A Vietnamese patient who speaks little English is admitted to the labor and birth unit in early labor. The nurse plans to use an interpreter during an initial assessment. Which should the nurse plan to implement with regard to using an interpreter? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Face the interpreter when speaking.
- B. Listen carefully to what the patient says.
- C. Speak slowly and smile when appropriate.
- D. Plan to use a male interpreter, even if a female interpreter is available.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A. Face the interpreter when speaking: By facing the interpreter when speaking, the nurse ensures clear communication and demonstrates respect for the interpreter's role in facilitating understanding between the patient and healthcare provider.
You may also like to solve these questions
A medical-surgical nurse is asked to float to a women’s health unit to care for patients who are scheduled for therapeutic abortions. The nurse refuses to accept this assignment and expresses her personal beliefs as being incongruent with this medical practice. The nursing supervisor states that the unit is short-staffed and the nurse is familiar with caring for postoperative patients. In consideration of legal and ethical practices, can the nursing supervisor enforce this assignment?
- A. The staff nurse has the reNspoRnsibIilityG of Bac.ceCptinMg any assignment that is made U S N T O while working for a health care unit, so the nursing supervisor is within his or her rights to enforce this assignment.
- B. Because the unit is short-staffed, the staff nurse should accept the assignment to provide care by benefit of her or his experience to patients who need care.
- C. The staff nurse has expressed a legitimate concern based on his or her feelings; the nursing supervisor does not have the authority to enforce this assignment.
- D. The nursing supervisor should emphasize that this assignment requires care of a surgical patient for which the staff nurse is adequately trained and should therefore enforce the assignment.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this situation, the nurse's refusal to accept the assignment is based on personal beliefs that conflict with the nature of the medical practice (therapeutic abortions). According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, nurses have the right to refuse assignments that go against their personal, cultural, or religious beliefs. The nurse in this scenario has expressed a legitimate concern, and the nursing supervisor should respect the nurse's autonomy and should not enforce the assignment. It is essential to balance respecting the nurse's beliefs while also ensuring patient safety and adequate staffing levels.
A nurse who works in the emergency department (ED) is assigned to a patient who is experiencing heavy vaginal bleeding at 12 weeks’ gestation. An ultrasound has confirmed the absence of a fetal heart rate, and the patient is scheduled for a dilation and evacuation of the pregnancy. The nurse refuses to provide any further care for this patient based on moral principles. What is the nurse manager’s initial response to the nurse?
- A. “I recall you sharing that information in your interview. I will arrange for another nurse to take report on this patient.”
- B. “Because we are shorthanded today, you have to continue to provide care. There is no one else available to provide care for this patient.”
- C. “I understand your point of view. You were hired to work here in the ED so you had to know this situation was possible.”
- D. “Abandonment is a serious issue. I have to advise you to continue to provide care for this patient.”
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse manager's initial response should prioritize patient care and safety. In this situation, the patient requires urgent medical attention due to heavy vaginal bleeding and the need for a dilation and evacuation procedure. The nurse's refusal to provide care based on personal moral principles can be considered as patient abandonment, which is a serious ethical and legal issue in healthcare. The nurse manager must advise the nurse to continue providing care for the patient to ensure that the patient's needs are met and to prevent harm resulting from abandonment. The nurse manager should also address the nurse's concerns separately through appropriate channels, such as discussing ethical considerations, providing support, and exploring options for accommodation or transfer if necessary.
What nursing intervention would the nurse include in the preoperative care plan for a patient scheduled for an outpatient lumpectomy of a fibroadenoma?
- A. Administer pain and antiemetic medications.
- B. Help the patient arrange for a cab home after the procedure.
- C. Advise the patient to avoid food or drink for 2 hours before surgery.
- D. Review discharge instructions.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: It is essential to advise the patient to avoid food or drink for at least 2 hours before surgery to reduce the risk of aspiration during the procedure. An empty stomach helps prevent vomiting and aspiration of stomach contents that could potentially lead to respiratory complications during the surgical procedure. This is a crucial preoperative nursing intervention to ensure patient safety and preparation for the lumpectomy surgery. Administering pain and antiemetic medications, arranging for transportation home, and reviewing discharge instructions are important aspects of care but do not directly impact the patient's safety during the procedure like fasting before surgery does.
Which nursing intervention is an independent function of the professional nurse?
- A. Administering oral analgesics
- B. Requesting diagnostic studies
- C. Teaching the patient perineal care
- D. Providing wound care to a surgical incision
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Administering oral analgesics is an independent function of the professional nurse. Independent nursing interventions are those that a nurse is licensed to initiate based on their knowledge and skills without needing an order from a healthcare provider. Nurses are educated and trained in medication administration, including oral analgesics, and can independently assess the need for and safely administer them within their scope of practice. While requesting diagnostic studies, teaching perineal care, and providing wound care are essential nursing interventions, they typically require some form of healthcare provider's order or supervision, making them more interdependent activities.
A 55-year-old postmenopausal female patient presents to the family practice clinic for her annual examination. The nurse notes that the patient has lost inch in height. Upon further investigation, the nurse discovers that the patient has a slow-healing fracture of the left radius. What screening will most likely be initiated at this time for the patient?
- A. Assessment for domestic violence
- B. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan
- C. Follicle-stimulating hormone
- D. Serum levels of calcium and vitamin D
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In this scenario, the postmenopausal female patient who has lost height and has a slow-healing fracture of the left radius presents with concerning factors for osteoporosis. The most appropriate screening to initiate in this case would be a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. DEXA scan is the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis by measuring bone mineral density. Given the patient's age, postmenopausal status, height loss, and fracture history, assessing bone health through a DEXA scan is crucial to determine the presence of osteoporosis and guide appropriate management and treatment strategies.