Nokea
When assessing an individual who has been diagnosed with early persistent HIV infection and has a normal CD4 count, which of the following assessments should the nurse conduct?
- A. Check neurological orientation.
- B. Ask about problems with diarrhea.
- C. Palpate the regional lymph nodes.
- D. Examine the oral mucosa for lesions.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy is common in the early stage of persistent infection. Diarrhea, oral lesions, and neurological abnormalities would occur in the later stages of HIV infection.
You may also like to solve these questions
A young adult who uses injectable illegal drugs asks the nurse about preventing AIDS. Which of the following information should the nurse inform the patient is the best way to reduce the risk of HIV infection from drug use?
- A. Participate in a needle-exchange program.
- B. Clean drug injection equipment before use.
- C. Ask those who share equipment to be tested for HIV.
- D. Avoid sexual intercourse when using injectable drugs.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Participation in needle and syringe exchange programs has been shown to control the rate of HIV infection. Cleaning drug equipment before use also reduces risk, but it might not be consistently practised by individuals in withdrawal. HIV antibodies do not appear for several weeks to months after exposure, so testing drug users would not be very effective in reducing risk for HIV exposure. It is difficult to make appropriate decisions about sexual activity when under the influence of drugs.
The nurse is caring for a patient with HIV who has a CD4+ cell count of 400/?µL. Which of the following factors is most important to consider when determining whether antiretroviral therapy (ART) will be initiated for this patient?
- A. Patient social support system
- B. HIV genotype and phenotype
- C. Potential medication adverse effects
- D. Patient ability to comply with ART schedule
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Drug resistance develops quickly unless the patient takes ART medications on a stringent schedule, and this endangers both the patient and the community. The other information is also important to consider, but patients who are unable to manage and follow a complex drug treatment regimen should not be considered for ART.
The nurse is preparing to give the following medications to an HIV-positive patient who is hospitalized with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP). Which of the following medications is most important to administer at the right time?
- A. Nystatin tablet
- B. Oral abacavir
- C. Ventolin
- D. Oral acyclovir
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: It is important that antiretrovirals be taken at the prescribed time every day to avoid developing drug-resistant HIV. The other medications should also be given as close as possible to the correct time, but they are not as essential to receive at the same time every day.
A patient is admitted to the hospital with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) and HIV testing is positive. Based on diagnostic criteria established by the World Health Organization (WHO), which of the following diagnoses should the nurse anticipate?
- A. Acute infection
- B. Early persistent infection
- C. Intermediate persistent infection
- D. Late persistent infection or AIDS
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Development of PCP pneumonia meets the diagnostic criterion for AIDS. The other responses indicate an earlier stage of HIV infection than is indicated by the PCP infection.
A patient who has been treated for HIV infection for 7 years has developed fat redistribution to the trunk, with wasting of the arms, legs, and face. Which of the following topics should the nurse include in the patient teaching plan?
- A. The benefits of daily exercise
- B. Foods that are higher in protein
- C. Treatment with antifungal agents
- D. A change in antiretroviral therapy
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A frequent first intervention for metabolic disorders is a change in ART. Treatment with antifungal agents would not be appropriate because there is no indication of fungal infection. Changes in diet or exercise have not proven helpful for this problem.