An older patient is admitted to the hospital with a hip fracture. Which of the following nursing interventions would be a priority?
a. Facilitate frequent deep breathing. c. Perform neurologic checks.
b. Administer stool softeners. d. Frequently offer liquids to drink.
A
Although all the items are important, age-related changes in respiratory mechanics lead to airflow restrictions, which are reflected in decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Age-related decrease in dynamic lung volume is probably caused by decreased chest wall compliance, small airways closure during forced expiration, and decreased strength of expiratory muscles. Breathing exercises generate lung volumes of forced vital capacity, which is an untimed lung volume, and FEV1, which is a timed lung volume. These spirometry tests can assist in assessing restrictive respiratory patterns. Reduced timed lung volume is exhibited in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis.
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A 38-year-old patient has been living with Addison's disease for many years and has achieved adequate symptom control through lifestyle modifications and drug therapy. However, the patient has now been admitted to the hospital in addisonian crisis
Which of the nurse's following assessment questions is most appropriate? A) "Have you been under an unusual amount of stress lately?" B) "How would you describe your diet over the last few days?" C) "When was the last time that you drank any alcohol?" D) "Has your urine output been typical for the past few days?"
The family of a patient whose insurance will not pay for continuing hospitalization considers transferring the patient to a public mental hospital. They express concern that the patient will be "never get any treatment."
Which reply by the nurse would be most helpful? a. "Under the law, treatment must be provided. Hospitalization without treatment violates patients' rights." b. "All patients in public hospitals have the right to choose both a primary therapist and a primary nurse." c. "That's a justifiable concern because the right to treatment extends only to provision of food, shelter, and safety." d. "Much will depend on other patients, because the right to treatment for a psychotic patient takes precedence over the right to treatment of a patient who is stable."
The nurse is preparing a room for a patient being transferred from the emergency department with a diagnosis of delirium. The nurse should be sure that the room is:
1. brightly lit. 2. shared by another patient. 3. visible from the nurses' station. 4. dark and quiet.
What is the nurse's legal duty with regard to implementing a physician's order?
1. The nurse should follow the order unless the nurse believes some other course of action would be better. 2. The nurse should follow the order unless the nurse has reason to believe that the patient could come to harm if the order is followed. 3. The nurse should review each order with the physician and then follow the order. 4. The nurse should question every order with the physician, since physicians are only human.