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A patient with a new diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is overwhelmed by his diagnosis and the known complications of the disease. How can the patient best make known his wishes for care as his disease progresses?
- A. Prepare an advance directive.
- B. Designate a most responsible physician (MRP) early in the course of the disease.
- C. Collaborate with representatives from the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association.
- D. Ensure that witnesses are present when he provides instruction.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Prepare an advance directive. This allows the patient to document their healthcare preferences in advance, ensuring their wishes are known and honored as the disease progresses. It provides clear instructions for healthcare providers and family members, reducing potential conflicts and ensuring the patient's autonomy is respected.
Choice B is incorrect as designating an MRP focuses on medical decision-making but may not capture the full range of the patient's care preferences. Choice C involves collaboration with an organization, which may not fully represent the patient's individual wishes. Choice D is incorrect as witnesses are not always necessary for providing instructions, and the presence of witnesses does not guarantee that the patient's wishes will be followed accurately.
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The nurse in a pediatric ICU is caring for a child who is dying of sickle cell anemia. The childs mother has been unable to eat or sleep and can talk only about her impending loss and the guilt she feels about the childs pain and suffering. What intervention has the highest priority?
- A. Allowing the patient to express her feelings without judging her
- B. Helping the patient to understand the phases of the grieving process
- C. Reassuring the patient that the childs death is not her fault
- D. Arranging for genetic counseling to inform the patient of her chances of having another child with the disease
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Allowing the patient to express her feelings without judging her. This intervention has the highest priority as it focuses on providing emotional support and creating a safe space for the mother to express her emotions without feeling judged. In this situation, the mother is experiencing intense guilt and grief, and allowing her to talk about her feelings can help her process her emotions and cope with the impending loss. By listening actively and without judgment, the nurse can demonstrate empathy and compassion, which are crucial in supporting the mother through this difficult time.
Summary:
B: Helping the patient to understand the phases of the grieving process may be helpful, but it is not the highest priority at this moment.
C: Reassuring the patient that the child's death is not her fault is important, but the priority is to address the mother's emotional needs first.
D: Arranging for genetic counseling is not the highest priority at this time as the immediate focus should be on providing emotional support to the mother
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.
A nurse wants to present information about fluimmunizations to the older adults in the community. Which type of communication should the nurse use?
- A. Public
- B. Small group
- C. Interpersonal
- D. Intrapersonal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Small group. When presenting information about flu immunizations to older adults in the community, using small group communication is most effective. In small group settings, the nurse can engage with the audience, encourage discussions, answer questions, and address individual concerns. This approach allows for personalized interaction, fosters trust, and facilitates better understanding and retention of information. Public communication (choice A) may not provide the same level of individualized attention. Interpersonal communication (choice C) typically refers to one-on-one interactions, which may not reach a larger audience efficiently. Intrapersonal communication (choice D) involves self-reflection and is not suitable for disseminating information to a group.
A patient has a decreased gag reflex, left-sided weakness, and drooling. Which action will the nurse take when feeding this patient?
- A. Position in semi-Fowler’s.
- B. Flex head with chin tuck.
- C. Place food on left side.
- D. Offer fruit juice.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Flex head with chin tuck. This position helps prevent aspiration by closing off the airway during swallowing. Flexing the head and tucking the chin promotes safe swallowing and reduces the risk of choking. Placing food on the left side (choice C) is not relevant to addressing the patient's symptoms. Positioning in semi-Fowler's (choice A) may not directly address the swallowing difficulty. Offering fruit juice (choice D) does not address the patient's specific feeding needs and may not be safe if the patient has swallowing difficulties.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has had diarrheafor the past week. Which additional assessment finding will the nurse expect?
- A. Distended abdomen
- B. Decreased skin turgor
- C. Increased energy levels
- D. Elevated blood pressure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Decreased skin turgor. Diarrhea leads to fluid loss and dehydration, causing a decrease in skin turgor. Assessing skin turgor by gently pinching the skin on the patient's forearm is important to determine hydration status. A: Distended abdomen is more indicative of possible bowel obstruction or fluid accumulation, not specifically related to diarrhea. C: Increased energy levels are unlikely as diarrhea typically causes fatigue and weakness due to electrolyte imbalance. D: Elevated blood pressure is not a typical finding with diarrhea unless there are other underlying medical conditions.