A rehabilitation nurse is working with a patient who has had a below-the-knee amputation. The nurse knows the importance of the patient's active participation in self-care. In order to determine the patient's ability to be an active participant in self-care, the nurse should prioritize assessment of what variable?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: The patient's attitude. This is because attitude plays a crucial role in determining a patient's willingness and motivation to actively participate in their self-care post-amputation. A positive attitude can lead to better adherence to rehabilitation plans and faster recovery. Assessing the patient's attitude allows the nurse to gauge their mindset, motivation, and emotional readiness, which are essential for successful rehabilitation. Summary: - B: The patient's learning style: While important for education and training, it is not as critical as attitude for active participation in self-care. - C: The patient's nutritional status: While important for overall health, it is not directly related to the patient's ability to actively participate in self-care. - D: The patient's presurgical level of function: While useful information, it does not determine the patient's current mindset and willingness to engage in self-care activities post-amputation.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Apply splints. Splints help maintain proper positioning of joints to prevent contractures in burn patients. Splints provide support and protect the joints during the healing process. They help to prevent shortening and tightening of muscles and tissues, reducing the risk of contractures. B: Physical therapy two hours a day is not the most effective approach for preventing contractures in burn patients. While physical therapy is important for rehabilitation, excessive duration may not necessarily prevent contractures. C: Passive range of motion exercises are beneficial for maintaining joint flexibility, but they may not provide enough support to prevent contractures in burn patients. D: Occupational therapy one hour every other day focuses on activities of daily living and may not directly address the prevention of contractures.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rationale: C: Zinc is essential for protein synthesis, aiding in wound healing, crucial for pressure ulcer recovery. A: Strengthening capillaries is more related to vitamin C. B: Immune function is supported by zinc, but not the primary reason for pressure ulcer treatment. D: Red blood cell formation mainly requires iron, not zinc.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because all the choices listed (A, B, and C) are types of general receptors located in the skin. Meissner's corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles are encapsulated receptors responsible for detecting touch and pressure, while free nerve endings are unencapsulated receptors that respond to pain, temperature, and pressure. Therefore, selecting "All of the above" encompasses all four types of general receptors present in the skin.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Diarrhea. Acyclovir is an antiviral medication that can commonly cause gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea. This occurs due to its effect on the digestive system. The other choices, headache (A), nausea (C), and fatigue (D), are less commonly associated with acyclovir. Headache may occur but is not a common side effect. Nausea is less frequent than diarrhea. Fatigue is not a typical side effect of acyclovir. Therefore, the correct answer is B as diarrhea is a more common side effect of acyclovir compared to the other options.