An older adult patient is experiencing problems with chewing while recovering from extensive oral surgery. The nurse best affects this patient's risk for infection by
a. ordering a mechanical soft diet for the pa-tient.
b. monitoring the patient regularly for any low-grade fever.
c. providing regular oral care with an antibi-otic mouthwash.
d. asking which flavors of protein supple-ment drink the patient would prefer.
D
Nutritional supplements for a patient with an eating disorder or dysfunction can decrease the pa-tient's susceptibility to infection by providing protein. The patient still may not be able to chew a mechanically soft diet. Oral care will help but will not decrease the problem. The patient needs protein, and it is best made available as a drink because of the chewing problems.
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Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
A nurse is taking a class on providing culturally competent care for clients with severe mental illnesses. Which response best reflects the nurse's self-awareness of the sociocultural factors influencing his or her beliefs?
1. "When I was growing up, my parents believed that mental illnesses were the work of evil spirits." 2. "All that I need to understand about the culture of mental illness is available on the Internet." 3. "My father was a psychiatrist, so I am very knowledgeable about how to work with mental illnesses." 4. "I have been through therapy, so I know what to expect from clients with mental illnesses."