A patient asks a nurse why drugs that have been approved by the FDA still have unknown side effects. The nurse tell the patient that:
a. testing for all side effects of a medication would be prohibitively expensive.
b. patients in drug trials often are biased by their preconceptions of a drug's benefits.
c. researchers tend to conduct studies that will prove the benefits of their new drugs.
d. subjects in drug trials do not always represent the full spectrum of possible patients.
ANS: D
All drug trials are limited by a relatively small group of subjects who may not have all the characteristics of people who will be using the drug; therefore, some side effects go undetected until the drug is in use. Although drug trials are very expensive, this is only an indirect reason they do not detect all side effects before approval. In theory, well-designed drug trials, using blinded studies, minimize or eliminate subject bias. Designing studies to prove desired results is unethical.
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The nurse is teaching a class on basic assessment skills. Which of these statements is true regarding the stethoscope and its use?
a. Slope of the earpieces should point posteriorly (toward the occiput). b. Although the stethoscope does not magnify sound, it does block out extraneous room noise. c. Fit and quality of the stethoscope are not as important as its ability to magnify sound. d. Ideal tubing length should be 22 inches to dampen the distortion of sound.
An analysis of aborted tissues reveals that the fetus had an aneuploid condition. The nurse asks the mother if her menstrual periods are generally regular. What is the rationale for this question?
1. Many spontaneous abortions occur before the mother is aware she is pregnant. 2. Menstrual irregularities signal hormone alterations that may cause aneuploidy. 3. Spontaneous abortion often "resets" a woman's hormonal cycle, making periods more regular. 4. Aneuploidy's greatest effects are on the secondary sexual characteristics.
A woman tests positive for the human immunodeficiency virus antibody but has no symptoms. She is considered a carrier. What component of the infection cycle does the woman illustrate?
A) a reservoir B) an infectious agent C) a portal of exit D) a portal of entry
The nurse explains to the female client the risk factors for osteoporosis. What risk factors should the nurse include in the teaching session? (Select all that apply.)
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. 1. Lack of adequate vitamin D or calcium in the diet 2. Excessive vitamin D or calcium in the diet 3. Tobacco use 4. High alcohol consumption 5. High caffeine consumption