ATI LPN
Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition
Chapter 35 : Caring for Clients With HIV AIDS Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client has been diagnosed with HIV and has been placed on antiretroviral therapy. What does the nurse inform the client will be required for determining the progression of the disease as well as guiding drug therapy?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Viral load testing is used to guide drug therapy and follow the progression of the disease. Viral load tests and T4-cell counts may be performed every 2 to 3 months once it is determined that a person is HIV positive. The medication should be adhered to and not discontinued. There is no cure for the disease at this time. Antiretroviral therapy is not generally changed or added to without reason or lack of response. The Western blot is used for confirmation of the presence of the HIV virus.
Question 2 of 5
A client is informed of needing to start on antiretroviral therapy, and the client is concerned about the possibility of not being able to afford the therapy. What can the nurse inform the client is the largest source of public funding for HIV/AIDS care?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Medicaid, a state-based medical assistance program for low-income clients, is the largest source of public funding for HIV/AIDS care. Medicare is for clients who are over age 65 years or disabled. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is a private insurance with a cap on coverage. AIDS Drug Assistance Program is the third largest source of funding for HIV in the United States for individuals who do not have health insurance that pays for drug therapy.
Question 3 of 5
What does the nurse understand is the goal of antiretroviral therapy?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The goal of antiretroviral therapy is to bring the viral load to a virtually undetectable level. This level is no more than 500 or 50 copies, depending on the sensitivity of the selected viral load test. It is not possible to reverse the status to a negative, and it cannot eliminate the risk of AIDS but can help with prolonging the asymptomatic stage of HIV. Antiretroviral therapy does not treat mycobacterium avium complex.
Question 4 of 5
A client on antiretroviral drug therapy informs the nurse about sometimes forgetting to take the medication for a few days. What should the nurse inform the client can occur when the medications are not taken as prescribed?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clients who neglect to take antiretroviral drugs as prescribed risk development of drug resistance. When drug levels are not adequately maintained, viral replication and mutations increase. Funding will not cease for noncompliance. The medications are not all available in IV form. Taking a higher dose of the medication if missed does not resolve drug resistance.
Question 5 of 5
A client that is HIV+ has been diagnosed with Pneumocystis pneumonia caused by P. jiroveci. What medication does the nurse expect that the client will take for the treatment of this infection?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
To prevent and treat Pneumocystis pneumonia, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra) is prescribed. The other medications are antifungals and used to treat candidiasis.