The nurse is caring for a patient who has just been given a 6-month prognosis following a diagnosis of extensive stage small-cell lung cancer. The patient states that he would like to die at home, but the team believes that the patient's care needs are unable to be met in a home environment. What might you suggest as an alternative?
- A. Discuss a referral for rehabilitation hospital
- B. Panel the patient for a personal care home
- C. Discuss a referral for acute care
- D. Discuss a referral for hospice care
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Extensive small-cell lung cancer with a 6-month clock screams end-stage hospice fits, offering comfort-focused care in settings like home (with support), hospitals, or community sites. It matches his wish to avoid aggressive fixes, unlike rehab (for recovery) or acute care (for crises). Personal care homes lack the palliative punch needed here. Hospice blends patient and family needs, easing symptoms like pain or dyspnea, a cornerstone in oncology for terminal cases where quality trumps quantity.
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The nurse is admitting an oncology patient to the unit prior to surgery. The nurse reads in the electronic health record that the patient has just finished radiation therapy. With knowledge of the consequent health risks, the nurse should prioritize assessments related to what health problem?
- A. Cognitive deficits
- B. Impaired wound healing
- C. Cardiac tamponade
- D. Tumor lysis syndrome
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Radiation pre-surgery zaps tissue impaired wound healing's the big risk, as it fries skin and vessels, slowing repair post-op. Cognitive deficits need brain radiation, not specified. Tamponade's rare, tied to chest radiation and fluid buildup. TLS hits post-chemo, not pre-surgery. Nurses in oncology lock onto skin checks and infection signs, knowing radiation's legacy can tank surgical outcomes if ignored.
The best way to prevent chronic complications of diabetes is to:
- A. Take medications as prescribed and remove sugar from the diet completely.
- B. Check feet daily for cuts, long toe nails and infections between the toes.
- C. Maintain a BGL that is as close to normal as possible.
- D. Undertake daily exercise to burn up the excess glucose in the system.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Preventing diabetes complications (e.g., neuropathy, retinopathy) hinges on glycemic control. Medications and sugar elimination help, but total sugar removal is impractical carbohydrates are broader, and control, not absence, matters. Daily foot checks prevent ulcers but address consequences, not root causes. Maintaining blood glucose levels (BGL) near normal (e.g., HbA1c <7%) via diet, exercise, and drugs prevents microvascular (kidney, eye) and macrovascular (heart) damage, per ADA guidelines. Exercise burns glucose, aiding control, but isn't singularly best' it's part of a triad. Tight BGL management reduces oxidative stress, glycation, and vascular injury, evidenced by trials (e.g., DCCT), making it the cornerstone strategy over isolated tactics, ensuring long-term organ protection.
For a patient who is receiving chemotherapy, which laboratory result is of particular importance?
- A. WBC
- B. PT and PTT
- C. Electrolytes
- D. BUN
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chemotherapy suppresses bone marrow, slashing white blood cell counts especially neutrophils heightening infection risk, making WBC monitoring paramount. Low counts trigger protective measures or treatment holds, directly tied to therapy's myelosuppressive core. PT and PTT track clotting, relevant for bleeding but less immediate. Electrolytes matter for overall status, but imbalances aren't chemotherapy's primary threat. BUN reflects kidney function, indirectly affected by some drugs, not the frontline concern. WBC's critical drop demands swift action fevers in neutropenia are emergencies underscoring its priority in safeguarding patients through treatment's immune-compromising phases.
Cardiac catheterisation (angiography) is performed to assess blood flow through the coronary arteries through use of a contrast agent and radiographic imaging. The nursing responsibilities in caring for the patient post angiography do not include:
- A. Applying pressure and observing the insertion site for bleeding or haematoma formation
- B. Informing the patient of the findings of the angiogram to allay fear and provide reassurance
- C. Monitor for arrhythmias by both cardiac monitoring and assessing apical or peripheral pulses
- D. Encourage fluids to increase urinary output and flush out the dye
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Post-angio, nurses press sites, watch rhythms, flush dye hands-on musts. Telling results? Docs' turf nurses soothe, don't spill, a chronic care line.
Triglycerides in VLDL particles can be passed on to HDL particles. Question: Which enzyme mediates this process?
- A. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)
- B. Hepatic lipase (HL)
- C. Hormone sensitive lipase (HSL)
- D. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: CETP swaps triglycerides VLDL to HDL, not lipase cutters. Nurses know this, a chronic lipid shuffle.