The nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient whose family is insistent that additional chemotherapy be administered even though the patient will most likely die within the next few days. What is the best response of the nurse?
a. "The insurance company will not pay for chemotherapy at this stage."
b. "The focus right now needs to be on keeping your loved one comfortable."
c. "I will call the physician and let him know that you would like to restart chemotherapy."
d. "The patient needs to get stronger first before chemotherapy can be administered."
ANS: B
The nurse must function as the patient's advocate and encourage what is in the best interest of the patient. Chemotherapy will not extend the patient's life when death is expected within the next few days and will only make the patient suffer needlessly when it is administered. The patient will not get stronger over the next few days, and this criterion for chemotherapy will never be met.
You might also like to view...
A patient in the intensive care unit has developed gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The nurse would prepare to fluid resuscitate this patient with which intravenous fluid?
1. 5% dextrose and 0.45% normal saline 2. 2.5% dextrose 3. 0.45% normal saline 4. 0.9% normal saline
A PHN uses a published systematic review to determine which exercises should be incorporated into a newly developed older adult exercise program. Which of the following resources would most likely contain this information?
most likely contain this information? a. Evidence-Based Practice for Public Health Project b. PubMed c. Cochrane Public Health Group (PHRG) d. Task Force on Community Preventive Services
The nurse assesses a 15-year-old client who shows some signs of possible drug addiction. The nurse reviews the client's health and family history, looking for key indicators for risk of substance dependence, such as: (Select all that apply.)
A) Obesity B) Age at first use of illicit substance C) Family history of alcoholism D) Presence of a learning disability E) Early onset of diabetes
The total fluid intake of the below is __________ mL
1 fluid ounce = 30 mL coffee 3 fluid ounces ginger ale 10 fluid ounces water 6 fluid ounces broth 4 fluid ounces Fill in the blank(s) with correct word