A patient becomes emotional while discussing their recent diagnosis. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's emotions and offering empathy and support is the most appropriate response in this situation. It is important for the nurse to show understanding and compassion towards the patient, especially when they are feeling emotional about a recent diagnosis. By acknowledging the patient's emotions, the nurse can create a supportive environment that facilitates open communication and helps the patient feel heard and valued. This approach can also help build trust between the patient and the nurse, leading to better outcomes in terms of patient care and overall well-being. Ignoring the patient's emotions, telling them to stop being emotional, or changing the subject may make the patient feel dismissed or isolated, which could negatively impact their mental and emotional state. Thus, offering empathy and support is key in helping the patient cope with their emotions and navigate through their diagnosis.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The patient's presentation of central obesity, moon face, buffalo hump, purple striae, and elevated cortisol levels strongly suggest Cushing's syndrome. Cushing's syndrome is a disorder characterized by excessive levels of cortisol, either due to an endogenous (e.g., adrenal tumor) or exogenous (e.g., prolonged steroid use) source. The classic physical features of Cushing's syndrome include central obesity with thin extremities (truncal obesity), moon face (rounding and reddening of the face), buffalo hump (accumulation of fat between the shoulders), and purple striae (stretch marks that are wide and purple in color). In the context of the elevated cortisol levels, these clinical signs are highly indicative of Cushing's syndrome. Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus would not typically present with the specific combination of symptoms described.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In this scenario, the patient's presentation of a painless thyroid nodule and hoarseness of voice is consistent with papillary thyroid carcinoma, a type of thyroid cancer. While Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease are autoimmune thyroid conditions that can lead to thyroid nodules, they typically do not present with hoarseness of voice. Diabetes mellitus does not directly cause these symptoms. Thyroid cancer, particularly papillary thyroid carcinoma, is the most likely cause based on the patient's clinical presentation and the biopsy results.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The patient's presentation of thyroid nodule with compression symptoms like difficulty swallowing and breathing, along with fine-needle aspiration biopsy showing a follicular pattern and colloid-filled spaces, is highly suggestive of a follicular adenoma. Follicular adenomas are benign thyroid tumors that can cause compression symptoms due to their growth and size, leading to pressure on surrounding structures in the neck area. The presence of colloid-filled spaces in the biopsy is characteristic of follicular adenomas.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The patient's presenting symptoms of chest pain worsened by inspiration and relieved by sitting forward, with associated DVT in the lower extremity, suggest a high likelihood of pulmonary embolism. Chest pain that worsens with inspiration due to pleuritic involvement is a classic symptom of pulmonary embolism. Additionally, the presence of DVT in the lower extremity represents a risk factor for the development of pulmonary embolism, as clots originating in the deep veins can travel to the pulmonary circulation to cause an obstruction. Patients with pulmonary embolism may also exhibit signs of right heart strain, such as tachycardia, tachypnea, and sometimes hemoptysis.