The nurse assesses a patient with a surgical incision. What is an expected patient outcome on the fourth postoperative day?
a. The tympanic temperature is 39.5° C at 8 AM and noon.
b. The incision is slightly reddened and swollen without drainage.
c. The skin is spongy and warm around the incision.
d. The patient's pain has been increasing gradually.
B
By the fourth postoperative day the patient's surgical incision is expected to have slight redness and swelling but no drainage, indicating a physiological, expected, inflammatory response to tissue injury. Tympanic temperature of 39.5° C is febrile and warrants further investigation to rule out infection. Spongy, warm skin around the wound area can indicate infection and requires follow-up. Increasing pain can indicate that the wound status is deteriorating and needs to be assessed.
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A patient tells the nurse, "I'm told that I should reduce the stress in my life, but I have no idea where to start.". Which would be the best initial nursing response?
a. "Why not start by learning to meditate? That technique will cover everything.". b. "In cases like yours, physical exercise works to elevate mood and reduce anxiety.". c. "Reading about stress and how to manage it might be a good place to start.". d. "Let's talk about what is going on in your life and then look at possible options.".
What is the definition of the process of making choices that will provide maximum benefit?
a. Critical thinking b. Problem solving c. Decision making d. Leading
When assessing an older client for indications of depression, the nurse bases the intervention on the knowledge that:
a. the older client's symptoms may be atypi-cal for the disorder. b. depression is a common mental disorder among the older population. c. the older client is generally willing to dis-cuss his or her mental health symptoms. d. depression is not as commonly seen in this population as are anxiety disorders.
Which of the following contextual elements gives rise to a decrease in access to health care and impacts nursing practice?
A) Economic elements B) Cultural elements C) Demographic elements D) Subcultural elements