The advanced directive in a client's chart is dated August 12, 1998. The client's daughter produces a Power of Attorney for Health Care, dated 2003, which contains different care directions. What should the nurse do?
- A. Follow the 1998 version because it's part of the legal chart.
- B. Follow the 1998 version because the physician's code order is based on it.
- C. Follow the 2003 version, place it in the chart, and communicate the update appropriately.
- D. Follow neither until clarified by the unit manager.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The document dated 2003 supersedes the previous version and should be used as a basis for care directions. The nurse should follow the 2003 version, place it in the chart, and communicate the update appropriately to ensure that the most current care directions are followed. Choices A and B are incorrect because the 1998 version is now outdated, and the nurse should not rely on it for care decisions. Choice D is incorrect because the nurse should not delay following the updated document, and seeking clarification from the unit manager can lead to avoidable delays in care.
You may also like to solve these questions
If a visitor accidentally knocks over a plastic pleural drainage system connected to a client, causing it to crack, what should the nurse do first?
- A. Observe the client's response.
- B. Notify the physician.
- C. Change the drainage system.
- D. Observe for leaks.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a pleural drainage system is cracked, the nurse's initial action should be to change the drainage system. This is essential to prevent potential complications like air leaks or infections. While observing the client's response and checking for leaks are important steps, they are secondary to addressing the immediate issue of the cracked system. Notifying the physician, though necessary, can be carried out once the primary concern of the damaged system is resolved.
After securing the client's safety from a faulty electric bed, what should the nurse do next?
- A. Discuss the matter with the client's significant others.
- B. Document the incident in the client's record in detail.
- C. Notify the physician.
- D. Prepare an incident report.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: After ensuring the client's safety from the faulty electric bed, the nurse should prioritize preparing an incident report. This report documents the details of what happened and is crucial for quality improvement and risk management. Choice A, discussing the matter with the client's significant others, may be important in some cases but is not the immediate priority after a safety incident. Choice B, documenting the incident in the client's record, is necessary but should be preceded by preparing an incident report. Choice C, notifying the physician, is important but not as urgent as preparing the incident report to ensure timely reporting and investigation of the safety issue.
A neighbor telephones the nurse to tell her that her child has erythema infectiosum and asks for information. The nurse knows that another name for the disorder is:
- A. Kawasaki disease
- B. rheumatic disease
- C. lupus erythematosus
- D. fifth disease
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is 'fifth disease.' Erythema infectiosum, also known as fifth disease, is a parvovirus flu-like illness that is self-limiting but contagious for two to three weeks. Choice A, Kawasaki disease, is a different condition that involves inflammation of the blood vessels, predominantly affecting children. Choices B and C, rheumatic disease and lupus erythematosus, are also different conditions unrelated to erythema infectiosum.
Under what circumstances can an individual receive medical care without giving informed consent?
- A. when the durable power of attorney for health care is not available
- B. in an emergency, life-or-death situation
- C. when the physician is not available for discussion with the client
- D. when they (clients) are not able to speak for themselves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An individual may receive medical care without giving informed consent in an emergency, life-or-death situation. This exception allows healthcare providers to provide immediate treatment to save a person's life or prevent serious harm when time is of the essence. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in all other situations, informed consent is required. The durable power of attorney for health care should be involved if available, the physician should have a discussion with the client in non-life-threatening situations, and in cases where clients are unable to speak for themselves, their designated representative or responsible party should be involved in the consent process.
What intervention should the nurse take for a client who has sustained a hyphema?
- A. Instruct the client to wear eye protectors in the future
- B. Keep the client at bed rest, typically with the head of the bed propped up
- C. Apply atropine eyedrops
- D. Apply an ice pack to the site of injury
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct intervention for a client who has sustained a hyphema is to keep them at bed rest, usually with the head of the bed raised. This positioning helps to reduce intraocular pressure and prevent further damage or rebleeding. Instructing the client to wear eye protectors in the future (Choice A) is not the immediate intervention required for a hyphema. Applying atropine eyedrops (Choice C) is not typically indicated for a hyphema. Applying an ice pack to the site of injury (Choice D) is not recommended for a hyphema as it can increase the risk of rebleeding. Therefore, the correct answer is to keep the client at bed rest.