Nokea
The nurse is providing patient teaching to a patient diagnosed with acute rhinosinusitis. For what possible complication should the nurse teach the patient to seek immediate follow-up?
- A. Periorbital edema
- B. Headache unrelieved by OTC medications
- C. Clear drainage from nose
- D. Blood-tinged mucus when blowing the nose
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Patient teaching is an important aspect of nursing care for the patient with acute rhinosinusitis. The nurse instructs the patient about symptoms of complications that require immediate follow-up. Referral to a physician is indicated if periorbital edema and severe pain on palpation occur. Clear drainage and blood-tinged mucus do not require follow-up if the patient has acute rhinosinusitis. A persistent headache does not necessarily warrant immediate follow-up.
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The nurse is caring for a patient whose recent unexplained weight loss and history of smoking have prompted diagnostic testing for cancer. What symptom is most closely associated with the early stages of laryngeal cancer?
- A. Hoarseness
- B. Dyspnea
- C. Dysphagia
- D. Frequent nosebleeds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hoarseness is an early symptom of laryngeal cancer. Dyspnea, dysphagia, and lumps are later signs of laryngeal cancer. Alopecia is not associated with a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer.
A 42-year-old patient is admitted to the ED after an assault. The patient received blunt trauma to the face and has a suspected nasal fracture. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform?
- A. Administer nasal spray and apply an occlusive dressing to the patients face.
- B. Position the patients head in a dependent position.
- C. Irrigate the patients nose with warm tap water.
- D. Apply ice and keep the patients head elevated.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Immediately after the fracture, the nurse applies ice and encourages the patient to keep the head elevated. The nurse instructs the patient to apply ice packs to the nose to decrease swelling. Dependent positioning would exacerbate bleeding and the nose is not irrigated. Occlusive dressings are not used.
It is cold season and the school nurse has been asked to provide an educational event for the parent teacher organization of the local elementary school. What should the nurse include in teaching about the treatment of pharyngitis?
- A. Pharyngitis is more common in children whose immunizations are not up to date.
- B. There are no effective, evidence-based treatments for pharyngitis.
- C. Use of warm saline gargles or throat irrigations can relieve symptoms.
- D. Heat may increase the spasms in pharyngeal muscles.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Depending on the severity of the pharyngitis and the degree of pain, warm saline gargles or throat irrigations are used. The benefits of this treatment depend on the degree of heat that is applied. The nurse teaches about these procedures and about the recommended temperature of the solution: high enough to be effective and as warm as the patient can tolerate, usually 105°F to 110°F (40.6°C to 43.3°C). Irrigating the throat may reduce spasm in the pharyngeal muscles and relieve soreness of the throat. You would not tell the parent teacher organization that there is no real treatment of pharyngitis.
A patient is being treated for bacterial pharyngitis. Which of the following should the nurse recommend when promoting the patients nutrition during treatment?
- A. A 1.5 L/day fluid restriction
- B. A high-potassium, low-sodium diet
- C. A liquid or soft diet
- D. A high-protein diet
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A liquid or soft diet is provided during the acute stage of the disease, depending on the patients appetite and the degree of discomfort that occurs with swallowing. The patient is encouraged to drink as much fluid as possible (at least 2 to 3 L/day). There is no need for increased potassium or protein intake.
The nurse is doing discharge teaching in the ED with a patient who had a nosebleed. What should the nurse include in the discharge teaching of this patient?
- A. Avoid blowing the nose for the next 45 minutes.
- B. In case of recurrence, apply direct pressure for 15 minutes.
- C. Do not take aspirin for the next 2 weeks.
- D. Seek immediate medical attention if the nosebleed recurs.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse explains how to apply direct pressure to the nose with the thumb and the index finger for 15 minutes in case of a recurrent nosebleed. If recurrent bleeding cannot be stopped, the patient is instructed to seek additional medical attention. ASA is not contraindicated in most cases and the patient should avoid blowing the nose for an extended period of time, not just 45 minutes.