After a symptom is recognized, the first effort at treatment is often self-treatment. Which of the following statements is true about self-treatment?
- A. "Not recognized as valuable by most health care providers."?
- B. "Usually ineffective and may delay more effective treatment."?
- C. "Always less expensive than biomedical alternatives."?
- D. "Influenced by the accessibility of over-the-counter medicines."?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: After a symptom is identified, the first effort at treatment is often self-treatment. The availability of over-the-counter medications, the relatively high literacy level of Americans, and the influence of the internet and mass media in communicating health-related information to the general population have contributed to the high percentage of cases of self-treatment. Health care providers are recognizing the value of a wide variety of alternative, complementary, and traditional interventions. Many self-treatments, such as over-the-counter medications, are effective. Self-treatment is not always less expensive. Choice A is incorrect as health care providers are recognizing the value of self-treatment. Choice B is incorrect because self-treatment can be effective in many cases. Choice C is incorrect as self-treatment is not always less expensive; it depends on the specific treatment being used.
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An adult patient is at the clinic for a physical examination. The patient states that they are feeling 'very anxious' about the physical examination. What steps can the nurse take to make the patient more comfortable?
- A. Appear unhurried and confident when examining the patient.
- B. Leave the room when the patient undresses unless they need assistance.
- C. Ask the patient to change into an examining gown and to leave their undergarments on.
- D. Measure vital signs at the beginning of the examination to gradually accustom the patient.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: To help alleviate the patient's anxiety, the nurse should appear unhurried and confident during the examination. This can make the patient feel more at ease and reassured. It is important for the nurse to respect the patient's privacy by leaving the room while the patient changes unless assistance is needed. The patient should be instructed to change into an examining gown while leaving their undergarments on, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity. Additionally, measuring vital signs at the beginning of the examination can help gradually acclimate the patient to the process, making it less overwhelming. Therefore, the correct answer is to appear unhurried and confident when examining the patient. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not directly address the patient's anxiety or provide comfort in the same way as the correct answer.
The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient. What would the nurse do next?
- A. Auscultate over the area with a fetoscope.
- B. Use a goniometer to measure the pulsations.
- C. Use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area.
- D. Check for the presence of pulsations with a stethoscope.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a nurse is unable to palpate a radial pulse, the next step is to use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area. Doppler devices are specifically designed to augment pulse or blood pressure measurements. Auscultating with a fetoscope is used to listen to fetal heart tones and is not relevant in this scenario. Goniometers are used to measure joint range of motion and are not used to assess pulses. Stethoscopes are primarily used to auscultate breath, bowel, and heart sounds, not to check for pulsations in peripheral pulses. Therefore, the correct course of action when unable to palpate a pulse is to utilize a Doppler device to assess for pulsations in the radial pulse area.
Which action is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
- A. Listen to a patient's lung sounds for wheezes or rhonchi.
- B. Label specimens obtained during percutaneous lung biopsy.
- C. Instruct a patient about how to use home spirometry testing.
- D. Measure induration at the site of a patient's intradermal skin test.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Labeling specimens obtained during a percutaneous lung biopsy is a task that can be appropriately delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) as it does not require nursing judgment. UAP can perform this task safely under the supervision of a nurse. Listening to a patient's lung sounds for wheezes or rhonchi, instructing a patient about how to use home spirometry testing, and measuring induration at the site of a patient's intradermal skin test all require nursing judgment and interpretation of findings. These tasks should be performed by licensed nursing personnel to ensure accurate assessment and appropriate intervention.
During an examination, a nurse notices a draining ulceration on a patient's lower leg. What is the most appropriate action in this situation?
- A. Wash hands and then contact the physician.
- B. Continue to examine the ulceration and then wash hands.
- C. Wash hands, put on gloves, and continue with the examination of the ulceration.
- D. Wash hands, proceed with the rest of the physical examination, and perform the examination of the leg ulceration last.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this scenario, the most appropriate action is to wash hands, put on gloves, and then continue examining the ulceration. Wearing gloves is crucial when there is a possibility of contact with body fluids, as in the case of a draining ulceration. Contacting the physician is not necessary at this point; the immediate focus should be on proper infection control by washing hands and wearing gloves. Changing the order of the examination is not recommended as it is important to follow a systematic approach to avoid missing any crucial assessments.
What does an individual who believes in the magicoreligious theory of illness and disease think is the cause of illness?
- A. Germs and viruses
- B. Supernatural forces
- C. Eating imbalanced (hot/cold) foods
- D. Imbalance within his or her spiritual nature
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Individuals who adhere to the magicoreligious theory of illness and disease attribute the cause of illness to supernatural forces. In this perspective, the world is perceived as governed by supernatural forces that influence the well-being of individuals. The belief is that these forces can bring about both good and evil outcomes. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Germs and viruses are associated with the biomedical theory of illness. Eating imbalanced hot or cold foods is linked to the yin/yang naturalist theory. Imbalance within one's spiritual nature is not a recognized cause of illness in any of the established theories of illness.