A patient with an inoperable brain tumor has been told that he has a short life expectancy. On what aspects of assessment and care should the home health nurse focus? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pain control. This is the main focus because the patient's quality of life should be prioritized, and managing pain is crucial for comfort and well-being in end-of-life care. Pain can significantly impact the patient's physical and emotional state. The other choices are incorrect because managing treatment complications (B) and administering treatments (E) may not be relevant if the tumor is inoperable and the patient has a short life expectancy. Interpretation of diagnostic tests (C) may not be necessary at this stage, and assistance with self-care (D) may not be the main priority compared to pain control.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because being aware of patients' medication regimens allows nurses to identify and monitor ototoxic medications that can cause hearing loss. By collaborating with other professionals, nurses can adjust medications or recommend alternative treatments to prevent or minimize ototoxicity. This proactive approach directly targets the root cause of potential hearing loss. A: Understanding types of hearing loss is important but does not directly prevent ototoxicity. B: Educating about age-related changes in hearing does not address ototoxicity prevention. C: Educating about noise exposure risks is important for overall hearing health but does not specifically prevent ototoxicity.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Handwashing is crucial in preventing the spread of viral conjunctivitis, which is highly contagious. Step 2: Children often touch their eyes and then surfaces, aiding in disease transmission. Step 3: Educating parents and the child on proper hand hygiene can help contain the infection. Step 4: Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, so compliance is not necessary. Step 5: Complications like meningitis and septicemia are extremely rare with viral conjunctivitis. Step 6: Surgery is not indicated for viral conjunctivitis, as it is a self-limiting condition.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Wear a medical identification bracelet. This is important because in case of an emergency, such as an allergic reaction, medical professionals need to be aware of the child's severe food allergy quickly. The bracelet provides crucial information that can help in providing timely and appropriate medical care. B: Knowing how to use the antihistamine pen is also important in managing allergic reactions, but wearing a medical identification bracelet takes precedence as it provides immediate identification of the allergy. C: Knowing how to give injections of lidocaine is not relevant to managing a food allergy in a child. D: Avoiding live attenuated vaccinations may be necessary for individuals with certain allergies, but it is not directly related to educating parents about managing the child's food allergy.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Those who develop critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills enable nurses to assess situations, analyze information, and communicate effectively with patients. By using critical thinking, nurses can tailor their communication style to each patient's needs, leading to better understanding and rapport. A: Learning effective psychomotor skills is important but does not directly correlate with being a good communicator. C: Liking different kinds of people is beneficial for interpersonal relationships, but it does not necessarily make one a better communicator. D: Maintaining perceptual biases hinders effective communication as it can lead to misunderstandings and barriers in the communication process.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pain control. This is the main focus because the patient's quality of life should be prioritized, and managing pain is crucial for comfort and well-being in end-of-life care. Pain can significantly impact the patient's physical and emotional state. The other choices are incorrect because managing treatment complications (B) and administering treatments (E) may not be relevant if the tumor is inoperable and the patient has a short life expectancy. Interpretation of diagnostic tests (C) may not be necessary at this stage, and assistance with self-care (D) may not be the main priority compared to pain control.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Decrease in dysuria. Antimuscarinic medications target muscarinic receptors, which are involved in the contraction of smooth muscle in the bladder. Dysuria, or painful urination, is a common symptom of overactive bladder or bladder spasms, which can be relieved by antimuscarinics. Choices B, C, and D are related to other urinary symptoms such as urgency, frequency, and prostate size, respectively, which are not directly targeted by antimuscarinics. Therefore, only a decrease in dysuria indicates therapeutic effects of the medication.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Testicular cancer is a highly curable type of cancer. This is the most appropriate point to emphasize because early detection through regular self-examinations can lead to early treatment and a high survival rate. Testicular cancer has a very high cure rate, especially when detected and treated early. Emphasizing this point encourages boys to perform monthly self-exams, leading to early detection and better outcomes. Explanation of other choices: B: Testicular cancer is very difficult to diagnose - This is incorrect because testicular cancer is actually one of the more easily detectable cancers through self-examinations. C: Testicular cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in males - This is incorrect as testicular cancer is not the leading cause of cancer deaths in males. D: Testicular cancer is more common in older men - This is incorrect as testicular cancer is more common in younger men, typically between the ages of 15 and 44.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Correct Answer: A - Care of the cervical collar Rationale: 1. Care of the cervical collar is essential post-cervical diskectomy to ensure proper immobilization and support. 2. Proper care prevents complications and promotes healing. 3. It is a crucial aspect of discharge education to prevent injury and promote recovery. Summary of other choices: B: Technique for performing neck ROM exercises - Important for rehabilitation but not directly related to discharge education post-cervical diskectomy. C: Home assessment of ABGs - Irrelevant to post-cervical diskectomy discharge education. D: Techniques for restoring nerve function - Important for recovery but not a primary focus of discharge education.