Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Disorders of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Disorders of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract related questions and content

The nurse is caring for a client with oral cancer who reports severe mouth sensitivity. The client asks the nurse what might be done about the condition. What should the nurse include in the response?

  • A. I can arrange a nutritional consultation.
  • B. Cold liquids may help soothe the sensitivity.
  • C. An anesthetic mouthwash may be used, but I will need to consult with the primary provider.
  • D. A special diet may be necessary based on your ability to chew and swallow.
  • E. Your doctor may prescribe a systemic analgesic for pain relief if necessary.
Correct Answer: A,C,D,E

Rationale: When responding to a client reporting severe mouth sensitivity due to oral cancer, the nurse should inform the client of possible options for managing the sensitivity. These include nutritional consultations, the use of anesthetic mouthwash if approved by the primary provider, the formulation of a special diet around the client's ability to chew and swallow, and a systemic analgesic for pain relief if the provider deems it necessary. It is inaccurate for the nurse to respond that cold liquids may soothe the sensitivity, because cold and hot liquids may increase the discomfort of sensitive oral tissues.