Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care for a 33-year-old patient with a new diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
a. Instruct the patient to purchase a soft mattress.
b. Suggest that the patient take a nap in the afternoon.
c. Teach the patient to use lukewarm water when bathing.
d. Suggest exercise with light weights several times daily.
ANS: B
Adequate rest helps decrease the fatigue and pain that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients are taught to avoid stressing joints, to use warm baths to relieve stiffness, and to use a firm mattress. When stabilized, a therapeutic exercise program is usually developed by a physical therapist to include exercises that improve the flexibility and strength of the affected joints, and the patient's overall endurance.
You might also like to view...
Which sleep disturbance would be most likely for a patient with bipolar I disorder?
a. Early morning awakening b. Fragmentation of sleep c. Decreased REM sleep d. Hypersomnia
Your patient, a 62-year-old white male whose chief complaint is abdominal discomfort, is jaundiced and has an enlarged abdomen. The patient denies any tenderness after you perform fist percussion over his liver. This finding most likely indicates
a. a normal finding. b. hepatitis. c. insensitivity to pain associated with a grossly enlarged liver. d. obstructed bile ducts.
A 69-year-old man is postoperative day 2 following a transurethral prostatic resection (TUPR)
The patient had his urinary catheter removed at 06:00 this morning but has not voided in the 5 hours since the removal, despite the fact that he has been drinking large amounts of fluids. What nursing assessment will most accurately determine whether the patient is retaining urine? A) Bladder palpation B) Bladder ultrasound C) Inspection of the patient's pubic region D) An audit of the patient's recent intake and output
The client tells the nurse that she has a living will. This document:
a. provides direction regarding medical care in the event the person is unable to make decisions personally. b. enables any competent individual to name someone to exercise decision-making authority, under specific circumstances, on the individual's behalf. c. provides general information about an individual's personal values, beliefs, and preferences that would be useful in guiding treatment decisions made by health care professionals. d. provides precise instructions for the type of care the client wants or does not want in a number of scenarios.