A patient who had a colostomy placed 1 month ago is feeling depressed and does not want to participate in sexual activities anymore. The patient is afraid that the partner does not want sex
The patient is afraid the ostomy is physically unattractive. Which initial nursing intervention will be most effective in helping this patient resume sexual activity?
a. Inform the patient about a support group for people with colostomies.
b. Reassure the patient that lots of people resume sex the same week the colostomy is placed.
c. Teach the patient about intimate activities that can be done to incorporate the ostomy.
d. Discuss ways to adapt to new body image so the patient will be comfortable in resuming intimacy.
ANS: D
The nurse should first address the patient's need to be comfortable with his or her own body image; once the patient's issues related to body image are resolved, intimacy may follow. Reassuring the patient that others manage to have sexual intercourse with an ostomy may help to decrease anxiety but may have the unintended effect of making the patient feel abnormal because he or she has not yet resumed sexual activity. Support groups may be helpful for the patient, but this is not the most effective initial intervention a nurse can provide; this may be helpful later. The patient is worried about the ostomy; incorporating it into intimate activities is insensitive and can even be damaging to the stoma.
You might also like to view...
The discovery of oxygen would be called pure science because this information
a. was obtained for the sake of obtaining new knowledge of the world. b. had an immediate use for humans. c. would be useful in curing, managing, or preventing disease. d. could direct further research at the bedside.
The nurse is caring for an older client who presents with dizziness and difficulty hearing. Which of the nurse's assessment findings will require collaboration with the client's primary health care provider? (Select all that apply.)
a. Tympanic membrane is retracted, with multiple air bubbles. b. The client reports inability to hear high-frequency voices and sounds. c. Clear watery drainage is present in the ear canal and is positive for glucose. d. Tympanic membrane is shiny and trans-lucent, with light reflex noted. e. Hearing test indicates positive Rinne test, with AC > BC noted bilaterally. f. The client reports dizziness after taking naproxen (Aleve) for arthritis pain.
Mrs. Howe, age 59, had a bilateral mastectomy with axillary node dissection and was discharged home 2 days later with drains in situ. Contrary to the nurses' predischarge teaching,
Mrs. Howe attempted to remove one of her drains independently once output ceased, resulting in pain, tissue trauma, and bleeding. Mrs. Howe claims that her injuries were the result of negligence by the nurses on the unit. How would the court apply the principle of comparative negligence in this case? A) The court would determine what proportion of the patient's injuries was the result of her own actions. B) The court would compare Mrs. Howe's actions with those of a reasonable person. C) The court would determine whether it was medically appropriate to discharge Mrs. Howe with her drains still in situ. D) The court would decide if the nurses on the postsurgical unit are legally obliged to teach patients.
The nurse is collecting admission data from a patient recently diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Which symptoms should the nurse expect the patient to report? (Select all that apply.)
a. Low back pain b. Dribbling after urination c. Difficulty initiating an erection d. Difficulty maintaining an erection e. Difficulty starting the urine stream