In the cancer clinic where you work, you have to notify one of your patients that she needs to schedule an ultrasound because her routine mammogram showed several new areas of small calcifications
Her last mammogram was a year ago. She becomes very anxious upon hearing this news and wants to know what this means.
a. Explain, in lay terms, why it is important to have further tests to confirm these calcifications and determine their cause.
b. After hearing your explanation, the patient becomes even more anxious and is worried that she has cancer. Keeping in mind the other possible causes of calcifications, how would you attempt to allay her fears while remaining realistic?
c. What other assessments or diagnostic tests would help determine the cause of the calcifications?
- Explain the term "calcifications": small deposits or collections of a mineral in tissue. This mineral is an important part of bones but can cause problems if it is too much in the blood or tissues.
- Because these calcifications are a change from her mammogram a year ago, her health care team needs to find out what may be causing them.
- Calcifications may indicate the presence of cancer cells even when there is no apparent mass on the mammogram. Emphasize the need for early detection.
- Explain that there are several possible noncancer causes of these specks on the mammogram, but that further tests are needed to determine the exact cause and appropriate treatment. Noncancer causes include hormonal abnormalities, kidney problems, too much vitamin D, or problems with bone absorption of calcium.
- Provide positive reinforcement for good health practices. She has annual mammograms, which is
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The nurse is caring for a patient who developed a pulmonary embolism after surgery. Which goal statement is the highest priority for the nurse to include in the patient's care plan for the diagnosis Impaired gas exchange r/t impaired pulmonary blood flow from embolus?
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1. Inferential statistics. 2. Class intervals. 3. Descriptive statistics. 4. Measures of central tendency.
The patient asks about his lab test, which showed a high level of TSH and a low level of T4. You explain:
1. "It means that you have an inconsistency in your thyroid tests, and you will need more testing." 2. "I am sorry. You will have to ask your doctor about your lab results. We are not allowed to discuss them." 3. "The TSH is sending a message to your thyroid gland to increase production, but your thyroid isn't doing that." 4. "That means that you will have to go on hormone therapy for the rest of your life."
The most important thing a nurse can teach patients to help them avoid possible complications from polypharmacy is
1. To carry a complete list of all medications and the dosages being taken. 2. Why he or she is taking each medication. 3. How often to take each medication. 4. Possible side effects of each medication.