A patient receiving palliative care for end-stage pancreatic cancer experiences severe abdominal pain. What intervention should the palliative nurse prioritize to manage the patient's symptoms?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In a patient with severe abdominal pain due to end-stage pancreatic cancer, the priority intervention to manage their symptoms would be to provide adequate pain relief. Opioid analgesics are the cornerstone of pain management for cancer patients experiencing severe pain. They work by binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, thereby reducing the perception of pain. Opioids are highly effective in managing cancer pain, including abdominal pain, and can significantly improve the patient's quality of life by providing relief from distressing symptoms. Therefore, administering opioid analgesics should be the nurse's primary intervention in this case to address the patient's severe abdominal pain. Initiating enteral nutrition, recommending hot compresses, or referring to a gastroenterologist may be relevant interventions depending on the patient's overall care plan but addressing the pain should be the immediate priority in this scenario.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that commonly causes waterborne illness characterized by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. This parasite is often transmitted through contaminated water sources such as streams or lakes. Laboratory tests identifying oocysts in the stool sample are indicative of Cryptosporidium infection. Giardia lamblia can also cause similar symptoms, but the presence of oocysts points more towards Cryptosporidium in this case. Entamoeba histolytica causes amoebic dysentery with bloody diarrhea and is usually associated with fecal-oral transmission through contaminated food or water. Cyclospora cayetanensis typically causes prolonged watery diarrhea and is associated with the ingestion of contaminated food or water.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a condition characterized by widespread activation of coagulation leading to both thrombosis and hemorrhage. In patients with chronic liver disease, especially in the setting of advanced cirrhosis, DIC can develop due to factors such as decreased synthesis of coagulation factors and impaired clearance of activated clotting factors. The patient in this scenario presents with signs of both abnormal bleeding (bruising, petechiae, mucosal bleeding) and laboratory findings consistent with DIC, including prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) along with decreased platelet count.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The bioethical issue described in option A revolves around the concept of advance directives. Advance directives are legal documents that outline a person's wishes regarding medical treatment in the event that they are unable to communicate those wishes themselves. In this scenario, the issue pertains to the withholding of food and treatment based on a written advance directive that was made before the patient suffered permanent brain damage. This raises important ethical considerations about respecting a patient's autonomy and adhering to their previously expressed wishes, even in difficult circumstances. The decision to withhold treatment in such a situation is a complex bioethical issue that needs to be handled carefully while balancing the principles of autonomy and beneficence.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The most likely causative agent in this scenario is Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the bacterium responsible for causing Lyme disease. The classic presentation of Lyme disease includes fever, malaise, and a skin lesion resembling a "bull's eye" rash, known as erythema migrans. This rash typically appears at the site of a tick bite. If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to involve multiple organ systems and lead to more severe complications. Plasmodium falciparum is the causative agent of malaria, which typically presents with symptoms such as fever, chills, and fatigue, but it does not cause a "bull's eye" rash. Trypanosoma cruzi is the parasite responsible for Chagas disease, which presents with symptoms such as fever, swelling at the site of entry (typically the bite wound), and enlarged lymph nodes, but it does not

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: In cases of acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), a significant factor contributing to the elevated ICP is often the mass effect caused by the hematoma within the brain. Performing an emergent craniotomy for hematoma evacuation is a critical intervention to relieve the pressure within the intracranial space, thereby mitigating the risk of herniation and further neurological damage. While other interventions such as hypertonic saline therapy, head-of-bed elevation, and sedative medications may have supporting roles in managing ICP, none address the primary cause of elevated ICP in cases of acute intracerebral hemorrhage as effectively as hematoma evacuation through craniotomy.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Children with ADHD often display hyperactive and impulsive behaviors, such as excessive running, climbing, and fidgeting. These behaviors are characteristic symptoms of the hyperactive-impulsive subtype of ADHD. Children with ADHD may struggle to sit still, have difficulty engaging in quiet activities, and often seem on the go. Therefore, the nurse would expect to see signs of excessive movement and restlessness in a child with ADHD.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct response would be "Absorption of iron is enhanced with Vitamin C." Iron absorption is increased in the presence of Vitamin C. Therefore, recommending Evelyn to take her iron supplement with a source of Vitamin C such as orange juice or a Vitamin C tablet would optimize the absorption of iron in her body and help prevent maternal anemia more effectively. Taking iron with other vitamins separately, after a full meal, or with milk would not have the same beneficial effect on iron absorption as combining it with Vitamin C.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious and life-threatening condition characterized by rapid onset of respiratory failure, severe hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood), and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. The hallmark of ARDS is severe hypoxemia that is difficult to correct even with high levels of supplemental oxygen. Patients with ARDS often require mechanical ventilation to maintain adequate oxygen levels. Severe cough with purulent sputum production, chest pain exacerbated by deep breathing, and productive cough with hemoptysis are not typical features of ARDS.