The nurse cares for a terminally ill patient who is experiencing pain that is continuous and severe. How should the nurse schedule the administration of opioid pain medications?
- A. Give around-the-clock routine administration of analgesics.
- B. Provide PRN doses of medication whenever the patient requests.
- C. Offer enough pain medication to keep the patient sedated.
- D. Suggest analgesic doses that provide pain control without decreasing respiratory rate.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Give around-the-clock routine administration of analgesics. This is the best approach for managing continuous and severe pain in a terminally ill patient. By providing scheduled doses of opioid pain medications, the nurse ensures a consistent level of pain relief, preventing peaks and troughs in pain control. This approach also helps in preventing the patient from experiencing unnecessary suffering.
Choice B (PRN doses) may lead to inadequate pain control as the patient may wait too long before requesting medication. Choice C (keeping the patient sedated) is not appropriate as the goal is pain management, not sedation. Choice D (balancing pain control and respiratory rate) is important, but the priority should be on effectively managing the pain first.
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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.
The nurse understands that many strategies are available to address ethical issues that may occur; these strategies include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Change-of-shift report updates
- B. Ethics consultation services
- C. Formal multiprofessional ethics committees
- D. Pastoral care services
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ethics consultation services. These services involve seeking guidance from experts to navigate complex ethical dilemmas. They provide in-depth analysis and recommendations based on ethical principles, helping healthcare professionals make informed decisions. Change-of-shift report updates (A) are essential for continuity of care but do not directly address ethical issues. Formal multiprofessional ethics committees (C) are valuable for reviewing policies and addressing systemic ethical concerns but may not be readily available for immediate guidance. Pastoral care services (D) offer spiritual support but may not always have the expertise to handle complex ethical dilemmas. Ethics consultation services (B) are the most suitable option for addressing specific ethical issues promptly and effectively.
How should the nurse interprets these blood gas values? 2 3
- A. Compensated metabolic alkalosis
- B. Normal values
- C. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
- D. Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct interpretation is uncompensated respiratory acidosis (Choice C) based on the values. Step 1: Evaluate pH - pH is <7.35, indicating acidosis. Step 2: Determine PaCO2 - PaCO2 is >45 mmHg, indicating respiratory cause. Step 3: Check HCO3- - HCO3- is within normal range, indicating uncompensated state. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not align with the given blood gas values.
A client who has active tuberculosis (TB) is admitted to the medical unit. What action is most important for the nurse to implement?
- A. Fit the client with a respirator mask.
- B. Assign the client to a negative air-flow room.
- C. Don a clean gown for client care.
- D. Place an isolation cart in the hallway.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assign the client to a negative air-flow room. This is crucial to prevent the spread of TB to other patients and healthcare workers. Negative air-flow rooms help contain airborne pathogens. Option A is not sufficient as it only protects the client, not others. Option C is important for infection control but not the priority in this situation. Option D is not as effective as placing the client in a negative air-flow room. Overall, option B is the best choice to ensure the safety of everyone in the unit.
Following surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, the patient’s central venous pressure (CVP) monitor indicates low pressures. Which action is a priority for the nurse to take?
- A. Administer IV diuretic medications.
- B. Increase the IV fluid infusion per protocol.
- C. Document the CVP and continue to monitor.
- D. Elevate the head of the patient's bed to 45 degrees.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Increase the IV fluid infusion per protocol. Low CVP post-abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery could indicate hypovolemia, which requires fluid resuscitation. Increasing IV fluid infusion helps restore intravascular volume, improve tissue perfusion, and prevent hypotension. Administering diuretics (A) would worsen hypovolemia. Documenting (C) is important but not the priority when the patient needs immediate intervention. Elevating the head of the bed (D) may help with venous return but is not the priority over addressing hypovolemia.