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A patient with a recent diagnosis of HIV infection expresses an interest in exploring alternative and complementary therapies. How should the nurse best respond?
- A. Complementary therapies generally have not been approved, so patients are usually discouraged from using them.
- B. Researchers have not looked at the benefits of alternative therapy for patients with HIV, so we suggest that you stay away from these therapies until there is solid research data available.
- C. Many patients with HIV use some type of alternative therapy and, as with most health treatments, there are benefits and risks.
- D. Youll need to meet with your doctor to choose between an alternative approach to treatment and a medical approach.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should approach the topic of alternative or complementary therapies from an open-ended, supportive approach, emphasizing the need to communicate with care providers. Complementary therapies and medical treatment are not mutually exclusive, though some contraindications exist. Research supports the efficacy of some forms of complementary and alternative treatment.
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A nurse is performing an admission assessment on a patient with stage 3 HIV. After assessing the patients gastrointestinal system and analyzing the data, what is most likely to be the priority nursing diagnosis?
- A. Acute Abdominal Pain
- B. Diarrhea
- C. Bowel Incontinence
- D. Constipation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diarrhea is a problem in 50% to 60% of all AIDS patients. As such, this nursing diagnosis is more likely than abdominal pain, incontinence, or constipation, though none of these diagnoses is guaranteed not to apply.
A nurse would identify that a colleague needs additional instruction on standard precautions when the colleague exhibits which of the following behaviors?
- A. The nurse wears face protection, gloves, and a gown when irrigating a wound.
- B. The nurse washes the hands with a waterless antiseptic agent after removing a pair of soiled gloves.
- C. The nurse puts on a second pair of gloves over soiled gloves while performing a bloody procedure.
- D. The nurse places a used needle and syringe in the puncture-resistant container without capping the needle.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Gloves must be changed after contact with materials that may contain high concentration of microorganisms, even when working with the same patient. Each of the other listed actions adheres to standard precautions.
A patient with HIV is admitted to the hospital because of chronic severe diarrhea. The nurse caring for this patient should expect the physician to order what drug for the management of the patients diarrhea?
- A. Zithromax
- B. Sandostatin
- C. Levaquin
- D. Biaxin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Therapy with octreotide acetate (Sandostatin), a synthetic analogue of somatostatin, has been shown to be effective in managing chronic severe diarrhea. Zithromax, Levaquin, and Biaxin are not used to treat chronic severe diarrhea.
A hospital nurse has experienced percutaneous exposure to an HIV-positive patients blood as a result of a needlestick injury. The nurse has informed the supervisor and identified the patient. What action should the nurse take next?
- A. Flush the wound site with chlorhexidine.
- B. Report to the emergency department or employee health department.
- C. Apply a hydrocolloid dressing to the wound site.
- D. Follow up with the nurses primary care provider.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: After initiating the emergency reporting system, the nurse should report as quickly as possible to the employee health services, the emergency department, or other designated treatment facility. Flushing is recommended, but chlorhexidine is not used for this purpose. Applying a dressing is not recommended. Following up with the nurses own primary care provider would require an unacceptable delay.
An 18-year-old pregnant female has tested positive for HIV and asks the nurse if her baby is going to be born with HIV. What is the nurses best response?
- A. There is no way to know that for certain, but we do know that your baby has a one in four chance of being born with HIV.
- B. Your physician is likely the best one to ask that question.
- C. If the baby is HIV positive there is nothing that can be done until it is born, so try your best not to worry about it now.
- D. Its possible that your baby could contract HIV, either before, during, or after delivery.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 is possible and may occur in utero, at the time of delivery, or through breast-feeding. There is no evidence that the infants risk is 25%. Deferral to the physician is not a substitute for responding appropriately to the patients concern. Downplaying the patients concerns is inappropriate.