What health promotion activity should the nurse stress to the client who has xerostomia as a result of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer?
A. Carrying a medical alert card
B. Increasing carbohydrate and fat intake
C. Having a dental examination twice per year
D. Using only water-soluble lubricants on the irradiated skin
C
Xerostomia is dry mouth. It is common after radiation therapy in which the salivary glands are in the radiation path. The radiation damages these glands and permanently reduces their function. The client makes much less saliva. Some of the functions of saliva are to maintain a specific pH of the mouth and protect against infection by the action of salivary enzymes and immunoglobu-lins. The reduction in the protection provided by saliva changes the bacterial content of the mouth, increasing the risk for oral infections and dental caries (tooth decay).
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Which of the following indicators best demonstrates that crisis intervention has been successful?
a. Patient reports that he is no longer distressed. b. Patient reports that his life is back to normal. c. Patient reports sleeping 6 hours or more per night. d. Patient has returned to previous work schedule.
A student who is assigned to observe in the chemical dependency center asks "What is the difference
between drug abuse and drug dependence?" The nurse replies "Abuse implies maladaptive, consistent use of the drug despite having problems related to the drug.". Which statement should be used to describe dependency? a. Dependence involves the lack of control of drug use, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms when intake is reduced or stopped. b. Dependence occurs when psychoactive drug use interferes with the work of neurotransmitters. c. Dependence refers to symptoms that occur when two or more drugs affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are used for their additive effects. d. Dependence refers to taking a combination of drugs to weaken or inhibit the effect of another drug.
A hospitalized patient requests privacy to say the Kaddish. The nurse realizes this is keeping which spiritual ritual?
1. A daily prayer that Jews say at bedtime 2. A daily prayer that Jews say for one year in remembrance of one who has died 3. A daily prayer that Jews say at meals 4. A daily prayer that Jews say in the morning
Which of the following outcomes would the nurse evaluate as a goal met for a child who has been given a nursing diagnosis of "Fear related to separation from caregiver":
a. Child stayed overnight with a peer. b. Child stated he or she will go to camp for a week. c. Parent has devised a reward system for the child staying 1 hour or more without the parent present. d. Caregiver reports the child seems less nervous then talking about separation.