Mr. Carrol is being assessed by the LPN. In assessing his sense of smell, the nurse gives a whiff of freshly ground coffee beans. With his left nostril, he determines this to be coffee. With his right nostril, he declares it to be cinnamon. This is
a. Normal—all people differentiate odors differently with each nostril
b. Normal—it is necessary to use both nostrils together to determine odors accurately
c. Abnormal—odors should be perceived the same in both nostrils
d. Abnormal—Mr. Carrol needs surgery immediately to cure a blockage
C
Responses A and B are incorrect. Response D indicates the need for surgery to cure a blockage that may or may not exist. This is overreacting. The physician should be notified of the abnormal finding so that appropriate testing, if indicated, can be done.
You might also like to view...
The home care nurse sees a patient for the first time. The patient has crackles in the lower lobes of the lungs, an audible S3, and pitting edema in the feet and ankles. What condition is the patient experiencing?
A) Pneumonia B) Liver disease C) Congestive heart failure D) Myocardial infarction
A patient with mastoiditis is admitted to the post-surgical unit after undergoing a radical mastoidectomy. The nurse should identify what priority of postoperative care?
A) Assessing for mouth droop and decreased lateral eye gaze B) Assessing for increased middle ear pressure and perforated ear drum C) Assessing for gradual onset of conductive hearing loss and nystagmus D) Assessing for scar tissue and cerumen obstructing the auditory canal
What are critical points to communicate during a shift report or hand-off communication?
a. Patient name, current physical status, ac-tivities that have contributed to current status, problems that have occurred during the shift, nursing care to address problems, and a readback or response b. Patient name, room number and date of birth, changes in current orders, provider's visits, laboratory tests that have been completed, and physical activity of the patient c. Patient name, health care provider, diag-nosis, review of all current orders, family visits and involvement in care, review of history leading to hospitalization, and current status of the patient d. Physician orders for past 24 hours, patient name and date of birth, medical and social history prior to hospitalization, and review of health problems since hospitalization
Which activity tends to increase nurses' satisfaction during work?
a. Multitasking to complete all assigned work b. Taking time to talk with clients about their needs c. Doing all important tasks themselves to make sure they are done correctly d. Putting off difficult activities until the end of the shift