A patient reports taking an over-the-counter laxative for constipation daily for the past 3 weeks. What is the nurse's best action?
a. Remind the patient about the importance of adequate fluid intake and exercise to prevent constipation.
b. Instruct the patient that these drugs should not be used for more than a week without consulting the prescriber.
c. Ask the patient about usual fluid intake, urinary and bowel habits, and have the patient describe the nature of stools.
d. Contact the prescriber about an order for a stronger laxative because the one the patient is taking is not working.
B
Laxative drugs are not meant for long-term use and should not be used for longer than one week unless following a prescriber's advice. The use of laxatives long-term can cause other health problems.
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The nurse knows that one theory explaining the variation in response to stress among individuals is called:
a. stress appraisal. b. sense of coherence. c. allostasis. d. homeostasis.
Case managed care may enhance profit in a for-profit health organization by:
a. Minimizing costs in high resource con-sumption areas. b. Combining licensed and non-licensed care providers in delivering patient care. c. Increasing reimbursement from third-party payers. d. Reducing the amount of technology used to support clinical decision making.
The nurse is discussing medications that affect cells only at specific times in the cell cycle. What information should the nurse include?
1. "Cells cycle very quickly, so it is important to keep the client's blood level of medications stable." 2. "The length of the cell cycle varies among different types of body cells." 3. "The length of the cell cycle is typically at least two hours, so this medication has the opportunity to work for a long period." 4. "All the cells in a tissue have synchronized cell cycles."
The home health nurse learns that an elderly patient isn't able to get to the grocery store. She doesn't have much food in her home, and eats and drinks little
Most of her time is spent sitting in her chair watching television, often not realizing that she has bladder leakage. Which nursing actions would she implement to reduce the risk of developing a pressure ulcer? Select all that apply. a. Help her to get out of the chair every 2 hours. b. Change her clothing frequently. c. Bath the patient using soap and water. d. Promote intake of green tea throughout the day. e. Encourage her to wear incontinence products.