The client is a very thin, emaciated 86-year-old woman who reports new-onset shortness of breath. Chest x-ray reveals a spot on the lungs that the physician believes is an inoperable lung cancer
The client's emaciated status would exclude her from receiving chemotherapy, and the physician says the location of the cancer would make radiation therapy unsuccessful. In advocating for this client, the nurse would encourage the health care team to: 1. Perform any procedure necessary to diagnose this suspected cancer.
2. Promote the use of noninvasive procedures to diagnose the suspected cancer.
3. Provide palliative care to treat the signs and symptoms without diagnostic testing.
4. Determine the client and family's wishes regarding diagnostic testing.
4
Rationale: An elderly emaciated client with few options for treatment of cancer if confirmed can be best treated palliatively, but it is the choice of the client and family that should direct the plan of care and choices of diagnostic testing.
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The nurse explains to a co-worker that in order to practice in an ethical manner, the first thing the nurse must do is to
a. clarify one's own values to be sure they can be helpful in ethical dilemmas b. find an employer with organizational goals consistent with ethical practice. c. follow an established set of rules when confronted with an ethics dilemma. d. understand nursing's role in meeting the professional goals of nursing.
The nurse caring for a patient recovering from a total hip replacement should do which of the following to best ensure this patient's nutritional needs?
1. Assess for tolerance to diet and progress from clear liquid to another level as tolerated. 2. Maintain clear liquid diet with intravenous fluid supplementation. 3. Plan to support nutritional status with enteral feedings. 4. Plan to support nutritional status with parenteral supplements.
A client is diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI). The health care practitioner elects to treat the client with ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
The client asks the nurse why she isn't receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ), the drug she was given 8 months ago for a UTI. What would be the most accurate response? 1. "Many clients have developed resistance to TMP-SMZ, so that drug isn't used as much." 2. "It is obvious that the TMP-SMZ didn't clear up your infection the first time, so you are being given another medication." 3. "I'm sure there is a good reason why you are being given this different medication." 4. "Cipro is less expensive than the drug you took the last time."
A client has an order for a narcotic analgesic every 3 to 4 hours and he received his last dose 3 hours earlier. Which action is most appropriate for the nurse to take in response to the client's request for pain medication on his first postoperative day?
A) Provide the client with pain medication. B) Tell the client that the pain cannot be severe. C) Document and ask the client to wait 1 hour. D) Contact the physician for a change in medication.