The nurse plans nonpharmacological comfort measures for a patient who is dying. What activity should the nurse include for this type of comfort?
a. Keep the head of the bed lowered.
b. Provide regular hygiene and skin care.
c. Reduce the amount of analgesics given.
d. Offer foods and liquids with strong aro-mas.
B
Patients near death can be incontinent; thus the nurse provides hygiene and skin care to enhance his or her appearance, provide comfort, and maintain dignity. Skin care should be with an alco-hol-free lotion as needed because alcohol can dry out the skin and often a dying patient is not taking in much fluid. Unless the patient is unable to tolerate it, the nurse keeps him or her in semi-Fowler's position to facilitate breathing. The nurse administers adequate pain relief around the clock for the dying patient. Generally foods or liquids with a strong aroma tend to make a dying patient nauseated.
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The nurse is caring for a client who has had a cystectomy for bladder cancer. Postoperative nursing interventions should include:
1. secure catheters and stents with tape; keep drainage bags lower than the kidneys. 2. label all catheters and stents; keep drainage bags at kidney level. 3. reduce activity levels and keep the client on strict bedrest. 4. limit fluid intake to less than 1000 mL in 24 hours to promote healing.
Which of the following statements is an accurate description of nursing?
1. Nursing is a profession dependent upon the physician. 2. It is the role of the physician, not the nurse, to help clients understand their health. 3. Nursing includes the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to health and illness. 4. Nursing includes the diagnosis and cure of human diseases and any potential health problems.
The parents of a child with a karyotype of 47,XY, +21 ask the nurse what this means. Which is an accurate response by the nurse?
a. This karyotype is for a normal male. b. This karyotype is for a normal female. c. This karyotype is for a male with Down syndrome. d. This karyotype is for a female with Turner's syndrome.
Which drug or drug class is a "high alert" drug?
a. Penicillin b. Insulin c. NSAIDs d. Calcium