The family of a terminally ill patient is concerned about administering increasing doses of opioids for pain management. What is the nurse’s best response?
- A. Increasing opioids may hasten death, so alternative methods should be considered.
- B. Opioids are necessary to manage pain effectively and improve quality of life.
- C. We will reduce the opioid dose to avoid dependency.
- D. You should consult with a pain specialist about reducing the medication.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because opioids are essential for effective pain management in terminally ill patients, improving their quality of life. Alternative methods may not provide sufficient pain relief. Choice A is incorrect as opioids do not necessarily hasten death when used appropriately for pain control. Choice C is incorrect because reducing opioid dose may lead to inadequate pain management. Choice D is incorrect as consulting a pain specialist to reduce medication may not be appropriate for terminally ill patients needing effective pain relief.
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The nurse is caring for a patient with cystic fibrosis (CF) and understands that treatment consists of which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Airway clearance therapies
- B. Antibiotic therapy
- C. Nutritional support
- D. Tracheostomy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Airway clearance therapies. In cystic fibrosis (CF), mucus buildup in the lungs can lead to infections and breathing difficulties. Airway clearance therapies help loosen and clear this mucus, improving lung function. Antibiotic therapy (B) is used to treat infections but is not specific to CF treatment. Nutritional support (C) is crucial in CF due to malabsorption, but it is not the primary treatment. Tracheostomy (D) is a surgical procedure to create an airway bypassing the upper respiratory tract and is not a standard treatment for CF.
What is the most critical element of effective early end-of-life decision making?
- A. Control of distressing symptoms such as nausea, anxie ty, and pain.
- B. Effective communication between the patient, family, aabnirdb. choema/tletsht care team throughout the course of the illness.
- C. Organizational support of palliative care principles.
- D. Relocation the dying patient from the critical care unit to a lower level of care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because effective communication ensures that the patient's wishes and values are understood and respected, leading to informed decision-making. It also promotes shared decision-making among the patient, family, and healthcare team, enhancing the quality of care. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because while they are important aspects of end-of-life care, they do not address the core element of communication in facilitating meaningful and informed decisions.
When it is noted that a patient’s endotracheal tube is not se cured tightened, he respiratory care practitioner assists the nurse in taping the tube. After the tu be is retaped, the nurse auscultates the patient’s lungs and notes that the breath sounds over the left lung fields are absent. The nurse suspects is the cause of this finding?
- A. The endotracheal tube is in the right mainstem bronchus.
- B. The patient has a left pneumothorax.
- C. The patient has aspirated secretions during the proceduarbeir.b .com/test
- D. The stethoscope earpiece is clogged with wax.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: The endotracheal tube is in the right mainstem bronchus. When the endotracheal tube is not secured properly and is retaped, there is a possibility that it may have migrated into the right mainstem bronchus, leading to absent breath sounds in the left lung fields. This condition is known as endobronchial intubation. In such cases, ventilation primarily occurs in the right lung, resulting in decreased or absent breath sounds on the contralateral side. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not explain the absence of breath sounds over the left lung fields in this specific scenario.
Which statement is true regarding oral care for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Tooth brushing is performed every 2 hours for the greatest effect.
- B. Implementing a comprehensive oral care program is an intervention for preventing WWW .THENURSINGMASTERY.COM VAP.
- C. Oral care protocols should include oral suctioning and brushing teeth.
- D. Protocols that include chlorhexidine gluconate have beaebnirb e.cfofme/ctetsivt e in preventing VAP.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Implementing a comprehensive oral care program is an intervention for preventing VAP. This statement is true because proper oral care, including brushing teeth, oral suctioning, and using chlorhexidine gluconate, has been shown to reduce the risk of VAP by decreasing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity. Regular oral care helps maintain oral hygiene and reduce the risk of aspiration of bacteria into the lungs, which is a common cause of VAP.
Incorrect Answer Analysis:
A: Tooth brushing every 2 hours may be excessive and could potentially cause harm to the oral mucosa, leading to increased risk of infection.
C: While oral suctioning and brushing teeth are important components of oral care, the statement is not comprehensive enough to address the full range of interventions needed to prevent VAP.
D: While chlorhexidine gluconate can be effective in preventing VAP, the statement implies that it is the only effective intervention, which is not true.
What diagnostic procedure is required to make a definitive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism?
- A. Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis.
- B. Chest x-ray examination.
- C. High resolution multidetector CT angiogram.
- D. Ventilation-perfusion scanning.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: High resolution multidetector CT angiogram. This diagnostic procedure is required for a definitive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism because it provides detailed imaging of the pulmonary vasculature, allowing visualization of blood clots in the pulmonary arteries.
A: Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis does not directly diagnose pulmonary embolism but may show signs of hypoxemia or respiratory alkalosis, which can be seen in some cases of pulmonary embolism.
B: Chest x-ray examination may show nonspecific findings such as atelectasis or pleural effusion but cannot definitively diagnose pulmonary embolism.
D: Ventilation-perfusion scanning is another imaging modality used in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, but it is less commonly used compared to CT angiogram due to lower sensitivity and specificity.