Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Community-Based Nursing Practice Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Community-Based Nursing Practice related questions and content

Your patient has had a total knee replacement and will need to walk with a two-wheeled walker for 6 weeks. He is being discharged home with a referral for home health care. What will the home care nurse need to assess during the initial nursing assessment in the home?

  • A. Assistance of neighbors
  • B. Qualification for Medicare and Medicaid
  • C. Costs related to the visits
  • D. Characteristics of the home environment
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The initial assessment includes evaluating the patient, the home environment, the patients self-care abilities or the familys ability to provide care, and the patients need for additional resources. Normally an assessment is not made of assistance on the part of neighbors or the costs of the visit. Medicare and Medicaid qualifications would normally be determined beforehand.