Nursing Elites

1. An older woman has lived alone since the death of her husband 10 years ago, and she has a long list of vague complaints. Which assessment is the priority for the home health nurse to perform?

• A. Assess for feelings of loneliness and isolation.
• B. Determine if the client has unresolved grief.
• C. Determine if there are safety issues.
• D. Ask about the availability of support systems.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The priority assessment for the home health nurse in this scenario is to determine if there are safety issues. The client is an older woman living alone with a long list of vague complaints, indicating several risk factors. Ensuring her safety should be the primary concern. While assessing for feelings of loneliness, isolation, or grief is important, ensuring the client's safety takes precedence due to her vulnerable situation. Although assessing the availability of support systems is essential in a home health assessment, safety issues must be addressed first given the client's profile.

2. Which defense mechanism is considered a conscious measure used to cope with anxiety?

• A. Undoing
• B. Projection
• C. Suppression
• D. Intellectualization

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is Suppression. Suppression is a conscious defense mechanism in which an individual intentionally avoids thinking about disturbing problems, wishes, feelings, or experiences. It is a way to cope with anxiety by actively pushing aside unwanted thoughts or emotions. Undoing, on the other hand, is an unconscious defense mechanism where one uses words or behaviors to symbolically make amends for unacceptable thoughts or actions. Projection is also an unconscious defense mechanism involving falsely attributing one's own unacceptable impulses to others. Intellectualization, another unconscious defense mechanism, involves using intellect or thinking to avoid dealing with emotionally charged feelings.

3. When assisting an older adult client to prepare to take a tub bath, which nursing action is most important?

• A. Check the bath water temperature.
• B. Shut the bathroom door.
• C. Ensure that the client has voided.
• D. Provide extra towels.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The most critical nursing action when assisting an older adult client in preparing for a tub bath is to check the bath water temperature. This step is essential to prevent burns or excessive chilling, prioritizing the client's safety. While ensuring privacy by shutting the bathroom door (option B), confirming that the client has voided (option C), and providing extra towels (option D) are all important for comfort and dignity, they are secondary to ensuring the client's safety during bathing. Therefore, checking the bath water temperature is the priority to safeguard the client's well-being and prevent potential injuries.

4. A 17-year-old Asian client is being seen for lower abdominal pain in the right quadrant. The client is accompanied by his parents. The nurse notes that the client's father does not make eye contact and shows little response when told that the client will need surgery. Which of the following is the most appropriate action of the nurse?

• A. Contact an interpreter to give the information again in the father's native language
• B. Continue to provide information about surgery to both the client and his parents
• C. Call social services to evaluate the parent's standard of care
• D. Contact the physician about postponing the surgery

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Nurses may work with clients who have varying cultural beliefs. Because of this, nurses must remain aware of the cultural practices associated with certain ethnic groups. Asian Americans may avoid eye contact as a sign of respect; additionally, emotional responses may be avoided except for in private situations. If this family did not have a language barrier, the nurse should continue to provide appropriate information about the surgery and recognize the cultural differences that exist. Contacting an interpreter is not necessary as there was no mention of a language barrier. Calling social services to evaluate the parent's standard of care is premature and not within the nurse's immediate scope of practice. Contacting the physician about postponing the surgery is not warranted based on the information provided.

5. When performing a return demonstration of using a gait belt for a female patient with right-sided weakness, which observation indicates that the caregiver has learned the correct procedure?

• A. Standing on the female patient's strong side, the caregiver is ready to hold the gait belt if any evidence of weakness is observed.
• B. Standing on the female patient's weak side, the caregiver provides security by holding the gait belt from the back.
• C. Standing behind the female patient, the caregiver provides balance by holding both sides of the gait belt.
• D. Standing slightly in front and to the right of the female patient, the caregiver guides her forward by gently pulling on the gait belt.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When assisting a patient with right-sided weakness using a gait belt, the caregiver must stand on the weak side of the patient to provide optimal support and security. By standing on the weak side and holding the gait belt from the back, the caregiver can effectively prevent falls and guide the patient's movements. This position allows for better control over the patient's balance. Standing on the strong side (option A) does not offer the necessary support if the patient leans towards the weak side. Standing behind the patient and holding both sides of the gait belt (option C) does not provide focused support to the weak side. Standing slightly in front and to the right (option D) may not offer adequate assistance to prevent falls on the weak side, making it an incorrect choice.

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