A client who is at least 65 years of age is asking the nurse how he will afford his hospitalization, which has now been extended, involving extremely expensive drugs. The best response by the nurse is:
1. "Don't worry. I'm sure everything will work out OK."
2. "You need to focus on recovering, not worrying about finances."
3. "Much of your care will be covered by Medicare."
4. "I'll have someone from the business office come and talk to you about your bill."
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Ignoring the client's concerns by telling him not to worry is not therapeutic communication and does little, if anything, to confront the client's concerns.
Rationale 2: Ignoring the client's concerns by telling him not to worry is not therapeutic communication and does little, if anything, to confront the client's concerns.
Rationale 3: The Medicare amendment to the Social Security Act provided a national and state health insurance program for older adults. By the mid-1970s, virtually everyone over 65 years of age was protected by hospital insurance under Part A. In 1988, Congress expanded Medicare to include extremely expensive hospital care, "catastrophic care," and expensive drugs.
Rationale 4: Giving the concern to the business office is merely "passing the buck." Nurses should have some knowledge about the payment sources of their clients, especially those who have automatic coverage with Medicare because of their age.
You might also like to view...
A patient develops diarrhea secondary to antibiotic therapy. He is to receive two tablets of diphenoxylate HCl with atropine sulfate (Lomotil) orally as needed for each loose stool. The nurse should inform him that he may experience
A) dizziness. B) bradycardia. C) muscle aches. D) increase in appetite.
A 24-year-old client is in the hospital with pneumonia. Why should the nurse encourage the client to request medication for pain?
1. Improve shallow breathing 2. Promote sleep 3. Improve appetite and strength 4. Reduce the accumulation of fluid in the lungs
A staff nurse is serving as a preceptor for nursing students. In which level of Benner's proficiency is this nurse practicing?
1. Stage II 2. Stage III 3. Stage IV 4. Stage V
Which questions are appropriate for the nurse to ask when assessing physical characteristics when conducting a community assessment? Select all that apply
1) What is the geographic description of the community? 2) What is the criteria for membership in the community? 3) How old is the community? 4) What are the community's demographics? 5) What are the neighboring areas?