A 35-year-old mother of 3 young children has been diagnosed with stage II breast cancer

After discussing treatment options with her physician the woman goes home to talk to her husband, later calling the nurse for clarification of some points. The patient tells the nurse that the physician has recommended breast conservation surgery followed by radiation, and the husband is asking why his wife does not have a modified radical mastectomy "to be sure all the cancer is gone." What would be the nurse's best response?
A) "Modified radical mastectomies are very hard on a patient, both physically and emotionally and they really aren't necessary anymore."
B) According to the NIH, having a modified radical mastectomy, is no longer necessary."
C) "Modified radical mastectomies have a really poor survival rate because of recurrent malignancies. Do you really want to take that chance?
D) "According to the NIH, breast conservation combined with radiation has a survival rate that is the same as if you had a modified radical mastectomy."


Ans: D
Feedback: In 1990, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a consensus statement that breast conservation along with radiation therapy in stage I and stage II breast cancer resulted in a survival rate equal to that of modified radical mastectomy.

Nursing

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A primipara with mitral valve prolapse has been placed on prophylactic antibiotics during labor. She asks you why she needs this medicine. The nurse responds to the client based on the understanding that the medication:

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A nurse is using the scientific method to solve a patient situation. Which action should the nurse take first?

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