The nurse suspects that a client with depression and breast cancer has been hoarding her pain and sleeping medication. Which of these nursing actions is the BEST choice?
a. Confront the client with suspicions about the medication.
b. Withhold her medications, and discuss the situation with her provider tomorrow.
c. Allow this client the freedom to make choices regarding her own life.
d. While the client is at her radiation therapy, conduct a thorough search of her belongings.
A
The most appropriate action for the nurse to take is to confront the client. Individuals with medical conditions are at risk for developing depression and contemplating suicide. The suicide rate of clients with cancer is probably elevated, particularly in the first year after diagnosis. The nurse would recognize this risk and use confrontation in an attempt to provide a safe environment for the client and prevent suicide attempts.
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The nurse is preparing to administer warfarin (Coumadin) to a client with deep vein thrombophlebitis (DVT). Which laboratory value would most clearly indicate that the patient's warfarin is at therapeutic levels?
A) Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) within normal reference range B) Prothrombin time (PT) eight to ten times the control C) International normalized ratio (INR) between 2 and 3 D) Hematocrit of 32%
The nurse stops to think about a previous patient care situation before providing care to a current patient. What type of thinking is this nurse performing?
1. Reflective 2. Divergent 3. Systematic 4. Creative
The nurse is meeting with an adolescent female patient who reports frequent cutting. In which way should the nurse interpret the patient's information?
1. The patient is depressed. 2. The patient needs an immediate medication evaluation. 3. This is typical behavior adolescent behavior and not really a big problem. 4. The patient needs to feel safe and develop new coping skills.
You are required to communicate only with your patients and coworkers.
Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)