While bathing a patient, the nurse discovers a grayish black, nodular growth that resembles a blackberry in the middle of the patient's back. What action should the nurse take?
a. Report the findings to the patient's health care provider.
b. Teach the patient how to assess for changes in the growth.
c. Document the finding of an actinic kera-tosis on the back.
d. Inform the patient that he has a growth that is a melanoma.
A
These findings are consistent with a nodular malignant melanoma. This lesion should be eva-luated by the physician and removed immediately once the diagnosis is confirmed. Teaching the patient to assess for changes is a lesser-priority action. Actinic keratoses are not consistent with these findings but instead appear on fair-skinned people as small, scaly, red, or grayish papules. Biopsy is required before any diagnosis can be confirmed, at which time the physician should disclose the results.
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1. Flat position. 2. Fowler position. 3. Trendelenburg position. 4. Semi-Fowler position.
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When giving an antitussive, the nurse remembers that they are used primarily for what reason?
a. to relieve nasal congestion b. to thin secretions to ease removal of excessive secretions c. to stop the cough reflex when the cough is nonproductive d. to suppress productive and nonproductive coughs