A patient has been diagnosed with a grade 1 astrocytoma, an intra-axial brain tumor. The patient asks, "What are my chances of surviving this thing?" The nurse's response is based on which information?
1. A grade 1 astrocytoma is a very aggressive form of this type of tumor.
2. It depends on whether the tumor metastasizes outside the brain.
3. Age is the greatest predictor of patient survival.
4. This type of tumor has a survival rate of 10 years.
3
Rationale 1: A grade 1 astrocytoma is not the most aggressive form of this cancer.
Rationale 2: Although astrocytomas may spread into surrounding normal brain tissue, it is rare for them to spread outside the brain and CSF system.
Rationale 3: The strongest predictor of survival with low-grade (grades 1 and 2) astrocytoma is age. One study reported a mean survival time of 8.5 years for adults less than 40 years of age; this contrasts with 4.9 years for adults 40 years of age and older.
Rationale 4: Approximately 75% of patients with this type of tumor die within 5 years.
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A young client is brought into the emergency department (ED) by a friend who says the client was "beat up" at school. The client is reluctant to provide the names of parents or a home address. What should the nurse suspect has occurred with this client?
1. The client does not want the individual who did the beating to get in trouble. 2. The client does not know his parents. 3. The client does not want the school to get in trouble. 4. The client is a victim of interpersonal violence.
Which type of leadership style do most people try to avoid?
1. Autocratic 2. Democratic 3. Laissez-Faire 4. Participative
While reviewing the role of the parathyroid hormone in the balance of calcium and phosphate levels, the nursing faculty will emphasize that the kidney responds to parathyroid stimulation by
A) increasing reabsorption of sodium in the distal tubules. B) reducing the reabsorption of phosphate. C) stimulating production of red blood cells. D) decreasing the reabsorption of calcium.
A patient was seen in the emergency department following an auto accident. He is being discharged on a muscle relaxant and antiinflammatory medications. Which discharge instruction is the most important for the nurse to give this patient?
a. Take medications on time. b. Keep medications in dark bottles. c. Get plenty of rest and sleep. d. Avoid driving and using machinery.