The nurse is caring for a patient with advanced cancer who has decided to discontinue chemotherapy treatment and try an alternative therapy that has not been proved effective. The nurse, whose mother recently died of the same type of cancer, strongly disagrees with the patient's choice. The patient asks the nurse's opinion about the therapy. Which response is best?
a. "I'm sorry, but I don't feel prepared to answer your question. I would prefer you ask your physician that question."
b. "My mother died recently with the same type of cancer you have. I would be very careful before stopping the therapy."
c. "As a nurse, I am obligated to encourage you to seek the best treatment possible. I cannot in good conscience advise you to have the alternative treatment."
d. "Because your disease is so advanced and traditional treatments have failed, I think trying the alternative treatment can do no harm."
ANS: A
The role of the nurse is to teach, not to give an opinion. B, C, and D give opinions. In light of the nurse's own recent loss, it is best to defer the question to the physician, who can provide an opinion.
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The nurse is conducting a physical assessment of a 49-year-old client during an annual assessment. The nurse plans to conduct a nutritional and exercise assessment because:
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The gray, blue, or purple areas on the buttocks of a neonate are referred to as __________
Fill in the blank with the appropriate word.