The nurse is caring for a critically ill patient with a very concerned family. Given that the family is under high stress, what nursing intervention will best ameliorate their stress while preserving independence?
- A. Encourage the family to participate in patient care tasks.
- B. Teach the family to ask questions of the health care team.
- C. Ask the family to select a family representative for communication.
- D. Limit visits to immediate family members for limited times.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Encourage the family to participate in patient care tasks. This intervention helps to alleviate stress by involving the family in care, promoting a sense of control and empowerment. It also fosters a collaborative relationship between the family and healthcare team. The other choices are incorrect because B only focuses on asking questions but doesn't actively involve the family in care. C may add pressure on the selected representative and exclude others. D limits family involvement and may increase stress by restricting visitation.
You may also like to solve these questions
The vision of the American Association of Critical-Care N urses is a healthcare system driven by achieving what goal?
- A. Maintaining a healthy work environment.
- B. Providing care from a multiprofessional team under th e direction of a critical care physician.
- C. Effectively meeting the needs of critically ill patients a nd families.
- D. Creating respectful, healing, and humane environments.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because the vision of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses focuses on creating respectful, healing, and humane environments. This aligns with the core values of nursing, emphasizing compassion, dignity, and patient-centered care. A is incorrect as the focus is not solely on the work environment. B is incorrect as it emphasizes the role of physicians over the collaborative approach advocated by the AACN. C is incorrect as it only addresses meeting patient needs, whereas the vision encompasses a broader scope of creating healing environments.
What is the most common cause of a pulmonary embolus?
- A. An amniotic fluid embolus.
- B. A deep vein thrombosis from lower extremities.
- C. A fat embolus from a long bone fracture.
- D. Vegetation that dislodges from an infected central venous catheter.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: A deep vein thrombosis from lower extremities. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the most common cause of a pulmonary embolus as a blood clot can dislodge from the veins, travel to the lungs, and block blood flow. An amniotic fluid embolus (Choice A) occurs during childbirth and is rare as a cause of pulmonary embolism. A fat embolus (Choice C) typically occurs after a long bone fracture and is more likely to cause issues in the lungs. Vegetation from an infected central venous catheter (Choice D) can cause septic pulmonary embolism, but it is not as common as DVT.
A hospice patient is manifesting a decrease in all body system functions except for a heart rate of 124 and a respiratory rate of 28. Which statement, if made by the nurse to the patient’s family member, is most appropriate?
- A. These symptoms will continue to increase until death finally occurs.
- B. These symptoms are a normal response before these functions decrease.
- C. These symptoms indicate a reflex response to the slowing of other body systems.
- D. These symptoms may be associated with an improvement in the patient’s condition.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because an increase in heart rate and respiratory rate can be a normal response before body system functions decrease in a hospice patient. This is known as a compensatory mechanism as the body tries to maintain oxygenation. Choice A is incorrect because symptoms may not always continue to increase until death. Choice C is incorrect as it implies a reflex response, which may not be the case. Choice D is incorrect as an improvement in the patient's condition is unlikely in a hospice setting.
To maintain proper cuff pressure of an endotracheal tube (ET) when the patient is on mechanical ventilation, the nurse should:
- A. Inflate the cuff with a minimum of 10 mL of air.
- B. Inflate the cuff until the pilot balloon is firm on palpation.
- C. Inject air into the cuff until a manometer shows 15 mm Hg pressure.
- D. Inject air into the cuff until a slight leak is heard only at peak inflation.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because inflating the cuff until a slight leak is heard only at peak inflation ensures it is adequately sealed but not overinflated, preventing complications like tracheal injury or pressure necrosis. Choice A lacks specificity and can lead to overinflation. Choice B may result in overinflation as the firmness of the balloon is subjective. Choice C relies on a specific pressure reading, which may vary based on factors like tube size and patient anatomy, potentially leading to under- or overinflation.
In calculating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) results for women, the creatinine clearance is usually:
- A. the same as for men.
- B. greater than that for men.
- C. multiplied by 0.85
- D. multiplied by 1.15.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: multiplied by 0.85. This is because women typically have lower muscle mass compared to men, resulting in lower creatinine production. Therefore, to adjust for this difference, the creatinine clearance for women is multiplied by 0.85. This correction factor helps to more accurately estimate the GFR in women.
Choices A and B are incorrect because the creatinine clearance for women is not the same as or greater than that for men due to the physiological differences in muscle mass. Choice D is also incorrect as multiplying by 1.15 would overestimate the GFR in women.