Nokea
After mastoid surgery, an 81-year-old patient has been identified as needing assistance in her home. What would be a primary focus of this patients home care?
- A. Preparation of nutritious meals and avoidance of contraindicated foods
- B. Ensuring the patient receives adequate rest each day
- C. Helping the patient adapt to temporary hearing loss
- D. Assisting the patient with ambulation as needed to avoid falling
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Post-mastoidectomy vertigo increases fall risk, making ambulation assistance a primary home care focus, especially for an elderly patient. Diet, rest, and hearing loss are not primary concerns.
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A hearing-impaired patient is scheduled to have an MRI. What would be important for the nurse to remember when caring for this patient?
- A. Patient is likely unable to hear the nurse during test.
- B. A person adept in sign language must be present during test.
- C. Lip reading will be the method of communication that is necessary.
- D. The nurse should interact with the patient like any other patient.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: During an MRI, a hearing-impaired patient cannot hear verbal communication due to the dark, noisy environment, requiring alternative communication methods. Sign language or lip reading may not be feasible.
The nurse is planning the care of a patient who is adapting to the use of a hearing aid for the first time. What is the most significant challenge experienced by a patient with hearing loss who is adapting to using a hearing aid for the first time?
- A. Regulating the tone and volume
- B. Learning to cope with amplification of background noise
- C. Constant irritation of the external auditory canal
- D. Challenges in keeping the hearing aid clean while minimizing exposure to moisture
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Amplification of background noise is the primary challenge for new hearing aid users, often leading to discontinuation. Tone/volume adjustment, canal irritation, and cleaning are secondary concerns.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has undergone a mastoidectomy. In an effort to prevent postoperative infection, what intervention should the nurse implement?
- A. Teach the patient about the risks of ototoxic medications.
- B. Instruct the patient to protect the ear from water for several weeks.
- C. Teach the patient to remove cerumen safely at least once per week.
- D. Instruct the patient to protect the ear from temperature extremes until healing is complete.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Keeping the ear dry for 6 weeks post-mastoidectomy prevents infection by avoiding water entry into the surgical site. Ototoxic drugs, cerumen removal, or temperature extremes are not infection-related risks.
A patient has benefited from a cochlear implant. The nurse should understand that this patients health history likely includes which of the following? Select all that apply.
- A. The patient was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss.
- B. The patients hearing did not improve appreciably with the use of hearing aids.
- C. The patient has deficits in peripheral nervous function.
- D. The patients hearing deficit is likely accompanied by a cognitive deficit.
- E. The patient is unable to lip-read.
Correct Answer: A,B
Rationale: Cochlear implants are used for profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss unresponsive to hearing aids. Peripheral nerve deficits, cognitive issues, or inability to lip-read are not prerequisites.
A patient with a sudden onset of hearing loss tells the nurse that he would like to begin using hearing aids. The nurse understands that the health professional dispensing hearing aids would have what responsibility?
- A. Test the patients hearing promptly.
- B. Perform an otoscopy.
- C. Measure the width of the patients ear canal.
- D. Refer the patient to his primary care physician.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sudden hearing loss requires medical evaluation to rule out pathology, so referral to a physician is mandatory before dispensing hearing aids. Other actions are secondary.