A patient is diagnosed with a fracture of anterior and posterior columns of 3 cervical vertebrae. The nurse realizes that this injury would be considered

1. stable.
2. life threatening.
3. unstable.
4. minor.


3

Rationale: The spine is conceptualized as having three columns: an anterior column that includes the anterior part of the vertebral body, a middle column that houses the posterior wall of the vertebral body, and a posterior column that includes the vertebral arch. If two or more of these columns are damaged, the injury is considered to be unstable. The patient has an unstable spinal cord injury. This injury is not stable, life-threatening, or minor.

Nursing

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The major hallmark of situational leadership is:

A. Assessing the readiness of the follower. B. Focusing on interpersonal relationships. C. Having effective listening skills. D. Motivating others.

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The population health nurse is aware that many members of the community, though they are employed, need to obtain additional foodstuffs every month from the local community food bank. The nurse knows that this indicates that:

1. There are insufficient employment opportunities in the community. 2. Poverty is increasing in the community. 3. Better information about food economy should be disseminated in the community. 4. The local grocery stores do not carry sufficient supplies.

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The client is taking exogenous cortisol, in the form of prednisone, daily for a temporary pulmonary inflammation. She tells the nurse that she is upset about her moon-shaped face and fat body. What is the nurse's best response?

A. "Don't worry; this is only water retention, not true fat." B. "Increasing your exercise will help change the shape of your face." C. "When you come off the drug, your body fat will change back to normal over time." D. "Obviously, you are not following the dietary restrictions recommended to you."

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Clients enrolled in a clinical drug trial are told that they might receive a placebo drug as part of a control group. A client asks the nurse what a placebo is. Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?

1. "A placebo is a substance that has no therapeutic effect." 2. "A placebo is a similar drug that is safe." 3. "A placebo is a drug that has been tested before." 4. "A placebo is an over-the-counter drug."

Nursing