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The nurse observes that an elderly woman, whose granddaughter has been admitted to theICU, is struggling to manage her two great-grandsons, who are toddlers, in the waiting room. What is the most likely explanation for the womans inability to manage the children in this situation?
- A. She is senile.
- B. She is in the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome to stress.
- C. She is assuming the role of caregiver in place of the patient, a role she is not used to.
- D. She has macular degeneration and cannot see well.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: She is in the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome to stress.
Rationale:
1. In the exhaustion stage, the body's resources are depleted due to prolonged stress, leading to fatigue and reduced ability to cope.
2. The elderly woman is likely experiencing high levels of stress due to her granddaughter's critical condition.
3. Managing toddlers while dealing with the emotional distress of a loved one in the ICU can be overwhelming, causing exhaustion.
4. This explanation aligns with the symptoms of fatigue and difficulty managing the children observed by the nurse.
Summary:
A: Incorrect. Senility is a cognitive condition unrelated to the stress of the situation.
C: Incorrect. Assuming a caregiver role can be stressful, but it does not explain the observed exhaustion.
D: Incorrect. Macular degeneration affects vision, not the ability to manage stress and children.
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The patient’s partner, experiencing anticipatory grieving, tells the nurse, “I don’t see any point in continuing to visit at the bedside, since it’s like I’m not even here.” What is the nurse’s best response to the partner’s statement?
- A. “You’re right, there is no awareness of anything going on now.”
- B. “Unresponsiveness doesn’t mean the sense of hearing is gone and there is a benefit from you being present.”
- C. “I’ll call you if the patient begins responding again.”
- D. “Why don’t you check to see if any other family memb er would like to visit?”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because it acknowledges the partner's feelings while providing information that may help them cope. By stating that unresponsiveness doesn't mean the patient can't hear, the nurse highlights the importance of the partner's presence for emotional support. It encourages the partner to continue visiting, emphasizing their role in providing comfort to the patient.
Choice A is incorrect as it dismisses the partner's feelings and lacks empathy. Choice C is incorrect as it implies the nurse will only involve the partner if the patient responds, neglecting the partner's emotional needs. Choice D is incorrect as it deflects responsibility from addressing the partner's concerns and suggests involving other family members without addressing the partner's feelings directly.
The critical care nurse is responsible for monitoring the patient receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). In doing so, the nurse should
- A. assess that the blood tubing is warm to the touch.
- B. assess the hemofilter every 6 hours for clotting.
- C. cover the dialysis lines to protect them from light.
- D. use clean technique during vascular access dressing changes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because assessing the hemofilter every 6 hours for clotting is essential in ensuring the effectiveness of CRRT. Clotting can obstruct blood flow, leading to treatment inefficiency and potential harm to the patient. This step helps the nurse to promptly address any clotting issues and prevent complications.
A: Assessing that the blood tubing is warm to the touch is not a standard practice for monitoring CRRT and does not provide relevant information about the treatment's effectiveness.
C: Covering the dialysis lines to protect them from light is not a priority in monitoring CRRT. Light exposure is not a common concern in this context.
D: Using clean technique during vascular access dressing changes is important for infection prevention but is not directly related to monitoring the effectiveness of CRRT.
Which is the most important outcome for a patient receiving palliative care?
- A. Complete resolution of the underlying disease.
- B. Improvement in symptoms and quality of life.
- C. Increased adherence to curative treatments.
- D. Achievement of long-term survival goals.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Improvement in symptoms and quality of life. In palliative care, the primary focus is on enhancing the patient's quality of life by managing symptoms and providing comfort. This is achieved through effective symptom control, psychosocial support, and improving overall well-being. Complete resolution of the underlying disease (A) is often not possible in palliative care as the focus shifts from curative treatments to comfort care. Increased adherence to curative treatments (C) may not be the main goal in palliative care, as the emphasis is on improving the patient's comfort rather than prolonging life. Achievement of long-term survival goals (D) is not typically the primary outcome in palliative care, as the focus is on providing support and care for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
A nurse is the only one in the ICU who has not achieved certification in critical care nursing. She often will ask her fellow nurses what to do in caring for a patient because she doubts the accuracy of her knowledge and her intuition. She loves her work but wishes she could do it with a greater level of competence. What is the most important effect that obtaining certification would likely have on the nurses practice?
- A. Recognition by peers
- B. Increase in salary and rank
- C. More flexibility in seeking employment
- D. Increased confidence in making decisions
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Increased confidence in making decisions. Obtaining certification in critical care nursing would likely enhance the nurse's knowledge and skills, leading to increased confidence in making clinical decisions. This confidence would stem from the rigorous training and education required to achieve certification, as well as the validation of her expertise in critical care nursing. With increased confidence, the nurse would be more self-assured in her abilities, leading to improved patient care outcomes.
Choice A: Recognition by peers is not the most important effect because while recognition is a positive outcome, it may not directly impact the nurse's ability to provide better patient care.
Choice B: Increase in salary and rank is not the most important effect because while financial benefits are important, the primary focus of obtaining certification should be on improving competence and patient care.
Choice C: More flexibility in seeking employment is not the most important effect because while certification may open up more job opportunities, the main benefit should be on enhancing the nurse's skills and confidence in providing quality
What is a minimally acceptable urine output for a patient weighing 75 kg?
- A. Less than 30 mL/hour
- B. 37 mL/hour
- C. 80 mL/hour
- D. 150 mL/hour
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C (80 mL/hour) because the minimum acceptable urine output for a patient is approximately 0.5-1 mL/kg/hour. For a 75 kg patient, this equates to 37.5-75 mL/hour. Therefore, an output of 80 mL/hour is within this range and is considered minimally acceptable.
A: Less than 30 mL/hour is incorrect because it is below the recommended range for a 75 kg patient.
B: 37 mL/hour is close to the lower end of the acceptable range, but it is not the minimum acceptable output.
D: 150 mL/hour is above the recommended range and would be considered excessive for a 75 kg patient.