A 44-year-old patient in the sexually transmitted infection clinic has a positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, but no chancre is visible on assessment. The nurse will plan to send specimens for
a. gram stain.
b. cytologic studies.
c. rapid plasma reagin (RPR) agglutination.
d. fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-Abs).
ANS: D
Because false positives are common with VDRL and RPR testing, FTA-Abs testing is recommended to confirm a diagnosis of syphilis. Gram staining is used for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia and cytologic studies are used to detect abnormal cells (such as neoplastic cells).
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A patient is prescribed eyedrops that constrict the pupil, permitting aqueous humor to flow. The nurse would reinforce the teaching by referring to the drops as
a. mydriatics. b. miotics. c. osmotics. d. inhibitors.
Why do physicians prefer to use e-prescription systems? (Select all that apply.)
a. Drug requests are processed more effi-ciently. b. Drug duplications are prevented. c. Less expensive drugs are used. d. Contraindications for a drug are identi-fied. e. Both the generic and trade names are la-beled.
A hospital has a number of different perineal pads available for use. A nurse is observed soaking several of them and writing down what she sees. This activity indicates the nurse is trying to:
1. improve the accuracy of blood loss estimation, which is usually a subjective as-sessment. 2. determine which pad is best. 3. demonstrate that other nurses usually underestimate blood loss. 4. reveal to the nurse supervisor that one of them needs some time off.
The nurse should refer which of the following patients to a partial hospitalization program? A patient who:
a. has a therapeutic lithium level and reports regularly for blood tests and clinic follow-up. b. needs psychoeducation for relaxation therapy related to agoraphobia and panic episodes. c. spent yesterday in a supervised crisis care center and continues to have active suicidal ideation. d. states, "I'm not sure I can avoid using alcohol when my spouse goes to work every morning."