A patient is admitted with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) says he had a very stressful experience when in high school and has never really recovered. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
a. Encourage the patient to talk about what caused the traumatic event.
b. Guide the patient in relaxation techniques to distract him when flashbacks occur.
c. Provide sleeping medication so that he can sleep at night.
d. Allow the patient to talk about his condi-tion as often as he likes.
B
Patients with PTSD should not be encouraged to talk about the traumatic event. The patient should learn relaxation techniques to distract themselves when anxiety symptoms begin. Sedation does not address the problem of anxiety.
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The major role of the nurse regarding advance directives is
a. Signing as a witness of the advance directive document b. Ensuring that the resident is not coerced into signing c. Changing advance directives with the family's wishes d. Asking the physician to order advance directives
The nurse assesses a patient in a Posey safety reminder device (SRD) for which problem(s) that may increase because of the use of SRDs? (Select all that apply.)
a. Immobility b. Lethargy c. Risk for impaired circulation d. Risk for skin impairment e. Incontinence
While explaining to the parents of a 5-year-old why the child's fractured femur has so much swelling and bruising, the nurse will include which of the following statements?
A) "Your child fell out of the tree with so much force that the body is trying to send extra fluid to the area of the break." B) "All bone fractures have lots of bruising so it's nothing to worry about." C) "This bone is hollowed out, and the inside of the shaft produces marrow where red blood cells are formed." D) "There are a lot of cartilage attaching to the shaft of the femur, so when you break that bone, it ruptures the cartilage and causes more swelling."
The nurse is planning to teach a 75-year-old patient about administering her medication. How can the nurse enhance the patient's ability to learn?
A) Provide links to websites that contain information related to the medication B) Exclude family members from the session C) Use color-coded materials D) Make the information relevant to the patient's condition