NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION, Exams of Nursing

Download NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity! NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A 1. The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure. The nurse is completing an assessment and reviews the patient’s laboratory tests and allergies and prepares the patient for surgery. In which perioperative nursing phase is the nurse working? a. Perioperative b. Preoperative c. Intraoperative d. Postoperative ANS: B Reviewing the patient’s laboratory tests and allergies is done before surgery in the preoperative phase. Perioperative means before, during, and after surgery. Intraoperative means during the surgical procedure in the operating suite; postoperative means after the surgery and could occur in the postanesthesia care unit, in the ambulatory surgical area, or on the hospital unit. 2. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit. The patient has developed profuse bleeding from the surgical site, and the surgeon has determined the need to return to the operative area. How will the nurse classify this procedure? a. Major b. Urgent c. Elective d. Emergency ANS: D An emergency procedure must be done immediately to save a life or preserve the function of a NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A body part. An example would be repair of a perforated appendix, repair of a traumatic amputation, or control of internal hemorrhaging. An urgent procedure is necessary for a patient’s health and often prevents additional problems from developing. An example would be excision of a cancerous tumor, removal of a gallbladder for stones, or vascular repair for an obstructed artery. An elective procedure is performed on the basis of the patient’s choice; it is not essential and is not always necessary for health. An example would be a bunionectomy, plastic surgery, or hernia reconstruction. A major procedure involves extensive reconstruction or alteration in body parts; it poses great risks to well-being. An example would be a coronary artery bypass or colon resection. 3. The nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The patient has been assigned a physical status classification by the American Society of Anesthesiologists of ASA III. Which assessment will support this classification? a. Normal, healthy patient b. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker d. Moribund patient not expected to survive without the operation ANS: C An ASA III rating is a patient with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly controlled hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy patient with no major illnesses or conditions. ASA II is a patient with mild systemic disease. ASA V is a moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation and includes patients with ruptured abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or massive trauma. NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A b. Vitamin C NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A c. Prednisone d. Acetaminophen ANS: A Medications such as warfarin or aspirin alter normal clotting factors and thus increase the risk of hemorrhaging. Discontinue at least 48 hours before surgery. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever that has no special implications for surgery. Vitamin C actually assists in wound healing and has no special implications for surgery. Prednisone is a corticosteroid, and dosages are often temporarily increased rather than held. 8. The nurse is prescreening a surgical patient in the preadmission testing unit. The medication history indicates that the patient is currently taking an anticoagulant. Which action should the nurse take when consulting with the health care provider? a. Ask for a radiological examination of the chest. b. Ask for an international normalized ratio (INR). c. Ask for a blood urea nitrogen (BUN). d. Ask for a serum sodium (Na). ANS: B INR, PT (prothrombin time), APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time), and platelet counts reveal the clotting ability of the blood. Anticoagulants can be utilized for different conditions, but its action is to increase the time it takes for the blood to clot. This action can put the surgical patient at risk for bleeding tendencies. Typically, if at all possible, this medication is held several days before a surgical procedure to decrease this risk. Chest x-ray, BUN, and Na are diagnostic screening tools for surgery but are NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A not specific to anticoagulants. 9. The nurse is encouraging the postoperative patient to utilize diaphragmatic breathing. Which priority goal is the nurse trying to achieve? a. Manage pain b. Prevent atelectasis c. Reduce healing time d. Decrease thrombus formation ANS: B After surgery, patients may have reduced lung volume and may require greater effort to cough and deep breathe; inadequate lung expansion can lead to atelectasis and pneumonia. Purposely utilizing diaphragmatic breathing can decrease this risk. During general anesthesia, the lungs are not fully inflated during surgery and the cough reflex is suppressed, so mucus collects within airway passages. Diaphragmatic breathing does not manage pain; in some cases, if splinting and pain medications are not given, it can cause pain. Diaphragmatic breathing does not reduce healing time or decrease thrombus formation. Better, more effective interventions are available for these situations. 10. The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient on the medical-surgical floor. Which activity will the nurse encourage to prevent venous stasis and the formation of thrombus? a. Diaphragmatic breathing b. Incentive spirometry c. Leg exercises d. Coughing NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A b. the chest wall contracts. The patient will feel upward movement of the diaphragm during c. inspiration. The patient will feel downward movement of the diaphragm during d. expiration. ANS: A Positioning the hands along the borders of the rib cage allows the patient to feel movement of the chest and abdomen as the diaphragm descends and the lungs expand. As the patient takes a deep breath and slowly exhales, the middle fingers will touch while the chest wall contracts. The fingers will separate as the chest wall expands. The patient will feel normal downward movement of the diaphragm during inspiration and normal upward movement during expiration. 13. The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient with an abdominal incision. The nurse provides a pillow to use during coughing. Which activity is the nurse promoting? a. Pain relief b. Splinting c. Distraction d. Anxiety reduction ANS: B Deep breathing and coughing exercises place additional stress on the suture line and cause discomfort. Splinting incisions with hands and a pillow provides firm support and reduces incisional pull. Providing a pillow during coughing does not provide distraction or reduce anxiety. Providing a pillow does not provide pain relief. Coughing can increase anxiety because it can cause pain. Analgesics provide pain relief. 14. The nurse is encouraging a reluctant postoperative patient to deep breathe and cough. Which explanation can the nurse provide that may encourage the patient to comply? NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A a. “If you don’t deep breathe and cough, you will get pneumonia.” b. “You will need to cough only a few times during this shift.” c. “Let’s try clearing the throat because that will work just as well.” d. “Deep breathing and coughing will clear out the anesthesia.” ANS: D Deep breathing and coughing expel retained anesthetic gases and facilitate a patient’s return to consciousness. Although it is correct that a patient may experience atelectasis and pneumonia if deep breathing and coughing are not performed, the way this is worded sounds threatening and could be communicated in a more therapeutic manner. Deep breathing and coughing are encouraged every 2 hours while the patient is awake. Just clearing the throat does not remove mucus from deeper airways. 15. The nurse and the nursing assistive personnel are assisting a postoperative patient to turn in bed. To assist in minimizing discomfort, which instruction should the nurse provide to the patient? a. “Close your eyes and think about something pleasant.” b. “Hold your breath and count to three.” c. “Grab my shoulders with your hands.” d. “Place your hand over your incision.” ANS: D Instruct the patient to place the right hand over the incisional area to splint it, providing support NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A and minimizing pulling during turning. Closing one’s eyes, holding one’s breath, and holding the nurse’s shoulders do not help support the incision during a turn. 16. The nurse is preparing to assist the patient in using the incentive spirometer. Which nursing intervention should the nurse provide first? a. Perform hand hygiene. b. Explain use of the mouthpiece. c. Instruct the patient to inhale slowly. d. Place in the reverse Trendelenburg position. ANS: A Performing hand hygiene reduces microorganisms and should be performed first. Placing the patient in the correct position such as high Fowler’s for the typical postoperative patient or reverse Trendelenburg for the bariatric patient would be the next step in the process. Demonstration of use of the mouthpiece followed by the instruction to inhale slowly would be the last step in this scenario. 17. The nurse and the nursing assistive personnel (NAP) are caring for a group of postoperative patients who need turning, coughing, deep breathing, incentive spirometer, and leg exercises. Which task will the nurse assign to the NAP? a. Teach postoperative exercises. b. Do nothing associated with postoperative exercises. c. Document in the medical record when exercises are completed. d. Inform the nurse if the patient is unwilling to perform exercises. ANS: D NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A b. “I will have minimal pain because of the anesthesia.” c. “I will take the pain medication as the provider prescribes it.” “I will take my pain medications before doing postoperative d. exercises.” ANS: B Anesthesia will be provided during the procedure itself, and the patient should not experience pain during the procedure; however, this will not minimize the pain after surgery. Pain management is utilized after the postoperative phase. Inform the patient of interventions available for pain relief, including medication, relaxation, and distraction. The patient needs to know and understand how to take the medications that the health care provider will prescribe postoperatively. During the stay in the facility, the level of pain is frequently assessed by the nurses. Coordinating pain medication with postoperative exercises helps to minimize discomfort and allows the exercises to be more effective. 20. The nurse is making a preoperative education appointment with a patient. The patient asks if a family member should come to the appointment. Which is the best response by the nurse? a. “There is no need for an additional person at the appointment.” b. “Your family can come and wait with you in the waiting room.” c. “We recommend including family members at this appointment.” d. “It is required that you have a family member at this appointment.” ANS: C Including family members in perioperative education is advisable. Often a family member is a coach for postoperative exercises when the patient returns from surgery. If anxious relatives do not understand routine postoperative events, it is likely that their anxiety will heighten the NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A patient’s fears and concerns. Preoperative preparation of family members before surgery helps to minimize anxiety and misunderstanding. An additional person is needed at the appointment if at all possible, and he or she needs to be involved in the process, not just NURSING : CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, COMMUNICATION, SEXUALITY, INFECTION CONTROL TEST WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS /2023,Download to score A waiting in the waiting room; however, it is certainly not a requirement for actually completing the surgery that someone comes to this appointment. 21. The nurse is reviewing the surgical consent with the patient during preoperative education and finds the patient does not understand what procedure will be completed. What is the nurse’s best next step? a. Notify the health care provider about the patient’s question. b. Explain the procedure that will be completed. c. Continue with preoperative education. d. Ask the patient to sign the form. ANS: A Surgery cannot be legally or ethically performed until the patient fully understands the need for a procedure and all the implications. It is the surgeon’s responsibility to explain the procedure, associated risks, benefits, alternatives, and possible complications. It is important for the nurse to pause with preoperative education to notify the health care provider of the patient’s questions. It is not within the nurse’s scope to explain the procedure. The nurse can certainly reinforce what the health care provider has explained, but the information needs to come from the health care provider. It is not prudent to ask a patient to sign a form for a procedure that he/she does not understand. 22. During preoperative assessment for a 7:30 AM (0730) surgery, the nurse finds the patient drank a cup of coffee this morning. The nurse reports this information to the anesthesia provider. Which action does the nurse anticipate next? a. A delay in or cancellation of surgery b. Questions regarding components of the coffee A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 20 a. Notify the operating suite that the patient has a latex allergy. b. Document that the patient had a bath at home this morning. c. Administer the ordered preoperative intravenous antibiotic. d. Ask the nursing assistive personnel to obtain vital signs. ANS: A The most important step is notifying the operating suite of the patient’s latex allergy. Many products that contain latex are used in the operating suite and the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). When preparing for a patient with this allergy, special considerations are required from preparation of the room to the types of tubes, gloves, drapes, and instruments utilized. Obtaining vital signs, documenting, and administering medications are all part of the process and should be done—with the latex allergy in mind. However, making sure that the patient has a safe environment is the first step. 25. The nurse is preparing a patient for a surgical procedure on the right great toe. Which action will be mostimportant to include in this patient’s preparation? a. Place the patient in a clean surgical gown. b. Ask the patient to remove all hairpins and cosmetics. c. Ascertain that the surgical site has been correctly marked. d. Determine where the family will be located during the procedure. ANS: C Because errors have occurred in the past with patients undergoing the wrong surgery on the wrong site, the universal protocol guidelines have been implemented and are used with all invasive procedures. Part of this protocol includes marking the operative site with indelible ink. Knowing where the family is during a procedure, placing the patient in a clean gown, and asking the patient to remove all hairpins and cosmetics are important but are not most important A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 21 in this list of items. 26. The circulating nurse is caring for a patient intraoperatively. Which primary role of the circulating nurse will be implemented? a. Suturing the surgical incision in the OR suite b. Managing patient care activities in the OR suite c. Assisting with applying sterile drapes in the OR suite Handing sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon in the OR d. suite ANS: B The circulating nurse is an RN who remains unscrubbed and uses the nursing process in the management of patient care activities in the OR suite. The circulating nurse also manages patient positioning, antimicrobial skin preparation, medications, implants, placement and function of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices, specimens, warming devices and surgical counts of instruments, and dressings. The RN first assistant collaborates with the surgeon by handling and cutting tissue, using instruments and medical devices, providing exposure of the surgical area and hemostasis, and suturing. The scrub nurse, who can be a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, or a surgical technologist, maintains the sterile field, assists with applying the sterile drapes, and hands sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon. 27. The nurse is caring for a patient in the preoperative holding area of an ambulatory surgery center. Which nursing action will be most appropriate for this area? A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 22 a. Count the sterile surgical instruments. b. Empty the urinary drainage bag. c. Check the surgical dressing. d. Apply a warm blanket. ANS: D The temperature in the preoperative holding area and in adjacent operating suites is usually cold. Offer the patient an extra warm blanket. Counts are taken by the circulating and scrub nurses in the operating room. Emptying a urinary drainage bag and checking the surgical dressing occur in the postanesthesia care unit, not in the holding area. 28. The nurse is caring for a patient in the operating suite. Which outcome will be most appropriate for this patient at the end of the intraoperative phase? a. The patient will be free of burns at the grounding pad. b. The patient will be free of nausea and vomiting. c. The patient will be free of infection. d. The patient will be free of pain. ANS: A A primary focus of intraoperative care is to prevent injury and complications related to anesthesia, surgery, positioning, and equipment use, including use of the electrical cautery grounding pad for the prevention of burns. The perioperative nurse is an advocate for the patient during surgery and protects the patient’s dignity and rights at all times. Signs and symptoms of infection do not have the time to present during the intraoperative phase. During the intraoperative phase, the patient is anesthetized and unconscious and typically has an endotracheal tube that prevents conversation. Nausea, vomiting, and pain typically begin in the postoperative phase of the experience. A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 25 tunnel repair. The patient has a temperature of 97° F and is shivering. Which reason will the nurse most likely consider as the primary cause when planning care? a. Anesthesia lowers metabolism. b. Surgical suites have air currents. c. The patient is dressed only in a gown. d. The large open body cavity contributed to heat loss. ANS: A The operating suite and recovery room environments are extremely cool. The patient’s anesthetically depressed level of body function results in lowering of metabolism and a fall in body temperature. Although the patient is dressed in a gown and there are air currents in the operating room, these are not the primary reasons for the low temperature. Also, the patient in this type of case does not have a large open body cavity to contribute to heat loss. 33. The nurse is monitoring a patient in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for postoperative fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Which action will be most appropriate for the nurse to take? a. Encourage copious amounts of water. b. Start an additional intravenous (IV) line. c. Measure and record all intake and output. d. Weigh the patient and compare with preoperative weight. ANS: C A&E I Comprehensive Testbank Accurate recording of intake and output assesses renal and circulatory function. Measure and record all sources of intake and output. Encouraging copious amounts of water in a postoperative patient might encourage nausea and vomiting. In the PACU, it is impractical to weigh the patient while waking from surgery, but in the days afterward, it is a good assessment parameter for fluid imbalance. Starting an additional IV is not necessary and is not important at this juncture. 34. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit. The patient asks for a bedpan and states to the nurse, “I feel like I need to go to the bathroom, but I can’t.” Which nursing intervention will be most appropriate initially? a. Assess the patient for bladder distention. b. Encourage the patient to wait a minute and try again. c. Inform the patient that everyone feels this way after surgery. d. Call the health care provider to obtain an order for catheterization. ANS: A Depending on the surgery, some patients do not regain voluntary control over urinary function for 6 to 8 hours after anesthesia. Palpate the lower abdomen just above the symphysis pubis for bladder distention. Another option is to use a bladder scan or ultrasound to assess bladder volume. The nurse must assess before deciding if the patient can try again. Not everyone feels as if they need to go but can’t after surgery. Calling the health care provider is not the initial best action. The nurse needs to have data before calling the provider. 35. The postanesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse transports the inpatient surgical patient to the medical-surgical floor. Before leaving the floor, the medical-surgical nurse obtains a complete set of vital signs. What is the rationale for this nursing action? A&E I Comprehensive Testbank a. This is done to complete the first action in a head-to-toe assessment. This is done to compare and monitor for vital sign variation during b. transport. This is done to ensure that the medical-surgical nurse checks on the c. postoperative patient. This is done to follow hospital policy and procedure for care of the d. surgical patient. ANS: B Before the PACU nurse leaves the acute care area, the staff nurse assuming care for the patient takes a complete set of vital signs to compare with PACU findings. Minor vital sign variations normally occur after transporting the patient. The PACU nurse reviews the patient’s information with the medical-surgical nurse, including the surgical and PACU course, physician orders, and the patient’s condition. While vital signs may or may not be the first action in a head-to-toe assessment, this is not the rationale for this situation. While following policy or ascertaining that the floor nurse checks on the patient are good reasons for safe care, they are not the best rationale for obtaining vital signs. 36. The nurse is caring for a patient who will undergo a removal of a lung lobe. Which level of care will the patient require immediately post procedure? a. Acute care—medical-surgical unit b. Acute care—intensive care unit c. Ambulatory surgery d. Ambulatory surgery—extended stay ANS: B A time-out is performed just before starting the procedure for final verification of the correct patient, procedure, site, and any implants. The marking and time-out most commonly occur in the holding area, just before the patient enters the OR. The individual performing surgery and who is accountable for it must personally mark the site, and the patient must be involved if possible. 2. The nurse is using a forced air warmer for a surgical patient preoperatively. Which goals is the nurse trying to achieve? (Select all that apply.) a. Induce shivering. b. Reduce blood loss. c. Induce pressure ulcers. d. Reduce cardiac arrests. e. Reduce surgical site infection. ANS: B, D, E Evidence suggests that pre-warming for a minimum of 30 minutes may reduce the occurrence of hypothermia. Prevention of hypothermia (core temperature < 36° C) helps to reduce complications such as shivering, cardiac arrest, blood loss, SSI, pressure ulcers, and mortality. 3. The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient with an incision. Which actions will the nurse take to decrease wound infections? (Select all that apply.) a. Maintain normoglycemia. b. Use a straight razor to remove hair. c. Provide bath and linen change daily. d. Perform first dressing change 2 days postoperatively. e. Perform hand hygiene before and after contact with the patient. f. Administer antibiotics within 60 minutes before surgical incision. ANS: A, E Performing hand hygiene before and after contact with the patient helps to decrease the number of microorganisms and break the chain of infection. Maintaining blood glucose levels at less than 150 mg/dL has resulted in decreased wound infection. Removing unwanted hair by clipping instead of shaving decreases the numbers of nicks and cuts caused by a razor and the potential for the introduction of microbes. The patient is postoperative; administration of an antibiotic 60 minutes before the surgical incision supports the defense against infection preoperatively. Providing a bath and linen change daily is positive but is not necessarily important for infection control. Many surgeons prefer to change surgical dressings the first time so they can inspect the incisional area, but this is done before 2 days postoperatively. 4. The nurse is preparing for a patient who will be going to surgery. The nurse screens for risk factors that can increase a person’s risks in surgery. What risk factors are included in the nurse’s screening? (Select all that apply.) a. Age b. Race c. Obesity d. Nutrition e. Pregnancy f. Ambulatory surgery ANS: A, C, D, E Very young and old patients are at risk during surgery because of immature or declining physiological status. Normal tissue repair and resistance to infection depend on adequate nutrients. Obesity increases surgical risk by reducing respiratory and cardiac function. During pregnancy, the concern is for the mother and the developing fetus. Because all major systems of the mother are affected during pregnancy, risks for operative complications are increased. Race and ambulatory surgery are not risks associated with a surgical procedure. 5. The nurse is providing preoperative education and reviews with the patient what it will be like to be in the surgical environment. Which points should the nurse include in the teaching session? (Select all that apply.) a. The operative suite will be very dark. b. The family is not allowed in the operating suite. c. The operating table or bed will be comfortable and soft. d. The nurses will be there to assist you through this process. The surgical staff will be dressed in special clothing with hats and e. masks. ANS: B, D, E The surgical staff is dressed in special clothing, hats, and masks—all for infection control. Families are not allowed in the operating suite for several reasons, which include infection control and sterility. The nurse is there as the coordinator and patient advocate during a surgical procedure. The rooms are very bright so everyone can see, and the operating table is very uncomfortable for the patient. 6. The operating room nurse is providing a hand-off report to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse. Which components will the operating room nurse include? (Select all that apply.) a. IV fluids b. Vital signs needs instruction on recognition of symptoms of hypertension and TIA and appropriate actions to take if these symptoms occur. The other information may also be included in patient teaching but is not as essential in the patient’s self-management of the illness. 2. The nurse performs a comprehensive assessment of an older patient who is considering admission to an assisted living facility. Which question is the most important for the nurse to ask? a) “Have you had any recent infections?” b) “How frequently do you see a doctor?” c) “Do you have a history of heart disease?” d) “Are you able to prepare your own meals?” ANS: D The patient’s functional abilities, rather than the presence of an acute or chronic illness, are more useful in determining how well the patient might adapt to an assisted living situation. The other questions will also provide helpful information but are not as useful in providing a basis for determining patient needs or for developing interventions for the older patient. 3. An alert older patient who takes multiple medications for chronic cardiac and pulmonary diseases lives with a daughter who works during the day. During a clinic visit, the patient verbalizes to the nurse that she has a strained relationship with her daughter and does not enjoy being alone all day. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse assign as the priority for this patient? a) Social isolation related to fatigue b) Risk for injury related to drug interactions c) Caregiver role strain related to family employment schedule d) Compromised family coping related to the patient’s care needs ANS: B The patient’s age and multiple medications indicate a risk for injury caused by interactions between the multiple drugs being taken and a decreased drug metabolism rate. Problems with social isolation, caregiver role strain, or compromised family coping are not physiologic priorities. Drug–drug interactions could cause the most harm to the patient and are therefore the priority. 4. Which method should the nurse use to gather the most complete assessment of an older patient? a) Review the patient’s health record for previous assessments. b) Use a geriatric assessment instrument to evaluate the patient. c) Ask the patient to write down medical problems and medications. d) Interview both the patient and the primary caregiver for the patient. ANS: B The most complete information about the patient will be obtained through the use of an assessment instrument specific to the geriatric population, which includes information about both medical diagnoses and treatments and about functional health patterns and abilities. A review of the medical record, interviews with the patient and caregiver, and written information by the patient are all included in a comprehensive geriatric assessment. 5. Which intervention should the nurse implement to provide optimal care for an older patient who is hospitalized with pneumonia? a) Plan for transfer to a long-term care facility. b) Minimize activity level during hospitalization. c) Consider the preadmission functional abilities. d) Use an approved standardized geriatric nursing care plan. ANS: C The plan of care for older adults should be individualized and based on the patient’s current functional abilities. A standardized geriatric nursing care plan will not address individual patient needs and strengths. A patient’s need for discharge to a long-term care facility is variable. Activity level should be designed to allow the patient to retain functional abilities while hospitalized and also to allow any additional rest needed for recovery from the acute process. 6. The nurse cares for an older adult patient who lives in a rural area. Which intervention should the nurse plan to implement to meet this patient’s needs? a) Suggest that the patient move closer to health care providers. b) Obtain extra medications for the patient to last for 4 to 6 months. c) Ensure transportation to appointments with the health care provider. d) Assess the patient for chronic diseases that are unique to rural areas. ANS: C Transportation can be a barrier to accessing health services in rural areas. The patient living in a rural area may lose the benefits of a familiar situation and social support by moving to an urban area. There are no chronic diseases unique to rural areas. Because medications may change, the ANS: A In a frail older patient, nutrition is frequently compromised, and the nurse’s initial action should be to assess the patient’s nutritional status. Active range of motion may be helpful in improving the patient’s strength and endurance, but nutritional assessment is the priority because the patient has had a significant weight loss. The patient may be a candidate for long-term care placement, but more assessment is needed before this can be determined. The patient’s assessment data are not consistent with normal changes associated with aging. 10. The nurse is admitting an acutely ill, older patient to the hospital. Which action should the nurse take? a) Speak slowly and loudly while facing the patient. b) Obtain a detailed medical history from the patient. c) Perform the physical assessment before interviewing the patient. d) Ask a family member to go home and retrieve the patient’s cane. ANS: C When a patient is acutely ill, the physical assessment should be accomplished first to detect any physiologic changes that require immediate action. Not all older patients have hearing deficits, and it is insensitive of the nurse to speak loudly and slowly to all older patients. To avoid tiring the patient, much of the medical history can be obtained from medical records. After the initial physical assessment to determine the patient’s current condition, then the nurse could ask someone to obtain any assistive devices for the patient if applicable. 11. The nurse cares for an alert, homeless older adult patient who was admitted to the hospital with a chronic foot infection. Which intervention is the most appropriate for the nurse to include in the discharge plan for this patient? a) Teach the patient how to assess and care for the foot infection. b) Refer the patient to social services for assessment of resources. c) Schedule the patient to return to outpatient services for foot care. d) Give the patient written information about shelters and meal sites. ANS: B An interprofessional approach, including social services, is needed when caring for homeless older adults. Even with appropriate teaching, a homeless individual may not be able to maintain adequate foot care because of a lack of supplies or a suitable place to accomplish care. Older homeless individuals are less likely to use shelters or meal sites. A homeless person may fail to keep appointments for outpatient services because of factors such as fear of institutionalization or lack of transportation. 12. The home health nurse cares for an older adult patient who lives alone and takes several different prescribed medications for chronic health problems. Which intervention, if implemented by the nurse, would best encourage medication compliance? a) Use a marked pillbox to set up the patient’s medications. b) Discuss the option of moving to an assisted living facility. c) Remind the patient about the importance of taking medications. d) Visit the patient daily to administer the prescribed medications. ANS: A Because forgetting to take medications is a common cause of medication errors in older adults, the use of medication reminder devices is helpful when older adults have multiple medications to take. There is no indication that the patient needs to move to assisted living or that the patient does not understand the importance of medication compliance. Home health care is not designed for the patient who needs ongoing assistance with activities of daily living or instrumental ADLs. 16. Which patient is most likely to need long-term nursing care management? a) 72-yr-old who had a hip replacement after a fall at home b) 64-yr-old who developed sepsis after a ruptured peptic ulcer c) 76-yr-old who had a cholecystectomy and bile duct drainage d) 63-yr-old with bilateral knee osteoarthritis who weighs 350 lb (159 kg) ANS: D Osteoarthritis and obesity are chronic problems that will require planning for long-term interventions such as physical therapy and nutrition counseling. The other patients have acute problems that are not likely to require long-term management. 17. An older adult being admitted is assessed at high risk for falls. Which action should the nurse take first? a) Use a bed alarm system on the patient’s bed. b) Administer the prescribed PRN sedative medication. c) Ask the health care provider to order a vest restraint. d) Place the patient in a “geri-chair” near the nurse’s station. ANS: A The use of the least restrictive restraint alternative is required. Physical or chemical restraints may be necessary, but the nurse’s first action should be an alternative such as a bed alarm. 18. An older adult patient presents with a broken arm and visible scattered bruises healing at different stages. Which action should the nurse take first? a) Notify an elder protective services agency about possible abuse. b) Make a referral for a home assessment visit by the home health nurse. c) Have the family member stay in the waiting area while the patient is assessed. d) Ask the patient how the injury occurred and observe the family member’s reaction. ANS: C The initial action should be assessment and interviewing of the patient. The patient should be interviewed alone because the patient will be unlikely to give accurate information if the abuser is present. If abuse is occurring, the patient should not be discharged home for a later assessment by a home health nurse. The nurse needs to collect and document data before notifying the elder protective services agency. 19. The family of an older patient with chronic health problems and increasing weakness is considering placement in a long-term care (LTC) facility. Which action by the nurse will be most helpful in assisting the patient to make this transition? a) Have the family select a LTC facility that is relatively new. b) Ask the patient’s preference for the choice of a LTC facility. c) Explain the reasons for the need to live in LTC to the patient. d) Request that the patient be placed in a private room at the facility. ANS: B The stress of relocation is likely to be less when the patient has input into the choice of the facility. The age of the long-term care facility does not indicate a better fit for the patient or better quality of care. Although some patients may prefer a private room, others may adjust better when given a well-suited roommate. The patient should understand the reasons for the move but will make the best adjustment when involved with the choice to move and the choice of the facility. 20. The nurse manages the care of older adults in an adult health day care center. Which action can the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? TestBankWorld.org a) Obtain information about food and medication allergies from patients. b) Take blood pressures daily and document in individual patient records. c) Choose social activities based on the individual patient needs and desires. d) Teach family members how to cope with patients who are cognitively impaired. ANS: B Measurement and documentation of vital signs are included in UAP education and scope of practice. Obtaining patient health history, planning activities based on the patient assessment, and patient education are all actions that require critical thinking and will be done by the registered nurse. MULTIPLE RESPONSE 1. Which nursing actions will the nurse take to assess for possible malnutrition in an older adult patient (select all that apply)? a) Assess for depression. b) Review laboratory results. c) Determine food preferences. health of members of marginalized groups has actually declined. 3. A nurse is assessing the health care disparities among population groups. Which area is the nurse monitoring? a. Accessibility of health care services b. Outcomes of health conditions c. Prevalence of complications d. Incidence of diseases ANS: A While health disparities are the differences among populations in the incidence, prevalence, and outcomes of health conditions, diseases and related complications, health care disparities are differences among populations in the availability, accessibility, and quality of health care services (e.g. screening, diagnostic, treatment, management, and rehabilitation) aimed at prevention, treatment, and management of diseases and their complications. 4. A nurse is providing care to a patient from a different culture. Which action by the nurse indicates cultural competence? a. Communicates effectively in a multicultural context b. Functions effectively in a multicultural context c. Visits a foreign country d. Speaks a different language ANS: B Cultural competence refers to a developmental process that evolves over time that impacts ability to effectively function in the multicultural context. Communicates effectively and speaking a different language indicates linguistic competence. Visiting a foreign country does not indicate cultural competence. 5. The nurse learns about cultural issues involved in the patient’s health care belief system and enables patients and families to achieve meaningful and supportive care. Which concept is the nurse demonstrating? a. Marginalized groups b. Health care disparity c. Transcultural nursing d. Culturally congruent care ANS: D The nurse is demonstrating culturally congruent care. Culturally congruent care, or care that fits a person’s life patterns, values, and system of meaning, provides meaningful and beneficial nursing care. Marginalized groups are populations left out or excluded. Health care disparities are differences among populations in the availability, accessibility, and quality of health care services (e.g. screening, diagnostic, treatment, management, and rehabilitation) aimed at prevention, treatment, and management of diseases and their complications. Transcultural nursing is a comparative study of cultures in order to understand their similarities (culture that is universal) and the differences among them (culture that is specific to particular groups). 6. A nurse is beginning to use patient-centered care and cultural competence to improve nursing care. Which step should the nurse take first? a. Assessing own biases and attitude b. Learning about the world view of others c. Understanding organizational forces d. Developing cultural skills ANS: A Becoming more aware of your biases and attitudes about human behavior is the first step in providing patient- centered care, leading to culturally competent care. It is helpful to think about cultural competence as a lifelong process of learning about others and also about yourself. Learning about the world view, developing cultural skills, and understanding organizational forces are not the first steps. 7. A nurse is performing a cultural assessment using the ETHNIC mnemonic for communication. Which area will the nurse assess for the “H”? a. Health b. Healers c. History d. Homeland ANS: B The “H” in ETHNIC stands for healers: Has the patient sought advice from alternative health practitioners? While health, history, and homeland are important, they are not components of “H.” 8. The nurse is caring for a patient of Hispanic descent who speaks no English. The nurse is working with an interpreter. Which action should the nurse take? a. Use long sentences when talking. b. Look at the patient when talking. A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 55 b. Use mother rather than father. c. Use parents rather than guardian. d. Use wife/husband rather than significant other. ANS: A Include LGBT-inclusive language on forms and assessments to facilitate disclosure, knowing that disclosure is a choice impacted by many factors. For example, provide options such as “partnered” under relationship status. For parents, use parent/guardian, instead of mother/father. Use neutral and inclusive language when talking with patients (e.g., partner or significant other), listening and reflecting patient’s choice. Remember that some LGBT patients are also legally married. 13. A nurse is assessing population groups for the risk of suicide requiring medical attention. Which group should the nurse monitor mostclosely? a. Young bisexuals b. Young caucasians c. Asian Americans d. African-Americans ANS: A Gay, lesbian, and bisexual young people have a significantly increased risk for depression, anxiety, suicide attempts, and substance use disorders, being 4 times as likely as their straight peers to make suicide attempts that require medical attention. Caucasian youth, Asian Americans, and African-Americans are not as likely to attempt suicide resulting in medical attention. 14. A nurse is assessing a patient’s ethnohistory. Which question should the nurse ask? a. What language do you speak at home? A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 56 b. How different is your life here from back home? c. Which caregivers do you seek when you are sick? d. How different is what we do from what your family does when you are sick? ANS: B An ethnohistory question is the following: How different is your life here from back home? Caring beliefs and practice questions include the following: Which caregivers do you seek when you are sick and How different is what we do from what your family does when you are sick? The language and communication is the following: What language do you speak at home? 15. A nurse is teaching patients about health care information. Which patient will the nurse assess closely for health literacy? a. A patient 35 years old b. A patient 68 years old c. A patient with a college degree d. A patient with a high-school diploma ANS: B About 9 out of 10 people in the United States experience challenges in using health care information. Patients who are especially vulnerable are the elderly (age 65+), immigrants, persons with low incomes, persons who do not have a high-school diploma or GED, and persons with chronic mental and/or physical health conditions. A 35-year-old patient and patients with high-school and college education are not identified in the vulnerable populations. A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 57 16. A nurse works at a hospital that uses equity-focused quality improvement. Which strategy is the hospital using? a. Document staff satisfaction. b. Focus on the family. c. Implement change on a grand scale. d. Reduce disparities. ANS: D Organizations can implement equity-focused quality improvement by recognizing disparities and committing to reducing them. Staff diversity is a priority for equity-focused quality improvement, not staff satisfaction. While the family is important, the focus is on the patients. Organizations should start by implementing a change on a small scale (pilot testing), learning from each test, and refining the intervention through performance improvement cycles (e.g., plan, do, study, and act). 17. A nurse is providing care to a culturally diverse population. Which action indicates the nurse is successful in the role of providing culturally congruent care? a. Provides care that fits the patient’s valued life patterns and set of meanings b. Provides care that is based on meanings generated by predetermined criteria c. Provides care that makes the nurse the leader in determining what is needed d. Provides care that is the same as the values of the professional health care system ANS: A The goal of transcultural nursing is to provide culturally congruent care, or care that fits the person’s life patterns, values, and system of meaning. Patterns and meanings are generated from people themselves, rather than from predetermined criteria. Discovering patients’ cultural values, A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 60 b. What do you call your problem? c. How does this illness work inside your body? d. What do you fear most about your sickness? e. What name does it have? ANS: B, C, E The questions for etiology include “What do you call your problem?” and “What name does it have?” Recommended treatment is asked by the question “How should your sickness be treated?” Pathophysiology is asked by the question “How does this illness work inside your body?” The course of illness is asked by the question “What do you fear most about your sickness?” MATCHING A nurse is using Campinha-Bacote’s model of cultural competency to improve cultural care. Which actions describe the components the nurse is using? a. In-depth self-examination of one’s own background b. Ability to assess factors that influence treatment and care c. Sufficient comparative understanding of diverse groups d. Motivation and commitment to continue learning about cultures e. Cross-cultural interaction that develops communication skills A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 61 Chapter 14: Older Adult Potter et al.: Fundamentals of Nursing, 9th Edition MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A nurse is obtaining a history on an older adult. Which finding will the nurse most typically find? a. Lives in a nursing home b. Lives with a spouse c. Lives divorced d. Lives alone ANS: B In 2012, 57% of older adults in non-institutional settings lived with a spouse (45% of older women, 71% of older men); 28% lived alone (35% of older women, 19% of older men); and only 3.5% of all older adults resided in institutions such as nursing homes or centers. Most older adults have lost a spouse due to death rather than divorce. 2. A nurse is developing a plan of care for an older adult. Which information will the nurse consider? Should be standardized because most geriatric patients have the same a. needs b. Needs to be individualized to the patient’s unique needs c. Focuses on the disabilities that all aging persons face d. Must be based on chronological age alone ANS: B A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 62 Every older adult is unique, and the nurse needs to approach each one as a unique individual. The nursing care of older adults poses special challenges because of great variation in their physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial health. Aging does not automatically lead to disability and dependence. Chronological age often has little relation to the reality of aging for an older adult. 3. Which information from a co-worker on a gerontological unit will cause the nurse to intervene? a. Most older people have dependent functioning. b. Most older people have strengths we should focus on. c. Most older people should be involved in care decision. d. Most older people should be encouraged to have independence. ANS: A Most older people remain functionally independent despite the increasing prevalence of chronic disease; therefore, this misconception should be addressed. It is critical for you to respect older adults and actively involve them in care decisions and activities. You also need to identify an older adult’s strengths and abilities during the assessment and encourage independence as an integral part of your plan of care. 4. A nurse suspects an older-adult patient is experiencing caregiver neglect. Which assessment findings are consistent with the nurse’s suspicions? a. Flea bites and lice infestation b. Left at a grocery store c. Refuses to take a bath d. Cuts and bruises ANS: A A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 65 An important step in the process of selecting a nursing home is to visit the nursing home. The nursing home should not feel like a hospital. It is a home, a place where people live. Members of the nursing home staff should focus on the person, not the task. Residents should be out of bed and dressed according to their preferences, not staff preferences. 8. A 70-year-old patient who suffers from worsening dementia is no longer able to live alone. The nurse is discussing health care services and possible long-term living arrangements with the patient’s only son. What will the nurse suggest? a. An apartment setting with neighbors close by b. Having the patient utilize weekly home health visits c. A nursing center because home care is no longer safe That placement is irrelevant because the patient is retreating to a place d. of inactivity ANS: C Some family caregivers consider nursing center placement when in-home care becomes increasingly difficult or when convalescence from hospitalization requires more assistance than the family is able to provide. An apartment setting and the use of home health visits are not appropriate because living at home is unsafe. Dementia is not a time of inactivity but an impairment of intellectual functioning. 9. A nurse is caring for an older adult. Which goal is priority? a. Adjusting to career b. Adjusting to divorce c. Adjusting to retirement d. Adjusting to grandchildren ANS: C A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 66 Adjusting to retirement is one of the developmental tasks for an older person. A young or middle-aged adult has to adjust to career and/or divorce. A middle-aged adult has to adjust to grandchildren. 10. A nurse is observing for the universal loss in an older-adult patient. What is the nurse assessing? a. Loss of finances through changes in income b. Loss of relationships through death c. Loss of career through retirement d. Loss of home through relocation ANS: B The universal loss for older adults usually revolves around the loss of relationships through death. Life transitions, of which loss is a major component, include retirement and the associated financial changes, changes in roles and relationships, alterations in health and functional ability, changes in one’s social network, and relocation. However, these are not the universal loss. 11. A nurse is discussing sexuality with an older adult. Which action will the nurse take? Ask closed-ended questions about specific symptoms the patient may a. experience. Provide information about the prevention of sexually transmitted b. infections. c. Discuss the issues of sexuality in a group in a private room. d. Explain that sexuality is not necessary as one ages. A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 67 ANS: B Include information about the prevention of sexually transmitted infections when appropriate. Open-ended questions inviting an older adult to explain sexual activities or concerns elicit more information than a list of closed-ended questions about specific activities or symptoms. You need to provide privacy for any discussion of sexuality and maintain a nonjudgmental attitude. Sexuality and the need to express sexual feelings remain throughout the human life span. 12. A nurse is teaching a health promotion class for older adults. In which order will the nurse list the most common to least common conditions that can lead to death in older adults? 1. Chronic obstructive lung disease 2. Cerebrovascular accidents 3. Heart disease 4. Cancer a. 4, 1, 2, 3 b. 3, 4, 1, 2 c. 2, 3, 4, 1 d. 1, 2, 3, 4 ANS: B Heart disease is the leading cause of death in older adults followed by cancer, chronic lung disease, and stroke (cerebrovascular accidents). 13. A nurse is observing skin integrity of an older adult. Which finding will the nurse document as a normal finding? a. Oily skin A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 70 b. Getting dressed c. Making a phone call d. Going to the bathroom ANS: C Instrumental activities of daily living or IADLs (such as the ability to write a check, shop, prepare meals, or make phone calls) and activities of daily living or ADLs (such as bathing, dressing, and toileting) are essential to independent living. 18. A male older-adult patient expresses concern and anxiety about decreased penile firmness during an erection. What is the nurse’s best response? Tell the patient that libido will always decrease, as well as the sexual a. desires. Tell the patient that touching should be avoided unless intercourse is b. planned. c. Tell the patient that heterosexuality will help maintain stronger libido. d. Tell the patient that this change is expected in aging adults. ANS: D Aging men typically experience an erection that is less firm and shorter acting and have a less forceful ejaculation. Testosterone lessens with age and sometimes (not always) leads to a loss of libido. However, for both men and women sexual desires, thoughts, and actions continue throughout all decades of life. Sexuality involves love, warmth, sharing, and touching, not just the act of intercourse. Touch complements traditional sexual methods or serves as an alternative sexual expression when physical intercourse is not desired or A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 71 possible. Clearly not all older adults are heterosexual, and there is emerging research on older adult, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their health care needs. 19. A patient asks the nurse what the term polypharmacy means. Which information should the nurse share with the patient? a. This is multiple side effects experienced when taking medications. b. This is many adverse drug effects reported to the pharmacy. c. This is the multiple risks of medication effects due to aging. d. This is concurrent use of many medications. ANS: D Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent use of many medications. It does not have anything to do with side effects, adverse drug effects, or risks of medication use due to aging. 20. An outcome for an older-adult patient living alone is to be free from falls. Which statement indicates the patient correctly understands the teaching on safety concerns? a. “I’ll take my time getting up from the bed or chair.” b. “I should dim the lighting outside to decrease the glare in my eyes.” “I’ll leave my throw rugs in place so that my feet won’t touch the cold c. tile.” “I should wear my favorite smooth bottom socks to protect my feet d. when walking around.” ANS: A Postural hypotension is an intrinsic factor that can cause falls. Changing positions slowly indicates a correct understanding of this concept. Environmental hazards outside and within the home such as poor lighting, slippery or wet flooring, and items on floor that are easy to trip over such as throw rugs are other factors that can lead to falls. Impaired vision and poor lighting are other risk factors for falls and should be avoided (dim lighting). Inappropriate A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 72 footwear such as smooth bottom socks also contributes to falls. 21. A nurse’s goal for an older adult is to reduce the risk of adverse medication effects. Which action will the nurse take? a. Review the patient’s list of medications at each visit. b. Teach that polypharmacy is to be avoided at all cost. c. Avoid information about adverse effects. d. Focus only on prescribed medications. ANS: A Strategies for reducing the risk for adverse medication effects include reviewing the medications with older adults at each visit; examining for potential interactions with food or other medications; simplifying and individualizing medication regimens; taking every opportunity to inform older adults and their families about all aspects of medication use; and encouraging older adults to question their health care providers about all prescribed and over- the-counter medications. Although polypharmacy often reflects inappropriate prescribing, the concurrent use of multiple medications is often necessary when an older adult has multiple acute and chronic conditions. Older adults are at risk for adverse drug effects because of age- related changes in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs. Work collaboratively with the older adult to ensure safe and appropriate use of all medications—both prescribed medications and over-the-counter medications and herbal options. 22. An older-adult patient has developed acute confusion. The patient has been on tranquilizers for the past week. The patient’s vital signs are normal. What should the nurse do? A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 75 c. Environment d. Social isolation ANS: D The highest priority at this time is the potential for social isolation. This woman does not know how to drive and lives in a rural community that does not have public transportation. All of these factors contribute to her social isolation. Other possible changes she may be going through right now include sexuality related to her advanced age and recent death of her spouse; however, this is not the priority at this time. She has been retired for 5 years, so this is also not an immediate need. She may eventually experience needs related to environment, but the data do not support this as an issue at this time. MULTIPLE RESPONSE 1. A recently widowed older-adult patient is dehydrated and is admitted to the hospital for intravenous fluid replacement. During the evening shift, the patient becomes acutely confused. Which possible reversible causes will the nurse consider when assessing this patient? (Select all that apply.) a. Electrolyte imbalance b. Sensory deprivation c. Hypoglycemia d. Drug effects e. Dementia ANS: A, B, C, D Delirium, or acute confusional state, is a potentially reversible cognitive impairment that is often due to a physiological event. Physiological causes include electrolyte imbalances, untreated pain, infection, cerebral anoxia, hypoglycemia, medication effects, tumors, subdural hematomas, and cerebrovascular infarction or hemorrhage. Sometimes it is also caused by A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 76 environmental factors such as sensory deprivation or overstimulation, unfamiliar surroundings, or sleep deprivation or psychosocial factors such as emotional distress. Dementia is a gradual, progressive, and irreversible cerebral dysfunction. MATCHING A nurse is using different strategies to meet older patients’ psychosocial needs. Match the strategy the nurse is using to its description. a. Respecting the older adult’s uniqueness b. Improving level of awareness c. Listening to the patient’s past recollections d. Accepting describing of patient’s perspective e. Offering help with grooming and hygiene 1. Body image 2. Validation therapy 3. Therapeutic communication 4. Reality orientation 5. Reminiscence 1.ANS:E2.ANS:D3.ANS:A4.ANS:B5. ANS:C Chapter 24: Communication Potter et al.: Fundamentals of Nursing, 9th Edition MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Which types of nurses make the best communicators with patients? a. Those who learn effective psychomotor skills b. Those who develop critical thinking skills A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 77 c. Those who like different kinds of people d. Those who maintain perceptual biases ANS: B Nurses who develop critical thinking skills make the best communicators. Just liking people does not make an effective communicator because it is important to apply critical thinking standards to ensure sound effective communication. Just learning psychomotor skills does not ensure that the nurse will use those techniques, and communication involves more than psychomotor skills.Critical thinking helps the nurse overcome perceptual biases or human tendencies that interfere with accurately perceiving and interpreting messages from others. Nurses who maintain perceptual biases do not make good communicators. 2. A nurse believes that the nurse-patient relationship is a partnership and that both are equal participants. Which term should the nurse use to describe this belief? a. Critical thinking b. Authentic c. Mutuality d. Attend ANS: C Effective interpersonal communication requires a sense of mutuality, a belief that the nurse- patient relationship is a partnership and that both are equal participants. Critical thinking in nursing, based on established standards of nursing care and ethical standards, promotes effective communication and uses standards such as humility, self-confidence, independent attitude, and fairness. To be authentic (one’s self) and to respond appropriately to the other person are important for interpersonal relationships but do not mean mutuality. Attending is giving all of your attention to the patient. 3. A nurse wants to present information about flu immunizations to the older adults in the community. Which type of communication should the nurse use? A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 80 d. Public ANS: B Personal space is 18 inches to 4 feet and involves things such as sitting at a patient’s bedside, taking a patient’s nursing history, or teaching an individual patient. Intimate space is 0 to 18 inches and involves things such as performing a physical assessment, bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, and toileting a patient. The socio- consultative zone is 9 to 12 feet and involves things such as giving directions to visitors in the hallway and giving verbal report to a group of nurses. The public zone is 12 feet and greater and involves things such as speaking at a community forum, testifying at a legislative hearing, or lecturing. 7. A smiling patient angrily states, “I will not cough and deep breathe.” How will the nurse interpret this finding? a. The patient’s denotative meaning is wrong. b. The patient’s personal space was violated. c. The patient’s affect is inappropriate. d. The patient’s vocabulary is poor. ANS: C An inappropriate affect is a facial expression that does not match the content of a verbal message (e.g., smiling when describing a sad situation). The patient is smiling but is angry, which indicates an inappropriate affect. The patient’s personal space was not violated. The patient’s vocabulary is not poor. Individuals who use a common language share denotative meaning: baseball has the same meaning for everyone who speaks English, but code denotes cardiac arrest primarily to health care providers. The patient’s denotative meaning is correct for cough and deep breathe. A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 81 8. The nurse asks a patient where the pain is, and the patient responds by pointing to the area of pain. Which form of communication did the patient use? a. Verbal b. Nonverbal c. Intonation d. Vocabulary ANS: B The patient gestured (pointed), which is a type of nonverbal communication. Gestures emphasize, punctuate, and clarify the spoken word. Pointing to an area of pain is sometimes more accurate than describing its location. Verbal is the spoken word or message. Intonation or tone of voice dramatically affects the meaning of a message. Vocabulary consists of words used for verbal communication. 9. A patient has been admitted to the hospital numerous times. The nurse asks the patient to share a personal story about the care that has been received. Which interaction is the nurse using? a. Nonjudgmental b. Socializing c. Narrative d. SBAR ANS: C In a therapeutic relationship, nurses often encourage patients to share personal stories. Sharing stories is called narrative interaction. Socializing is an important initial component of interpersonal communication. It helps people get to know one another and relax. It is easy, A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 82 superficial, and not deeply personal. Nonjudgmental acceptance of the patient is an important characteristic of the relationship. Acceptance conveys a willingness to hear a message or acknowledge feelings; it is not a technique that involves personal stories. SBAR is a popular communication tool that helps standardize communication among health care providers. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. 10. Before meeting the patient, a nurse talks to other caregivers about the patient. Which phase of the helping relationship is the nurse in with this patient? a. Preinteraction b. Orientation c. Working d. Termination ANS: A The time before the nurse meets the patient is called the preinteraction phase. This phase can involve things such as reviewing available data, including the medical and nursing history, talking to other caregivers who have information about the patient, or anticipating health concerns or issues that can arise. The orientation phase occurs when the nurse and the patient meet and get to know one another. This phase can involve things such as setting the tone for the relationship by adopting a warm, empathetic, caring manner. The working phase occurs when the nurse and the patient work together to solve problems and accomplish goals. The termination phase occurs during the ending of the relationship. This phase can involve things such as reminding the patient that termination is near. 11. During the initial home visit, a home health nurse lets the patient know that the visits are expected to end in about a month. Which phase of the helping relationship is the nurse in with this patient? a. Preinteraction b. Orientation A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 85 c. “What’s your biggest fear about this diagnosis?” “I believe you can overcome this because I’ve seen how strong you d. are.” ANS: B “This must be hard” is an example of empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and accept another person’s reality, accurately perceive feelings, and communicate this understanding to the other. An example of false reassurance is “Tomorrow will be better.” “I believe you can overcome this” is an example of sharing hope. “What is your biggest fear?” is an open-ended question that allows patients to take the conversational lead and introduces pertinent information about a topic. 16. A nurse is taking a history on a patient who cannot speak English. Which action will the nurse take? a. Obtain an interpreter. b. Refer to a speech therapist. c. Let a close family member talk. d. Find a mental health nurse specialist. ANS: A Interpreters are often necessary for patients who speak a foreign language. Using a family member can lead to legal issues, speech therapists help patients with aphasia, and mental health nurse specialists help angry or highly anxious patients to communicate more effectively. 17. A nurse is using SOLER to facilitate active listening. Which technique should the nurse use for R? a. Relax b. Respect c. Reminisce A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 86 d. Reassure ANS: A In SOLER, the R stands for relax. It is important to communicate a sense of being relaxed and comfortable with the patient. Active listening enhances trust because the nurse communicates acceptance and respect for the patient, but it is not the R in SOLER. Reminisce is a therapeutic communication technique, especially when used with the elderly. Reassuring can be therapeutic if the nurse reassures patients that there are many kinds of hope and that meaning and personal growth can come from illness experiences. However, false reassurance can block communication. 18. An older-adult patient is wearing a hearing aid. Which technique should the nurse use to facilitate communication? a. Chew gum. b. Turn off the television. c. Speak clearly and loudly. d. Use at least 14-point print. ANS: B Turning off the television will facilitate communication. Patients who are hearing impaired benefit when the following techniques are used: check for hearing aids and glasses, reduce environmental noise, get the patient’s attention before speaking, do not chew gum, and speak at normal volume—do not shout. Using at least 14- point print is for sight/visually impaired, not hearing impaired. 19. When making rounds, the nurse finds a patient who is not able to sleep because of surgery in the morning. Which therapeutic response is most appropriate? A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 87 a. “You will be okay. Your surgeon will talk to you in the morning.” b. “Why can’t you sleep? You have the best surgeon in the hospital.” c. “Don’t worry. The surgeon ordered a sleeping pill to help you sleep.” “It must be difficult not to know what the surgeon will find. What can d. I do to help?” ANS: D “It must be difficult not to know what the surgeon will find. What can I do to help?” is using therapeutic communication techniques of empathy and asking relevant questions. False reassurances (“You will be okay” and “Don’t worry”) tend to block communication. Patients frequently interpret “why” questions as accusations or think the nurse knows the reason and is simply testing them. 20. Which situation will cause the nurse to intervene and follow up on the nursing assistive personnel’s (NAP) behavior? The nursing assistive personnel is calling the older-adult patient a. “honey.” The nursing assistive personnel is facing the older-adult patient when b. talking. The nursing assistive personnel cleans the older-adult patient’s glasses c. gently. The nursing assistive personnel allows time for the older-adult patient d. to respond. ANS: A The nurse needs to intervene to correct the use of “honey.” Avoid terms of endearment such as “honey,” “dear,” “grandma,” or “sweetheart.” Communicate with older adults on an adult level, and avoid patronizing or speaking in a condescending manner. Facing an older-adult patient, making sure the older adult has clean glasses, and allowing time to respond facilitate communication with older-adult patients and should be encouraged, not stopped. 21. A confused older-adult patient is wearing thick glasses and a hearing aid. Which A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 90 d. Use a hearing aid. ANS: A Using a pen and paper can be frustrating for a nonverbal (aphasic) patient whose handwriting is shaky; the nurse can revise the care plan to include use of a picture board instead. An interpreter is used for a patient who speaks a foreign language. A hearing aid is used for the hard of hearing, not for an aphasic patient. 25. Which behavior indicates the nurse is using a process recording correctly to enhance communication with patients? a. Shows sympathy appropriately b. Uses automatic responses fluently c. Demonstrates passive remarks accurately d. Self-examines personal communication skills ANS: D Analysis of a process recording enables a nurse to evaluate the following: examine whether nursing responses blocked or facilitated the patient’s efforts to communicate. Sympathy is concern, sorrow, or pity felt for the patient and is nontherapeutic. Clichés and stereotyped remarks are automatic responses that communicate the nurse is not taking concerns seriously or responding thoughtfully. Passive responses serve to avoid conflict or to sidestep issues. 26. A patient says, “You are the worst nurse I have ever had.” Which response by the nurse is most assertive? a. “I think you’ve had a hard day.” b. “I feel uncomfortable hearing that statement.” A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 91 c. “I don’t think you should say things like that. It is not right.” d. “I have been checking on you regularly. How can you say that?” ANS: B Assertive responses contain “I” messages such as “I want,” “I need,” “I think,” or “I feel.” While all of these start with “I,” the only one that is the most assertive is “I feel uncomfortable hearing that statement.” An assertive nurse communicates self-assurance; communicates feelings; takes responsibility for choices; and is respectful of others’ feelings, ideas, and choices. “I think you’ve had a hard day” is not addressing the problem. Arguing (“How can you say that?”) is not assertive or therapeutic. Showing disapproval (using words like right) is not assertive or therapeutic. MULTIPLE RESPONSE 1. Which behaviors indicate the nurse is using critical thinking standards when communicating with patients? (Select all that apply.) a. Instills faith b. Uses humility c. Portrays self-confidence d. Exhibits supportiveness e. Demonstrates independent attitude ANS: B, C, E A self-confident attitude is important because the nurse who conveys confidence and comfort while communicating more readily establishes an interpersonal helping-trusting relationship. In addition, an independent attitude encourages the nurse to communicate with colleagues and share ideas about nursing interventions. An attitude of humility is necessary to recognize and A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 92 communicate the need for more information before making a decision. Faith and supportiveness are attributes of caring, not critical thinking standards. 2. A nurse is implementing nursing care measures for patients with challenging communication issues. Which types of patients will need these nursing care measures? (Select all that apply.) a. A child who is developmentally delayed b. An older-adult patient who is demanding c. A female patient who is outgoing and flirty d. A male patient who is cooperative with treatments e. An older-adult patient who can clearly see small print f. A teenager frightened by the prospect of impending surgery ANS: A, B, C, F Challenging communication situations include patients who are flirtatious, demanding, frightened, or developmentally delayed. A child who has received little environmental stimulation possibly is behind in language development, thus making communication more challenging. Patients who are cooperative and have good eyesight (see small print) do not cause challenging communication situations. MATCHING A nurse is using AIDET to communicate with patients and families. Match the letters of the acronym to the behavior a nurse will use. a. Nurse describes procedures and tests. b. Nurse lets the patient know how long the procedure will last. c. Nurse recognizes the person with a positive attitude. A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 95 Teaching a woman who recently had a hysterectomy about possible b. adoption c. Teaching expectant parents about changes in childbearing women d. Teaching a teenager with a broken leg how to use crutches ANS: D Injured or ill patients need information and skills to help them regain or maintain their levels of health. An example includes teaching a teenager with a broken leg how to use crutches. Not all patients fully recover from illness or injury. Many have to learn to cope with permanent health alterations. New knowledge and skills are often necessary for patients and/or family members to continue activities of daily living. Teaching family members to help the patient with health care management (e.g., giving medications through gastric tubes, doing passive range-of-motion exercises) is an example of coping with long-term impaired functions. For a woman with a hysterectomy, teaching about adoption is not restoration of health; restoration of health in this situation would involve activity restrictions and incision care if needed. In childbearing classes, you teach expectant parents about physical and psychological changes in the woman and about fetal development; this is part of health maintenance. 4. A nurse attends a seminar on teaching/learning. Which statement indicates the nurse has a good understanding of teaching/learning? a. “Teaching and learning can be separated.” b. “Learning is an interactive process that promotes teaching.” c. “Teaching is most effective when it responds to the learner’s needs.” “Learning consists of a conscious, deliberate set of actions designed to d. help the teacher.” ANS: C Teaching is most effective when it responds to the learner’s needs. It is impossible to separate A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 96 teaching from learning. Teaching is an interactive process that promotes learning. Teaching consists of a conscious, deliberate set of actions that help individuals gain new knowledge, change attitudes, adopt new behaviors, or perform new skills. 5. A nurse is determining if teaching is effective. Which finding best indicates learning has occurred? a. A nurse presents information about diabetes. b. A patient demonstrates how to inject insulin. c. A family member listens to a lecture on diabetes. d. A primary care provider hands a diabetes pamphlet to the patient. ANS: B Learning is the purposeful acquisition of new knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and skills: patient demonstrates how to inject insulin. A new mother exhibits learning when she demonstrates how to bathe her newborn. A nurse presenting information and a primary care provider handing a pamphlet to a patient are examples of teaching. A family member listening to a lecture does not indicate that learning occurred; a change in knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and/or skills must be evident. 6. A nurse is teaching a patient about the Speak Up Initiatives. Which information should the nurse include in the teaching session? a. If you still do not understand, ask again. b. Ask a nurse to be your advocate or supporter. c. The nurse is the center of the health care team. d. Inappropriate medical tests are the most common mistakes. A&E I Comprehensive Testbank 97 ANS: A If you still do not understand, ask again is part of the S portion of the Speak Up Initiatives. Speak up if you have questions or concerns. You (the patient) are the center of the health care team, not the nurse. Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (advisor or supporter), not a nurse. Medication errors are the most common health care mistakes, not inappropriate medical tests. 7. A nurse teaches a patient with heart failure healthy food choices. The patient states that eating yogurt is better than eating cake. Which element represents feedback? a. The nurse b. The patient c. The nurse teaching about healthy food choices d. The patient stating that eating yogurt is better than eating cake ANS: D Feedback needs to demonstrate the success of the learner in achieving objectives (i.e., the learner verbalizes information or provides a return demonstration of skills learned). The nurse is the sender. The patient (learner) is the receiver. The teaching is the message. 8. While preparing a teaching plan, the nurse describes what the learner will be able to accomplish after the teaching session about healthy eating. Which action is the nurse completing? a. Developing learning objectives b. Providing positive reinforcement c. Presenting facts and knowledge d. Implementing interpersonal communication