After several doses of chemotherapy, a patient complains of fatigue, pallor, progressive weakness, exertional dyspnea, headache, and tachycardia. Which problem should the nurse identify as a priority for this patient?
1. change in nutritional status
2. difficulty with activity
3. feeling unable to control the disease process
4. psychosocial issues dealing with the disease process
Correct Answer: 2
Fatigue, pallor, weakness, dyspnea with activity, headache and tachycardia would cause difficulty with activity. Nutritional or iron deficiency is not the cause of the symptoms, which are related to tissue hypoxia. These manifestations do not indicate that the patient feels unable to control the disease process. Although the patient might be having coping issues, the physical symptoms are the greatest complaints; therefore, coping is not the top priority in planning care. Physiological needs must be met prior to self-actualization needs.
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A 39-year-old patient with a suspected herniated intervertebral disc is scheduled for a myelogram. Which information is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider before the procedure?
a. The patient is anxious about the test. b. The patient has an allergy to shellfish. c. The patient has back pain when lying flat. d. The patient drank apple juice 4 hours earlier.