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Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient who has been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B?
- A. Advise limiting alcohol intake to 1 drink daily
- B. Schedule for liver cancer screening every 6 months
- C. Initiate administration of the hepatitis C vaccine series
- D. Monitor anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) levels annually
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B are at a higher risk for developing liver cancer. Therefore, it is essential to schedule them for liver cancer screening every 6 to 12 months to detect any potential malignancies at an early stage. Advising patients to limit alcohol intake is crucial as alcohol can exacerbate liver damage; thus, patients with chronic hepatitis B are advised to completely avoid alcohol. Administering the hepatitis C vaccine is irrelevant for a patient diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B since it is a different virus. Monitoring anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) levels annually is not necessary as the presence of anti-HBs indicates a past hepatitis B infection or vaccination, and it does not require regular monitoring.
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Which finding indicates to the nurse that a patient's transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placed 3 months ago has been effective?
- A. Increased serum albumin level
- B. Decreased indirect bilirubin level
- C. Improved alertness and orientation
- D. Fewer episodes of bleeding varices
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Fewer episodes of bleeding varices.' A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is used to reduce pressure in the portal venous system, thus decreasing the risk of bleeding from esophageal varices. This outcome would indicate the effectiveness of the TIPS procedure. The other choices are incorrect because: Increased serum albumin level and decreased indirect bilirubin level are not direct indicators of TIPS effectiveness. Improved alertness and orientation could be influenced by various factors and may not directly correlate with the effectiveness of the TIPS procedure. Additionally, TIPS can actually increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy, which contradicts the choice of improved alertness and orientation.
A clinic nurse interviews a parent who is suspected of abusing her child. Which of the following characteristics is the nurse least likely to find in an abusing parent?
- A. Low self-esteem
- B. Unemployment
- C. Self-blame for the injury to the child
- D. Single status
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The profile of a parent at risk of abusive behavior includes a tendency to blame the child or others for the injury sustained. Abusers typically blame others, especially their partners, for the mistakes in their lives. This is related to hypersensitivity, but they are not necessarily alike. This occurs because most abusive people don't hold themselves as being accountable for the actions they commit. Instead, they'll try to shift the blame to the person that they have abused and somehow say they "deserved it"? or that they were forced into a corner.
Which finding would necessitate an immediate change in the therapeutic plan for a patient with grade 2 hepatic encephalopathy?
- A. Weight loss of 2 lb (1 kg)
- B. Positive urine pregnancy test
- C. Hemoglobin level of 10.4 g/dL
- D. Complaints of nausea and anorexia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A positive urine pregnancy test would require an immediate change in the therapeutic plan for a patient with grade 2 hepatic encephalopathy due to the teratogenic effects of ribavirin. Ribavirin needs to be discontinued immediately to prevent harm to the fetus. The other options, weight loss, hemoglobin level, and complaints of nausea and anorexia, are common adverse effects of the prescribed regimen and may necessitate interventions such as patient education or supportive care, but they would not mandate an immediate cessation of therapy as in the case of a positive pregnancy test.
After an unimmunized individual is exposed to hepatitis B through a needle-stick injury, which actions will the nurse plan to take (select one that does not apply)?
- A. Administer hepatitis B vaccine.
- B. Test for antibodies to hepatitis B.
- C. Teach about alpha-interferon therapy.
- D. Give hepatitis B immune globulin.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the case of exposure to hepatitis B, the nurse should plan to administer hepatitis B vaccine to provide active immunity. Testing for antibodies to hepatitis B is essential to determine the individual's immune status. Giving hepatitis B immune globulin is necessary for passive immunity in cases of exposure. However, teaching about alpha-interferon therapy is not part of the standard management for hepatitis B exposure. Interferon therapy and oral antivirals are typically used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infections, not for prophylaxis after exposure.
Which action should the nurse take to evaluate treatment effectiveness for a patient who has hepatic encephalopathy?
- A. Ask the patient to extend both arms forward.
- B. Request that the patient walk with eyes closed.
- C. Ask the patient to perform the Valsalva maneuver.
- D. Observe the patient's breathing pattern.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To evaluate treatment effectiveness for a patient with hepatic encephalopathy, requesting the patient to walk with eyes closed is crucial. This test assesses the patient's balance, gait, and coordination, which can be impaired in hepatic encephalopathy due to altered mental status and brain function. Walking with eyes closed challenges the patient's sensory input and proprioception, providing valuable information on improvement or deterioration in neurological function. Asking the patient to extend both arms forward is used to check for asterixis, a sign often seen in hepatic encephalopathy, but it is not specific for evaluating treatment effectiveness. Performing the Valsalva maneuver is unrelated to assessing hepatic encephalopathy and is more commonly used in cardiac evaluations. Observing the patient's breathing pattern may be important in other conditions but is not directly relevant to evaluating treatment effectiveness for hepatic encephalopathy.