During change-of-shift report, the nurse learns about the following four patients. Which patient requires assessment first?
a. 40-year-old with chronic pancreatitis who has gnawing abdominal pain
b. 58-year-old who has compensated cirrhosis and is complaining of anorexia
c. 55-year-old with cirrhosis and ascites who has an oral temperature of 102° F (38.8° C)
d. 36-year-old recovering from a laparoscopic cholecystectomy who has severe shoulder pain
c. 55-year-old with cirrhosis and ascites who has an oral temperature of 102° F (38.8° C)
This patient's history and fever suggest possible spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, which would require rapid assessment and interventions such as antibiotic therapy. The clinical manifestations for the other patients are consistent with their diagnoses and do not indicate complications are occurring.
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A surgeon refused a patient's request to restart a patient's total parenteral nutrition (giving nutrition through the intravenous route) because he believed that a greater good would be achieved by not using medical resources to prolong the life
of a terminally ill patient when the resources could be used for other patients. Which ethical theory best explains the surgeon's rationale? a. Ethics of care b. Utilitarianism c. Deontology d. Categorical imperative
The physician orders a 3-week trial of Benadryl 25 mg p.o. nightly for Mrs. Johnson, 80 years old, who has difficulty falling asleep and awakens frequently since the death of her husband 2 months ago
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The nurse is caring for a 4-year-old boy with infectious conjunctivitis. Which intervention would be least appropriate to include in the child's plan of care?
A) Rinsing the eye with cool water B) Educating the family about the disease C) Encouraging frequent hand washing D) Promoting eye safety
Transient mottling of the patient's skin in a cool room is a common finding in:
a. menopausal women. b. newborn infants. c. pregnant women. d. sedentary adults.