The spouse of your 72-year-old patient has asked you to assess his wife's nutritional status because she has lost weight over a 4-month period. Which of the following patient problems is of most concern because of the risk for aspiration?
a. decreased appetite c. difficulty swallowing
b. difficulty feeding herself d. recurring canker sores
C
Possible problems that may be noted when assessing the elderly are difficulty chewing (oral problems such as canker sores), difficulty swallowing (possible stroke or Parkinson's, which could cause aspiration), decreased appetite, decreased ability to feed self, and decreased taste and smell. There is also a decreased emptying time of the esophagus, making the older adult more susceptible to aspiration. All of the options are possible problems for the elderly; however, difficulty swallowing is of most concern because of the risk for aspiration.
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Which of the following devices is best suited to deliver 65% oxygen to a patient who is spontaneously breathing?
a. Face mask with non-rebreathing reservoir b. Low-flow nasal cannula c. Simple face mask d. Venturi mask
A patient with low vision has called the clinic and asked the nurse for help with acquiring some low-vision aids. What else can the nurse offer to help this patient manage his low vision?
A) A cane B) Medication C) Referral to community agencies D) Referral to a support group for the visually impaired
A postoperative patient reports pain, which the patient rates as an 8 on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the most extreme pain). The prescriber has ordered acetaminophen [Tylenol] 650 mg PO every 6 hours PRN pain. What will the nurse do?
a. Ask the patient what medications have helped with pain in the past. b. Contact the provider to request a different analgesic medication. c. Give the pain medication and reposition the patient to promote comfort. d. Request an order to administer the medi-cation every 4 hours.
Which of the following abbreviations means "drop"?
a. gtt c. aa b. O.D. d. p.o.