A patient expresses confusion about their medication regimen. What is the nurse's best approach to address this issue?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The nurse's best approach to address the patient's confusion about their medication regimen is to use a teach-back method to assess understanding and clarify any misconceptions. This method involves the nurse asking the patient to explain in their own words how they will take their medications, what each medication is for, and any potential side effects they should watch for. By using the teach-back method, the nurse can confirm the patient's comprehension and correct any misunderstandings in a supportive and non-judgmental manner. This approach promotes patient education, empowerment, and adherence to the medication regimen. Providing written instructions alone (Choice A) may not be sufficient if the patient has difficulty reading or understanding written information. Explaining the medication regimen using complex medical terminology (Choice B) can further confuse the patient, making it harder for them to grasp the information. Dismissing the patient's concerns and reassuring them that the medication is safe (Choice D) does not address the root of the issue and

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Record-keeping is not an optional task; it is a critical aspect of professional nursing practice. As a nurse, maintaining accurate and timely records is essential for providing quality care, ensuring legal and ethical standards are met, and promoting patient safety. Failure to keep thorough records can lead to serious consequences such as compromising patient care, violating regulations, and even facing legal consequences. Thus, record-keeping should be seen as a mandatory part of the professional duty of nurses rather than an optional task that can be done when circumstances allow.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The patient is presenting with symptoms and laboratory findings consistent with a paraneoplastic syndrome related to Hodgkin lymphoma. In this case, the fever, chills, generalized malaise, pancytopenia, circulating Reed-Sternberg cells, and bone marrow involvement are all indicative of a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with Hodgkin lymphoma. Paraneoplastic syndromes are a group of disorders that are triggered by an abnormal immune response to a neoplasm, such as Hodgkin lymphoma, leading to various systemic manifestations.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: When assessing and managing distress in a patient with advanced dementia who is no longer able to communicate verbally, the palliative nurse should consider exploring non-verbal cues and behaviors to identify the underlying causes of distress. Since the patient cannot communicate through words, it is essential to pay close attention to their non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and changes in behavior. Distress in dementia patients can be caused by a variety of factors including physical discomfort, unmet needs, environmental stressors, emotional distress, or even medication side effects. By carefully observing and interpreting non-verbal cues, the nurse can gain insight into what might be causing the patient's distress and tailor interventions accordingly. Simply focusing on physical comfort measures may not address the root cause of the distress, and administering sedative medications without understanding the underlying cause is not considered best practice in palliative care for dementia patients.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Postpartum hemorrhage is defined as a blood loss of more than 500 ml within the first 24 hours after vaginal delivery or more than 1000 ml following a cesarean delivery. Excessive bleeding can lead to hypovolemic shock and can be life-threatening if not promptly addressed. Therefore, a blood loss of more than 500 ml/24 hours would lead the nurse to suspect a postpartum hemorrhage and prompt further assessment and intervention.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The patient's presentation with renal failure, confusion, seizures, asterixis, and a sweet odor to the breath, along with laboratory findings of severe metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and elevated BUN and creatinine levels, is consistent with uremic encephalopathy. Uremic encephalopathy is a neurological complication of acute or chronic renal failure resulting from the buildup of uremic toxins in the blood, leading to various neurological symptoms such as confusion and seizures. The sweet odor to the breath can be attributed to the presence of urea, a waste product that accumulates in renal failure. Other metabolic abnormalities like hyperkalemia and severe metabolic acidosis are also common in renal failure. It is crucial to promptly recognize and manage uremic encephalopathy to prevent further neurological complications.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Nurse Ace submitting a report to the physician about committing an error in medication demonstrates accountability. Accountability in healthcare refers to the responsibility of individuals to answer for their actions, decisions, and behaviors in the professional setting. By taking ownership of the mistake and informing the physician, Nurse Ace is showing accountability for her actions, ensuring that patient safety remains a priority. Compliance with reporting errors is essential for quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare settings.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Autonomy refers to the patient's right to make decisions about their own health care, including the ability to give consent or refusal of treatment. This right is based on the patient's own beliefs, values, and preferences. However, in the case of an erroneous belief of a head of a church, it may conflict with the patient's own autonomy and ability to make decisions based on their own beliefs. In such a situation, it is important for healthcare providers to respect the patient's autonomy while also addressing any potential conflicts that may arise from external influences such as the erroneous belief of a head of a church.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When a patient with chronic kidney disease is prescribed erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) for anemia management, the parameter that should be monitored closely by the nurse is the hemoglobin levels. Hemoglobin levels indicate the patient's response to ESA therapy and are essential in assessing the effectiveness of the treatment in addressing anemia. Monitoring hemoglobin levels helps ensure that the patient's anemia is controlled within the target range to avoid both the risks of under-treatment (resulting in persistent anemia) and over-treatment (increased risk of adverse outcomes such as hypertension, stroke, or cardiovascular events).