ATI RN
foundation of nursing questions and answers Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 66-year-old patient is in a hospice receiving palliative care for lung cancer which has metastasized to the patients liver and bones. For the past several hours, the patient has been experiencing dyspnea. What nursing action is most appropriate to help to relive the dyspnea the patient is experiencing?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Initiate high-flow oxygen therapy. Dyspnea in a patient with lung cancer can be caused by hypoxia due to compromised lung function. High-flow oxygen therapy can help improve oxygenation and alleviate dyspnea. Administering a bolus of normal saline (A) would not directly address the underlying cause of dyspnea. Administering high doses of opioids (C) may lead to respiratory depression and should be used cautiously in patients experiencing dyspnea. Administering bronchodilators and corticosteroids (D) may be appropriate for certain types of dyspnea, but in this case, addressing hypoxia with high-flow oxygen therapy is the most appropriate initial nursing action.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is caring for an 87-year-old Mexican-American female patient who is in end-stage renal disease. The physician has just been in to see the patient and her family to tell them that nothing more can be done for the patient and that death is not far. The physician offers to discharge the patient home to hospice care, but the patient and family refuse. After the physician leaves, the patients daughter approaches you and asks what hospice care is. What would this lack of knowledge about hospice care be perceived as?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: A barrier to hospice care for this patient. The lack of knowledge about hospice care can be perceived as a barrier to accessing this type of care for the patient and her family. Understanding hospice care is crucial in making informed decisions about end-of-life care options. This lack of knowledge does not necessarily indicate lack of education (choice A), language barrier (choice B), or inability to grasp American concepts of health care (choice D), as hospice care is a universal concept that transcends cultural and educational backgrounds.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse has made a referral to a grief support group, knowing that many individuals find these both comforting and beneficial after the death of a loved one. What is the most important accomplishment available by attending a grief support group?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Normalization of feelings and experiences. Attending a grief support group helps individuals feel validated and understood by others who are going through similar emotions. This normalization can reduce feelings of isolation and provide a sense of belonging, which is crucial in the grieving process. It also allows individuals to recognize that their feelings and experiences are common reactions to loss. Choice A is incorrect because a grief support group focuses more on accepting and processing the new reality rather than incorporating the old life into it. Choice B is incorrect as it suggests maintaining the old life rather than adjusting to a new normal. Choice C is incorrect because the focus of a grief support group is not solely on social skills but on emotional support and coping mechanisms.
Question 4 of 5
The hospice nurse is caring for a 45-year-old mother of three young children in the patients home. During the most recent visit, the nurse has observed that the patient has a new onset of altered mental status, likely resulting from recently diagnosed brain metastases. What goal of nursing interventions should the nurse identify?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The goal of nursing interventions in this scenario is to teach family members how to interact with and ensure safety for the patient with impaired cognition. This is the most appropriate response because it addresses the immediate need to provide the patient with appropriate care and support in their home environment. By educating the family on how to interact with the patient and ensure their safety, the nurse can help maintain a sense of normalcy for the patient and promote their well-being. Choice A is incorrect because sedating the patient may not be the best approach without considering other interventions first. Choice B is incorrect as moving the patient to an acute-care facility may not be necessary or feasible at this time. Choice C is incorrect as it focuses on end-of-life care rather than addressing the immediate need of supporting the patient with altered mental status.
Question 5 of 5
A patient has come into the free clinic asking to be tested for HIV infection. The patient asks the nurse how the test works. The nurse responds that if the testing shows that antibodies to the AIDS virus are present in the blood, this indicates what?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: The patient has been infected with HIV. Antibodies to the AIDS virus in the blood indicate a past or current infection with HIV. This is because the body produces antibodies in response to the presence of the virus. A: The patient is immune to HIV is incorrect because antibodies indicate exposure, not immunity. B: The patient's immune system is intact is incorrect because the presence of antibodies does not necessarily reflect the overall functionality of the immune system. C: The patient has AIDS-related complications is incorrect because the presence of antibodies does not directly indicate the presence of AIDS-related complications.