A patient receiving palliative care for end-stage renal disease expresses distress over changes in body image due to edema and weight gain. What intervention should the palliative nurse prioritize to address the patient's concerns?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The most appropriate intervention for the palliative nurse to prioritize in this situation is to offer emotional support and validate the patient's feelings about body image changes. End-stage renal disease can lead to significant physical changes such as edema and weight gain, which can impact a patient's body image and self-esteem. By providing emotional support and validating the patient's feelings, the nurse can help address the patient's distress and concerns, improving their overall psychological well-being. While providing education on dietary modifications (choice B) and prescribing diuretic medications (choice D) may be important aspects of managing fluid retention and edema, addressing the patient's emotional distress and body image concerns should be the initial priority in a palliative care setting. Encouraging the patient to accept their body changes (choice A) may overlook the emotional impact these changes have on the patient, making choice C the most appropriate intervention.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The presentation described with a sensation of fullness and pressure in the left ear, along with hearing loss and occasional tinnitus, and the findings of a retracted tympanic membrane with decreased mobility on pneumatic otoscopy are most consistent with serous otitis media, also known as otitis media with effusion (OME). OME is characterized by the presence of non-infected fluid in the middle ear space, leading to symptoms such as ear fullness, hearing loss, and occasionally tinnitus.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The first standard step in oxygen therapy that the nurse should do is to assess the client's condition. Before initiating any oxygen treatment, it is essential to assess the client's respiratory status, oxygen saturation levels, vital signs, and overall condition. This initial assessment helps the nurse to determine the appropriate course of oxygen therapy based on the client's individual needs and current health status. Assessing the client's condition first ensures that the oxygen therapy provided is safe and effective for the specific needs of the client.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Leaving the side rails down is one of the most common occurrences that can lead to a patient fall. Side rails are important safety measures designed to prevent patients from falling out of bed. When the side rails are left down, the patient is at a higher risk of accidentally rolling out of bed and falling. It is crucial for healthcare providers to always ensure that the side rails are up and secure to help prevent patient falls.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A woman experiencing irregular and ineffective uterine contractions with prolonged cervical dilation may indicate labor dystocia, also known as abnormal labor progression. To address this issue, the nursing intervention that should be implemented is to encourage the mother to ambulate and change positions frequently. This can help optimize fetal positioning and encourage descent through the birth canal by using gravity to aid in the progression of labor. Changing positions can also potentially improve the quality and effectiveness of contractions, leading to more successful cervical dilation and labor progress. Encouraging ambulation and position changes are non-invasive, patient-centered interventions that can be helpful in managing labor dystocia before considering more invasive interventions like cesarean section.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: It is important for the nurse to explore Ella's feelings further when she expresses thoughts of wishing to be dead and struggling with not having someone around. These statements indicate that Ella may be experiencing emotional distress or depression, which require immediate attention. By exploring Ella's feelings, the nurse can assess the severity of her emotional state, provide appropriate support, and potentially prevent any harm or self-harm. It is crucial to address and validate her emotions, as well as to initiate necessary interventions to ensure her safety and well-being.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When determining the existence of malpractice, intent is not considered as a factor. Malpractice typically involves unintentional actions or negligence rather than a deliberate intent to cause harm. The key factors that are usually considered in a malpractice case include duty (a legal obligation to provide a certain standard of care), causation (the link between the provider's actions and the patient's injury), and the existence of an injury resulting from the provider's actions or omissions. Intent does not play a direct role in malpractice cases, as they are focused on the standard of care provided by the healthcare professional and the harm caused as a result.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct instruction that the nurse should include in patient education about phosphate binder therapy is to "Take phosphate binders with meals." Phosphate binders are medications given to patients with chronic kidney disease to help control high phosphate levels in the blood. Taking phosphate binders with meals allows them to bind to the phosphorus present in the food, reducing its absorption in the body. This helps to lower blood phosphate levels effectively. Instructing the patient to take phosphate binders with meals ensures optimal binding of phosphorus from the diet, which is crucial for managing phosphate levels in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Nephrolithiasis refers to the formation of stones within the kidney or urinary tract. The most common types of kidney stones are either composed of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. When these stones form within the renal collecting system, they can lead to symptoms such as flank pain, hematuria, and urinary obstruction. Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction and ureterovesical junction (UVJ) obstruction are specific types of blockages within the urinary system that can be caused by kidney stones but are not characteristic of the stone formation itself. Renal colic is the term used to describe the severe pain associated with the passage of a kidney stone through the ureter.