While providing care for a patient who has recently completed chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, the nurse notes the patient has an elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level

Which of the following interpretations of this test result, by the nurse, is best?
a. The patient has a residual or recurrent tu-mor.
b. The liver has been damaged by chemo-therapy.
c. The patient is cured.
d. The patient should be placed in protective isolation.


ANS: A
CEA and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 are markers used to monitor gastrointestinal (GI) cancer treatment effectiveness and detect recurrence. An elevated CEA level would not be seen in the absence of disease and does not indicate liver function. Extremely low white blood cell counts would be used to determine if the patient needed to be placed in protective isolation.

Nursing

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A 15-year-old male presents to the clinic with fatigue, weakness, and sore throat for 4 days. The patient has no significant medical or surgical history

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A patient being treated for onchocerciasis with ivermectin has a Mazzotti reaction. Which assessment finding(s) would be likely? You may select more than one answer

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How is PICO [Patient/population/problem; Intervention/treatment; Comparison/intervention/treatment; Outcome(s)] used in EBP?

a. It is used to formulate the practice question. b. It is used in evidence retrieval. c. It is used to grade the evidence. d. It is used to critique practice guidelines.

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Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are a central part of the treatment of heart failure because they have more than one action to address the pathological changes in this disorder

Which of the following pathological changes in heart failure is NOT addressed by ACE inhibitors? 1. Changes in the structure of the left ventricle so that it dilates, hypertrophies, and uses energy less efficiently. 2. Reduced formation of cross-bridges so that contractile force decreases. 3. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system that increases heart rate and preload. 4. Decreased renal blood flow that decreases oxygen supply to the kidneys.

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