Nokea
Which of these patients should the nurse refer for home health care services?
- A. A 71-year-old with dementia who needs 24-hour care to prevent injury
- B. An 82-year-old whose family has asked for help to organize pills into a pill box
- C. A 63-year-old who requires assistance with shopping, housework, and cooking
- D. A 79-year-old with terminal cancer who needs hospice palliative
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hospice palliative care is one aspect of home health care services. Services such as shopping, housework, and cooking are not skilled nursing services and do not require home health care. Institutional care is required for patients who need 24-hour care. Medication assistance can be achieved through the patient's pharmacy when filling medications, request bubble packs.
You may also like to solve these questions
An older-adult patient who lives alone was hospitalized for a fractured hip and has recovered from the surgery but needs to continue to work to improve mobility. Which of the following settings would the nurse anticipate that the patient be transferred to?
- A. Another acute care setting
- B. A transitional care setting
- C. A residential care facility
- D. Their own home with home health nursing
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Home health nursing is appropriate for patients who need continued rehabilitation and can implement this in their own home. The patient is no longer in need of the more continuous assessment and care given in acute care settings. There is no indication that the patient will need the permanent and ongoing medical and nursing services available in intermediate care. The patient is not yet independent enough to transfer to a residential care facility.
When the home health nurse is caring for a patient who needs to relearn self-care skills such as dressing and self-feeding, which referral will be best?
- A. Dietitian
- B. Speech therapist
- C. Physical therapist
- D. Occupational therapist
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Occupational therapists assist patients with self-care skills. Physical therapists assist patients with strengthening, transferring, and ambulation. Dietitians assist with nutritional choices. Speech therapists assist with speech and swallowing needs.
The nurse is conducting a home visit and notes that the caregiver may be experiencing caregiver burnout. Which of the following assessments would support this finding?
- A. Anxiety
- B. Sleeplessness
- C. Weight gain
- D. Increased use of respite care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment of the signs of caregiver burnout (e.g. sleeplessness, difficulty concentrating) is a critical role of the home care nurse. Weight gain is an indication that the caregivers' nutritional intake exceeds requirements. An increased use of respite care could indicate an increased involvement of the caregiver in outside support and activity groups. This assessment finding would require further assessment before linking it to caregiver burnout.
A family caregiver tells the home health nurse, 'I feel like I can never get away to do anything for myself.' Which action is the most appropriate for the nurse to take?
- A. Assist the caregiver in finding respite services.
- B. Assure the caregiver that the work is appreciated.
- C. Teach the caregiver that family members provide excellent patient care.
- D. Encourage the caregiver to discuss feelings openly with the nurse as needed.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Respite services allow family caregivers to have free time. The other actions also may be helpful, but the caregiver's statement clearly indicates the need for some free time.
Which of the following statements represent a current trend in home health nursing?
- A. Increased numbers of registered nurses are being employed as home health nurses.
- B. Decreased numbers of licensed/registered practical nurses are being employed as home health nurses.
- C. There are more employment opportunities for newly graduated nurses.
- D. That a minimum of two years of acute care experience is required before employment as a home health nurse.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: There are many opportunities for newly graduated nurses to begin practice as a home health nurse. It was widely believed for many years that nurses required a minimum of 2 years of acute care hospital experience before being hired as a home health nurse but is no longer true. Registered nurses generally received hiring preference over licensed practical nurses because it was believed that registered nurse preparation provided the best foundation for home care nursing. However, partly because the growing nursing shortage, enhancements to the scope of practice and educational programs for licensed/registered practical nurses, and the need to provide long-term interventions to a growing population with complex and unpredictable care needs, many home health employers now hire both registered nurses and licensed/registered practical nurses right after graduation.