The nurse is speaking to a community group about the controversy regarding the length of the hospital stay for postpartum patients. Which statement indicates that a participant needs additional information?
1. "As of 1998, there's a law that requires insurance to pay for a 48-hour stay after an uncomplicated birth."
2. "The length of stay was shortened by insurance companies to decrease healthcare costs."
3. "Early discharge became more popular in the 1980s as an alternative to having a home birth."
4. "With current length-of-stay laws, newborns have no problems at home, and get recommended follow-up care."
4
Rationale 1: The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, which took effect in January 1998, requires insurance to pay for a 48-hour stay after an uncomplicated birth and a 96-hour stay after cesarean birth. Early discharge became more popular in the 1980s as an alternative to having a home birth.
Rationale 2: The shorter-length-of-stay trend became an insurance company policy to decrease healthcare costs.
Rationale 3: Early discharge became more popular in the 1980s as an alternative to home delivery.
Rationale 4: Even with the current length-of-stay laws, many newborns still do not receive the recommended follow-up care when they go home early.
You might also like to view...
A patient hospitalized after an MI is restlessly moving about in bed. Her pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate are elevated
In a shaky voice, she tells the nurse, "I think I am going to die. The pain is gone, but it could come back anytime. Where is the doctor? Why isn't the doctor here with me?" Place the nursing interventions in the order that would make them most therapeutic. A. "I want you to breathe slowly with me, counting to 3 as you breathe in and again as you breathe out. I think this will help, but if not, I'll call your doctor.". B. "You seem very anxious, which is understandable. Your vital sounds are up a bit because you are anxious, not because there is a problem with your heart.". C. "We are watching you very closely via the monitors and will be here in moments if there is a problem, so you can rest easy now, knowing we are watching over you.". D. "A heart attack can be a very frightening experience. Would you like to talk about it with me for awhile?"
Policy and procedure dictates that handwashing is a requirement when caring for patients. Which statement supports this policy?
A) Frequent handwashing reduces transmission of pathogens from one patient to another. B) Wearing gloves is a substitute for handwashing. C) Bar soap, which is generally available, should be used for handwashing. D) Waterless products should be avoided in situations where running water is unavailable.
A 68-year-old patient has been admitted to the coronary care unit after an inferior myocardial infarction. When caring for this patient, the nurse will give increased attention to skin integrity because of the
a. thickening of the epidermal skin layer. b. loss of sebaceous glands. c. increased fragility from loss of protective subcutaneous layers. d. decreased melanocyte production.
The mineral that has the most influence on extracellular fluid osmolality is:
1. Calcium 2. Chloride 3. Potassium 4. Sodium