Nokea
An 81-year-old female client has presented to the emergency department accompanied by her daughter with whom she lives. The daughter states that her mother has experienced a recent series of falls, which have resulted in her facial and arm bruises. The client smells of urine and is noticeably emaciated, unkempt, and anxious while the daughter berates her during the nurse's assessment. What is the nurse's responsibility in this situation?
- A. Determine the daughter's legal status with regard to her mother's financial affairs
- B. Report suspected elder abuse
- C. Establish whether the client has a durable power of attorney in place
- D. Obtain medical records regarding prior admissions for similar problems
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In cases of suspected elder abuse, the nurse is responsible for reporting his or her suspicions to the relevant authorities. In this scenario, the signs of elder abuse are evident, such as the client's bruises, unkempt appearance, and the daughter's behavior. Determining the daughter's legal status or the client's power of attorney are not immediate priorities when abuse is suspected. Obtaining medical records for prior admissions is also not the primary concern in this situation.
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A nurse cares for an Asian American client with a fractured femur. During shift report, which statement by the nurse will another nurse challenge?
- A. The client has requested to wait to receive pain medication.
- B. The client does not want family to visit the room.
- C. The client is a recent immigrant to this country.
- D. The client is stoic and will not complain at all.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Stereotyping the client as stoic and unlikely to complain about pain is incorrect and can lead to inadequate pain management. It is essential for the nurse to assess and address the client's pain regardless of cultural background. Choices A, B, and C are not as critical as they respect the client's autonomy, cultural preferences regarding family visits, and provide relevant background information about the client's immigrant status.
An elderly man has relied on one of his sons for his care. Now the son has become very involved with a religion other than the one in which he was raised. As a result, he now refuses to help his father. What can a nurse do to help in this family situation?
- A. Set up a family conference that includes the son
- B. Bring in help from other family members or outside
- C. Insist that the son help, along with other family members
- D. Ask the family's own spiritual adviser to intervene
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this complex family situation, it is essential to approach the issue with sensitivity and understanding. Setting up a family conference that includes the son is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take. While it may seem challenging, there is a possibility that involving the son in a family discussion can help him understand the impact of his actions on his father and the rest of the family. By including him in the conversation, the son may realize the importance of his role in caring for his father. Insisting that the son help, along with other family members, could lead to resistance and further alienation. Asking the family's spiritual adviser to intervene may not be effective if the son is rebelling against the family's religion. If the family conference does not yield positive results, then bringing in help from other family members or an outside caregiver may become necessary to ensure the elderly man receives the care he needs.
Which of the following is a matter of public, not private, law?
- A. Wrongful acts against another party
- B. Invasion of a patient's privacy
- C. Assault and battery on a patient
- D. Licensing of a home health agency
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'Licensing of a home health agency.' Public law governs relationships between private parties and the government, such as licensing requirements for entities like home health agencies. Choices A, B, and C involve private law, which governs relationships between individuals and organizations. These choices pertain to wrongful acts against another party, invasion of privacy, and assault and battery, respectively.
A nurse is working in an assisted living facility that has a culturally diverse older adult population. Which statement by the nurse best demonstrates cultural sensitivity?
- A. We need to ensure that both the minority population and the majority population have their health needs met.
- B. It's important to remember that minority groups do not usually express their pain explicitly.
- C. We need to build our knowledge of clients who belong to cultural and ethnic groups that we're not familiar with.
- D. We need to teach all clients that their health problems are not necessarily the result of punishment.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best demonstration of cultural sensitivity by the nurse is reflected in choice C. Building a knowledge base around cultural and ethnic groups is a crucial component of providing culturally sensitive care. Choice A creates an inaccurate dichotomy between 'minority' and 'majority' populations, which is not a culturally sensitive approach. Choice B incorrectly generalizes that minority groups do not usually express their pain explicitly, which is not true for all cultural groups. Choice D suggests imposing a different belief system on clients, which is not culturally sensitive and can undermine trust and rapport with older adult clients.
Mr. K has dementia. Having a good deal of money, he has a private room at Haven Nursing Home. He is a retired industrialist whose children and current wife are already squabbling bitterly over his estate. During visits, they often get into shouting matches that disturb the other residents and Mr. K himself. How should an administrator handle this family?
- A. Emphasize that they must behave civilly when visiting
- B. Have them set up separate visiting schedules
- C. Ask them to stay away
- D. Close Mr. K's door when they visit
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: There is little an administrator can do about this dysfunctional family's behavior, but Mr. K should not be upset by it, and the other residents deserve to be protected from shouting. By setting up separate visiting schedules, the family can continue to provide needed support for their husband and father. If they accidentally visit at the same time, the door can be kept closed until they leave.