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The hospice nurse is caring for a 45-year-old mother of three young children in the patients home. During the most recent visit, the nurse has observed that the patient has a new onset of altered mental status, likely resulting from recently diagnosed brain metastases. What goal of nursing interventions should the nurse identify?
- A. Helping the family to understand why the patient needs to be sedated
- B. Making arrangements to promptly move the patient to an acute-care facility
- C. Explaining to the family that death is near and the patient needs around-the-clock nursing care
- D. Teaching family members how to interact with, and ensure safety for, the patient with impaired cognition
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The goal of nursing interventions in this scenario is to teach family members how to interact with and ensure safety for the patient with impaired cognition. This is the most appropriate response because it addresses the immediate need to provide the patient with appropriate care and support in their home environment. By educating the family on how to interact with the patient and ensure their safety, the nurse can help maintain a sense of normalcy for the patient and promote their well-being.
Choice A is incorrect because sedating the patient may not be the best approach without considering other interventions first. Choice B is incorrect as moving the patient to an acute-care facility may not be necessary or feasible at this time. Choice C is incorrect as it focuses on end-of-life care rather than addressing the immediate need of supporting the patient with altered mental status.
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A 23-year-old woman comes to the free clinic stating I think I have a lump in my breast. Do I have cancer? The nurse instructs the patient that a diagnosis of breast cancer is confirmed by what?
- A. Supervised breast self-examination
- B. Mammography
- C. Fine-needle aspiration
- D. Chest x-ray
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mammography. Mammography is the gold standard for diagnosing breast cancer as it can detect abnormalities such as lumps or tumors in the breast tissue. It provides detailed images that can help healthcare providers identify suspicious areas that may require further testing or biopsy. Supervised breast self-examination (choice A) is important for early detection but is not a diagnostic tool. Fine-needle aspiration (choice C) is a procedure used to obtain a sample of cells for further analysis but is not definitive for diagnosing breast cancer. Chest x-ray (choice D) is used to evaluate the lungs and heart, not the breast tissue for cancer.
A nurse who works in the specialty of palliative care frequently encounters issues and situations that constitute ethical dilemmas. What issue has most often presented challenging ethical issues, especially in the context of palliative care?
- A. The increase in cultural diversity in the United States
- B. Staffing shortages in health care and questions concerning quality of care
- C. Increased costs of health care coupled with inequalities in access
- D. Ability of technology to prolong life beyond meaningful quality of life
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Ability of technology to prolong life beyond meaningful quality of life. In palliative care, the focus is on improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. The use of technology to prolong life can sometimes conflict with this goal, leading to ethical dilemmas. Technology may extend life without considering the patient's comfort or dignity, raising questions about the meaningfulness of prolonging life in such situations. This issue is particularly challenging in palliative care as it requires balancing the benefits of technology with the patient's quality of life.
Other choices are incorrect:
A: The increase in cultural diversity in the United States - While cultural diversity can present challenges in palliative care, it is not the most often presented challenging ethical issue.
B: Staffing shortages in health care and questions concerning quality of care - Staffing shortages are important issues in healthcare, but they do not directly relate to the ethical dilemmas specific to palliative care.
C: Increased costs of health care coupled with
A 27-year-old female patient is diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer and is told she needs to have a hysterectomy. One of the nursing diagnoses for this patient is disturbed body image related to perception of femininity. What intervention would be most appropriate for this patient?
- A. Reassure the patient that she will still be able to have children.
- B. Reassure the patient that she does not have to have sex to be feminine.
- C. Reassure the patient that you know how she is feeling and that you feel her anxiety and pain.
- D. Reassure the patient that she will still be able to have intercourse with sexual satisfaction and orgasm.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Reassure the patient that she does not have to have sex to be feminine.
Rationale:
1. Acknowledges patient's feelings: By reassuring the patient that she does not have to have sex to be feminine, the nurse validates the patient's emotions and concerns.
2. Addresses societal norms: This intervention challenges societal stereotypes that equate femininity solely with reproductive capabilities.
3. Promotes self-acceptance: Encouraging the patient to embrace her femininity beyond physical aspects fosters self-acceptance and self-worth.
4. Supports holistic care: Recognizing the multifaceted nature of femininity shows a holistic approach to addressing the patient's body image issues.
Summary:
A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not directly address the patient's specific concerns about her body image and femininity. Choice B is the most appropriate intervention as it validates the patient's feelings and challenges societal norms, promoting self-acceptance and holistic care
During the admission assessment of an HIV-positive patient whose CD4+ count has recently fallen, the nurse carefully assesses for signs and symptoms related to opportunistic infections. What is the most common life-threatening infection?
- A. Salmonella infection
- B. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- C. Clostridium difficile
- D. Pneumocystis pneumonia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Pneumocystis pneumonia. This is the most common life-threatening infection in HIV-positive patients with low CD4+ counts. Pneumocystis pneumonia is caused by the opportunistic pathogen Pneumocystis jirovecii, which can lead to severe respiratory distress and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. The other choices, A: Salmonella infection, B: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and C: Clostridium difficile, can also cause infections in HIV-positive patients, but they are not as commonly associated with life-threatening complications in this population compared to Pneumocystis pneumonia. It is crucial for the nurse to prioritize assessment for signs and symptoms of Pneumocystis pneumonia in this patient to promptly intervene and prevent further complications.
A patient is being discharged home from the ambulatory surgery center after an incisional biopsy of a mass in her left breast. What are the criteria for discharging this patient home? Select all that apply.
- A. Patient must understand when she can begin ambulating
- B. Patient must have someone to accompany her home
- C. Patient must understand activity restrictions
- D. Patient must understand care of the biopsy site E) Patient must understand when she can safely remove her urinary catheter
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why answer A is correct:
1. Ambulating is a crucial postoperative activity to prevent complications like blood clots.
2. Understanding when to ambulate ensures the patient follows proper recovery guidelines.
3. Proper ambulation aids in preventing postoperative complications and promotes healing.
Summary of why other choices are incorrect:
B. Having someone accompany the patient is important for support but not a strict criteria for discharge.
C. While understanding activity restrictions is important, it is not a specific criteria for immediate discharge.
D. Understanding care for the biopsy site is essential but not a strict criteria for immediate discharge.
E. Removal of a urinary catheter is not typically related to discharge criteria for a breast biopsy.