A critically ill patient is not expected to survive this admission. The family asks the nurse how the patient is doing. When answering this question, what should the nurse include?
- A. Emphasize that the patient is young and strong and may still survive.
- B. Refer the family to the physician for all details and answers.
- C. Give specific information such as descending trends in parameters.
- D. Ask if the family has determined which funeral home will be called.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because providing specific information such as descending trends in parameters helps the family understand the patient's condition objectively. This allows them to prepare emotionally and make informed decisions. Option A is incorrect because false hope should not be given. Option B is not the best approach as the nurse should still provide some information to the family. Option D is inappropriate and insensitive as it focuses on funeral arrangements rather than addressing the family's concerns about the patient's condition.
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A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and influenza. Which categories of illness should the nurse develop goals for the client's plan of care?
- A. One chronic and one acute illness.
- B. Two acute illnesses.
- C. One acute and one infectious illness.
- D. Two chronic illnesses.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: One chronic and one acute illness. This is because Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition, while influenza is an acute illness. The nurse should develop goals addressing the management and control of the chronic condition (diabetes) as well as the treatment and recovery from the acute illness (influenza). This approach ensures comprehensive care that considers both the long-term management of the chronic illness and the immediate needs related to the acute illness.
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not address the combination of chronic and acute illnesses presented in the scenario. Choice B focuses solely on two acute illnesses, which overlooks the ongoing management required for the chronic condition. Choice C combines an acute and an infectious illness, but fails to account for the chronic illness component. Choice D involves two chronic illnesses, neglecting the immediate care needed for the acute illness.
The nurse is caring for a patient with acute respiratory dist ress syndrome who is hypoxemic despite mechanical ventilation. The primary care provider (PCP) orders a nontraditional ventilator mode as part of treatment. Despite sedation and aabnirba.lcgoems/tieas,t the patient remains restless and appears to be in discomfort. The nurse informs the PCP of this assessment and anticipates what order?
- A. Continuous lateral rotation therapy
- B. Guided imagery
- C. Neuromuscular blockade
- D. Prone positioning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Neuromuscular blockade.
1. Neuromuscular blockade helps to achieve optimal ventilator synchrony by reducing patient-ventilator asynchrony and improving oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
2. Despite sedation, the patient's restlessness and discomfort suggest inadequate ventilator synchrony, which can be addressed by neuromuscular blockade.
3. Continuous lateral rotation therapy (A) and prone positioning (D) are interventions for improving ventilation and oxygenation in ARDS but do not directly address patient-ventilator synchrony.
4. Guided imagery (B) is a non-pharmacological technique for relaxation and pain management, which may not address the underlying issue of ventilator synchrony in this case.
A nurse is caring for an elderly man recently admitted to the ICU following a stroke. She assesses his cognitive function using a new cognitive assessment test she learned about in a recent article in a nursing journal. She then brings a cup of water and a straw to the patient because she observes that his lips are dry. Later, she has the patient sit in a wheelchair and takes him to have some blood tests performed. He objects at first, saying that he can walk on his own, but the nurse explains that it is hospital policy to use the wheelchair. That evening, she recognizes signs of an imminent stroke in the patient and immediately pages the physician. Which action taken by the nurse is the best example of evidence-based practice?
- A. Giving the patient a cup of water
- B. Transferring the patient in a wheelchair
- C. Recognizing signs of imminent stroke and paging the physician
- D. Using the cognitive assessment test
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Recognizing signs of an imminent stroke and paging the physician. This action exemplifies evidence-based practice as it involves timely identification of a critical medical condition based on clinical assessment and prompt communication with the physician for further intervention. This aligns with the principles of evidence-based practice, which emphasize the integration of best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.
The other choices are incorrect:
A: Giving the patient a cup of water - While providing hydration is important for patient care, it does not demonstrate evidence-based practice in this scenario.
B: Transferring the patient in a wheelchair - Although using a wheelchair may be hospital policy, it does not directly relate to evidence-based practice in this context.
D: Using the cognitive assessment test - While assessing cognitive function is essential, it does not directly address the immediate medical needs of the patient as recognizing signs of an imminent stroke does.
The nurse is caring for a patient who requires administration of a neuromuscular blocking (NMB) agent to facilitate ventilation with non-traditional m odes. The nurse understands that neuromuscular blocking agents provide what outcome?
- A. Lessened antianxiety
- B. Complete analgesia.
- C. High levels of sedation.
- D. No sedation or analgesia.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: No sedation or analgesia. Neuromuscular blocking agents do not provide sedation or pain relief; they solely act on skeletal muscles to induce paralysis for procedures like intubation. Choice A is incorrect because NMB agents do not affect anxiety levels. Choice B is incorrect because NMB agents do not provide analgesia. Choice C is incorrect because NMB agents do not induce sedation. The primary purpose of NMB agents is to induce muscle paralysis without affecting consciousness or pain perception.
Noninvasive diagnostic procedures used to determine kidney function include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) x-ray
- B. Renal ultrasound
- C. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- D. Intravenous pyelography (IVP)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) x-ray. This procedure is noninvasive and commonly used to assess kidney function by visualizing the size, shape, and position of the kidneys. Renal ultrasound is also noninvasive and can provide detailed images of the kidneys. However, MRI and IVP are more invasive procedures that involve the use of contrast agents and are not typically used solely for diagnostic purposes to assess kidney function. Overall, KUB x-ray and renal ultrasound are the preferred noninvasive options for evaluating kidney function.