A suspicious, socially isolated patient lives alone, eats one meal a day at a local soup kitchen, and spends the remaining daily food allowance on cigarettes. Select a community psychiatric nurse's best initial action
a. Explore ways to stop smoking with the patient.
b. Report the situation to the manager of the soup kitchen.
c. Assess the patient's weight; determine foods and amounts eaten.
d. Arrange hospitalization for the patient while a new treatment plan is formulated.
C
Assessment of biopsychosocial needs and general ability to live in the community is called for before any other action is taken. Both nutritional status and income adequacy are critical assessment parameters. A patient may be able to maintain adequate nutrition while eating only one meal a day. The rule is to assess before taking action. Hospitalization may not be necessary.
You might also like to view...
The patient is experiencing respiratory acidosis. What nursing action is most likely to alleviate this condition?
A) Suction the endotracheal tube. B) Reduce the respiratory rate on the ventilator. C) Administer intravenous bicarbonate. D) Increase the rate of crystalloid intravenous fluids.
Infuse Kefzol 0.5 g in 50 mL D5W in 30 minutes. The administration set delivers 20 gtt/mL. _____
a. 33 gtt/min b. 50 gtt/min c. 100 gtt/min d. 17 gtt/min
A patient has been instructed to use a topical decongestant for allergic rhinitis. Which information is important for the nurse to include when teaching the patient about the use of this medicine?
a. There are no risks for rebound congestion with this medicine. b. It is safe to take this drug with other MAO inhibitors. c. Topical decongestants have a slower onset of action. d. You should use this medication no more than 3 to 5 days.
One case of smallpox occurs in a population in which it was considered to be previously elimi-nated. Which of the following best describes what has occurred?
a. Endemic b. Epidemic c. Pandemic d. Infectivity