A soldier who served in a combat zone returned to the United States. The soldier's spouse complains to the nurse, "We had planned to start a family, but now he won't talk about it. He won't even look at children." The spouse is describing which symptom associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
a. Reexperiencing
b. Hyperarousal
c. Avoidance
d. Psychosis
ANS: C
Physiologic reactions to reminders of the event include a persistent avoidance of the stimuli associated with the trauma; the individual avoids talking about the event or avoids activities, people, or places that arouse memories of the trauma. Avoidance is exemplified by a sense of foreshortened future and estrangement. No evidence suggests that this soldier is having a hyperarousal reaction or is reexperiencing war-related traumas. Psychosis is not evident.
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In addition to the drop in systolic blood pressure, the patient's skin is pale and "clammy." The nurse should do which of the following? a. Report the findings to the health care provider immediately. b. Understand that the patient's arteries are constricting, causing pallor. c. Wait to see if the blood pressure increases in 30 minutes. d. Nothing; this is a normal occurrence following a thoracic surgery.
The nurse is discharging a client with osteoarthritis. Which of the following would the nurse include in the teaching plan? Standard Text: Select all that apply
1. Obesity increases the risks of bone, muscle, and joint disorders. 2. Musculoskeletal health is influenced by the diet. 3. Exercise is important in the prevention of osteoarthritis. 4. Smoking and alcohol contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. 5. As the condition progresses the hands may develop contractures that resemble swan necks
The nurse is providing genetic counseling for an expectant couple who already have a child with trisomy 18 . The nurse should:
a. Tell the couple they need to have an abortion within 2 to 3 weeks. b. Explain that the fetus has a 50% chance of having the disorder. c. Discuss options with the couple, including amniocentesis to determine whether the fetus is affected. d. Refer the couple to a psychologist for emotional support.
A patient diagnosed with sepsis suddenly develops dyspnea, crackles, hypertension, bounding pulses, agitation, and confusion. The nurse suspects that which condition has developed?
1. Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema 2. Right-sided heart failure 3. Left-sided heart failure 4. Constrictive pericarditis