Nursing Elites

1. Social support systems include all of the following except:

• A. call-in help lines
• B. emotional assistance provided by others
• C. community support groups
• D. use of coping skills and verbalization for anger management

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is the use of coping skills and verbalization for anger management. Social support systems involve external sources of support from others or the community. Call-in help lines, emotional assistance provided by others, and community support groups all represent social support systems where individuals can seek help and assistance from outside sources. On the other hand, the use of coping skills and verbalization for anger management refers to individual strategies rather than external social support.

2. A client with cancer develops xerostomia. The nurse can help alleviate the discomfort associated with xerostomia by:

• A. Offering hard candy
• B. Administering analgesic medications
• C. Splinting swollen joints
• D. Providing saliva substitute

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Xerostomia is dry mouth, a common side effect in cancer patients. Providing a saliva substitute helps alleviate the discomfort associated with dry mouth by moistening the oral mucosa. Offering hard candy, as mentioned in choice A, can worsen xerostomia by increasing sugar content and potentially causing irritation. Administering analgesic medications, as in choice B, is not directly related to treating dry mouth. Splinting swollen joints, as in choice C, is irrelevant to xerostomia, which primarily affects the oral cavity.

3. Which of the following factors can impact an individual's ability to give informed consent?

• A. IQ
• B. educational level
• C. pain medications
• D. financial status

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Pain medications might alter alertness, thought processes, and reactions, potentially impacting an individual's ability to give informed consent. It is recommended to approach a client for consent at least 4 hours after the last dose of pain medicine to minimize any influence. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. While IQ and educational level may affect how information is presented during the discussion process, they do not directly impact informed-consent decision-making. Financial status is also not a direct factor in an individual's ability to provide informed consent, unlike pain medications which can directly affect cognitive functions and decision-making abilities.

4. While walking in the hallway of an acute care unit of the hospital, the nurse overhears the change of shift report. What should the nurse do?

• A. Make the charge nurse on the unit aware of the situation so that they can take the necessary steps to maintain the confidentiality of the information being reported.
• B. Disregard the information because it changes quickly on the acute care unit and is outdated within 2-3 hours anyway.
• C. Return to their own unit and not disclose that confidential information has been overheard.
• D. Ignore the situation.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: To protect the confidentiality of the information being reported, the nurse should make the charge nurse on the unit aware of the situation. This allows the charge nurse to take necessary steps to maintain confidentiality and ensure that the information is communicated in an appropriate and private manner. Disclosing the situation to the charge nurse is essential to address any breaches in confidentiality and uphold professional standards of privacy and ethics. Disregarding the information, returning to their own unit without disclosure, or ignoring the situation altogether would not address the breach of confidentiality and could lead to further issues regarding patient privacy and trust.

5. A 26-year-old single woman is knocked down and robbed while walking her dog one evening. Three months later, she presents at the crisis clinic, stating that she cannot put this experience out of her mind. She complains of nightmares, extreme fear of being outside or alone, and difficulty eating and sleeping. What is the best response by the nurse?

• A. "I will ask the physician to prescribe medication for you."?
• B. "That must have been a very difficult and frightening experience. It might be helpful to talk about it."?
• C. "In the future, you might walk your dog in a more populated area or hire someone else to take over this task."?
• D. "Have you thought of moving to a safer neighborhood?"?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Choice B is the best response as it provides empathy and encourages the client to talk about her experience, which can be therapeutic. This approach validates the client's feelings and offers support. By acknowledging the difficulty and fear experienced by the client, the nurse opens the door for the client to express her emotions and begin the process of coping with the trauma. Choices A, C, and D do not address the emotional impact of the traumatic event or provide an opportunity for the client to express her feelings and concerns. Choice A immediately jumps to medication without exploring other supportive interventions. Choice C focuses on practical solutions without addressing the client's emotional needs. Choice D suggests a drastic solution without considering the client's emotional state or preferences.

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