient should be monitored frequently for oversedation but does not need to be stimulated.
The nurse is caring for a patient with alcohol dependence who has been admitted to the hospital with chest pain. Twenty-four hours after admission, the patient becomes very tremulous and anxious. Which of the following actions should the nurse implement?
- A. Insert an IV line and infuse fluids.
- B. Promote oral intake to 3000 mL/day.
- C. Provide a quiet, well-lit environment.
- D. Administer opioids to provide sedation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient's symptoms suggest acute alcohol withdrawal, and a quiet and well-lit environment will help to decrease agitation, delusions, and hallucinations. There is no indication that the patient is dehydrated. Benzodiazepines, rather than opioids, are used to prevent withdrawal. IV lines are avoided whenever possible.
The nurse is caring for a young adult patient who has inhaled cocaine and has been admitted to the emergency department with palpitations and shortness of breath. Which of the following actions ordered by the health care provider will the nurse implement first?
- A. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
- B. Start O2 at 4 L/minute.
- C. Draw blood for drug screening.
- D. Infuse normal saline at 100 mL/hour.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority here is to ensure that oxygenation is adequate. The other orders also should be accomplished as soon as possible but are not the first priority.
The nurse is caring for a patient who takes methadone daily to prevent a relapse of heroin addiction and has been admitted for knee surgery. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care to promote effective pain control postoperatively?
- A. Use a mixed opioid agonist-antagonist drug for pain relief.
- B. Administer opioid analgesics on a regularly scheduled basis.
- C. Avoid use of opioids and use alternatives such as NSAIDs.
- D. Give prescribed doses of opioid pain medication as needed for pain.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A patient addicted to opioids should receive them on an around-the-clock basis to prevent withdrawal. Normal opioid doses given on a PRN basis will not effectively relieve pain in a patient who has developed tolerance. NSAIDs may be used as adjuncts, but they should not be the primary analgesic used. Mixed opioid agonist-antagonist drugs can precipitate withdrawal in patients who have tolerance to opioids.