Your patient's spouse died recently from a sudden illness after 45 years of marriage
The patient was the primary caregiver for the spouse during this time. The patient is now depressed and withdrawn and has verbalized feelings of uselessness. Which action by the nurse is best?
a. Encourage the patient take up a hobby that will occupy some time.
b. Explain that volunteering would be an excellent way to stay useful.
c. Assure the patient that these feelings of sadness will pass with time.
d. Ask the patient to share some cherished memories of the spouse.
B
Volunteering will help the patient to interact with people and feel productive and valued for the ability to help others as stated in the activity theory. A hobby does not offer the chance to help others. Assuring the patient that feelings will pass is false reassurance and does nothing to help the patient to be proactive. Reminiscing is a valued activity, but it is not the best choice for regaining a sense of usefulness.
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Your patient has a gallstone blocking the bile duct. When you assess the patient's laboratory studies what would you expect to find?
A) Increased bilirubin level in the blood B) Decreased cholesterol level C) Increased BUN level D) Decreased serum alkaline phosphatase level
The nurse is reviewing maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) results. Which conditions are associated with elevated levels of MSAFP? (Select all that apply.)
a. Fetal demise b. Neural tube defects c. Abdominal wall defects d. Chromosomal trisomies e. Gestational trophoblastic disease
The nurse is caring for a 33-year-old patient who arrived in the emergency department with acute respiratory distress. Which assessment finding by the nurse requires the most rapid action?
a. The patient's PaO2 is 45 mm Hg. b. The patient's PaCO2 is 33 mm Hg. c. The patient's respirations are shallow. d. The patient's respiratory rate is 32 breaths/minute.
Which of these strategies are appropriate to manage GI dysfunction that CF patients often
experience? Select all that apply. a. Administer fat-soluble vitamins daily. b. Administer pancreatic enzymes with meals and snacks. c. Restrict fat intake. d. Encourage a high-protein diet. e. Breastfeeding is contraindicated in infants with CF. f. Encourage snacks between meals.