The nurse is caring for a critically ill trauma patient who is expected to be hospitalized for an extended period of time. Which of the following nursing interventions would improve the patient's well-being and reduce anxiety the most?
a. Arrange for the patient's dog to be brought into the unit (per protocol).
b. Contact the pet therapy department to bring a therapy dog in to visit.
c. Secure the harpist to come and play soothing music for an hour every afternoon.
d. Wheel the patient out near the unit aquarium to observe the tropical fish.
A
Nonpharmacological approaches are helpful in reducing stress and anxiety, and each of these activities has the potential for improving the patient's well-being. The patient is likely to benefit most from the presence of his or her own dog rather than the therapy dog.
You might also like to view...
The nurse is conducting a well-child assessment for a 5-year-old boy in preparation for kindergarten. The boy's grandmother is his primary caregiver because the boy's mother has suffered from depression and substance abuse issues
The nurse understands that the child is at increased risk for which developmental problem? A) Lack of social and emotional readiness for school B) Stuttering C) Speech and language delays D) Fine motor skills delay
Which of the following is the practicing nurse's most important source of researchable problems?
a. The nurse's own clinical practice b. Review of the literature c. Nursing theories d. Administrative mandates to conduct clinical research on every hospital unit
A patient tells the nurse, "My husband left me to be with God." What should the nurse realize this patient is demonstrating?
1. coping 2. denial 3. a regional difference in the way death is expressed 4. a cultural rite related to death
Mr. S is an 84-year-old Hispanic with congestive heart failure (CHF). He comes into the clinic with complaints of lower extremity edema and shortness of breath that began three days ago
His weight today is 186 pounds, an increase of 12 pounds in 12 days. He has 1+ pitting edema in both lower extremities that extends to the knees. The nurse inquires about any variation in his daily routine and he informs her that his wife has been sick for about one week, and he has been making canned soup or sandwiches for their meals. The nurse suspects the problem is related to: 1. Inactivity due to his wife's illness. 2. Excess sodium from the canned soup and lunch meat. 3. Worsening cardiac ejection fraction due to age. 4. Water retention due to increased protein intake.