The nurse is caring for a patient who has just been told that her ovarian cancer is terminal and that no curative options remain. What would be the priority nursing care for this patient at this time?
- A. Provide emotional support to the patient and her family.
- B. Implement distraction and relaxation techniques.
- C. Offer to inform the patients family of this diagnosis.
- D. Teach the patient about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Provide emotional support to the patient and her family. This is the priority as the patient has received devastating news and needs immediate support. Emotional support can help the patient cope with the diagnosis, express feelings, and make decisions. B: Implementing distraction techniques may not address the patient's emotional needs in this critical situation. C: Offering to inform the family of the diagnosis is important but not the priority at this moment. D: Teaching about maintaining a positive attitude may not be appropriate as the patient is facing a terminal illness.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient has been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction; the cause has been determined to be psychogenic. The patients interdisciplinary plan of care should prioritize which of the following interventions?
- A. Penile implant
- B. PDE-5 inhibitors
- C. Physical therapy
- D. Psychotherapy
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Psychotherapy. In the case of psychogenic erectile dysfunction, the underlying cause is psychological rather than physical. Psychotherapy helps address the mental health factors contributing to the condition, such as anxiety or relationship issues. It can help the patient understand and manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors related to the dysfunction. Penile implant (A) and PDE-5 inhibitors (B) are more appropriate for physical causes of erectile dysfunction. Physical therapy (C) focuses on musculoskeletal conditions and would not be effective for psychogenic causes.
A pediatric nurse is emotionally distraught by the death of a 9-year-old girl who received care on the unit over the course of many admissions spanning several years. What action is the most appropriate response to the nurses own grief?
- A. Take time off from work to mourn the death.
- B. Post mementos of the patient on the unit.
- C. Solicit emotional support from the patients family.
- D. Attend the patients memorial service.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because taking time off from work to mourn allows the nurse to process their emotions and prevent burnout. This self-care step promotes mental well-being and helps prevent the nurse from being overwhelmed by their grief.
Choice B is incorrect as it may prolong the grieving process and create a constant reminder of the loss. Choice C could potentially burden the patient's family with the nurse's grief, making it an inappropriate action. Choice D, attending the memorial service, may be emotionally challenging and may not provide the nurse with the necessary space to cope with their grief effectively.
The patient is on parenteral nutrition and is lethargic. The patient reports thirst and headache and has had increased urination. Which problem does the nurse prepare to address?
- A. Hyperglycemia
- B. Hypoglycemia
- C. Hypercapnia
- D. Hypocapnia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hyperglycemia. The patient's symptoms like lethargy, thirst, headache, increased urination are indicative of high blood sugar levels. Lethargy is a common symptom of hyperglycemia due to the body's inability to use glucose effectively. Thirst and increased urination occur as the body tries to get rid of excess glucose through urine. Headache can result from dehydration due to increased urination. To address hyperglycemia, the nurse may need to adjust the patient's parenteral nutrition, monitor blood glucose levels, and potentially administer insulin.
Incorrect choices:
B: Hypoglycemia - Symptoms of hypoglycemia include sweating, confusion, and shakiness, which are not present in this case.
C: Hypercapnia - This is high carbon dioxide levels in the blood, typically caused by respiratory issues, not related to the symptoms described.
D: Hypocapnia - This is low carbon dioxide levels
A nurse is teaching patients about health care information. Which patient will the nurse assess closely for health literacy?
- A. A patient 35 years old
- B. A patient 68 years old
- C. A patient with a college degree
- D. A patient with a high-school diploma
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because patients with lower health literacy, such as those with a high-school diploma, may struggle to understand complex health information. The nurse should assess this patient closely to ensure they comprehend and can follow instructions. Patients with higher education levels (college degree) may have better health literacy skills. Age alone (35 or 68 years old) does not determine health literacy level. It is essential to focus on the patient's educational background to assess their health literacy effectively.
The nurse is providing nutrition education to a Korean patient using the five food groups. In doing so, what should be the focus of the teaching?
- A. Discouraging the patient’s ethnic food choices
- B. Changing the patient’s diet to a more conventional American diet
- C. Including racial and ethnic practices with food preferences of the patient
- D. Comparing the patient’s ethnic preferences with American dietary choices
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it emphasizes cultural competence and respect for the patient's background. By including racial and ethnic practices with food preferences of the patient, the nurse can provide tailored and relevant nutrition education. This approach promotes inclusivity and acknowledges the importance of cultural traditions in dietary habits. Choices A and B are incorrect as they disregard the patient's cultural background and may lead to cultural insensitivity. Choice D is also incorrect as it focuses on comparison rather than understanding and incorporating the patient's unique cultural context. Overall, choice C aligns with patient-centered care and facilitates effective communication and trust between the nurse and the patient.