In the care of patients with communicable diseases, Nurse Keena should know that feces, urine, blood and other body fluids are considered as ______.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Feces, urine, blood, and other body fluids are considered as vehicles of transmission in the context of communicable diseases. These substances can carry and transmit disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites from infected individuals to others. Through close contact or exposure to these contaminated body fluids, the pathogens can enter the body of another person and cause infection. Nurses like Nurse Keena must exercise caution and use appropriate infection control measures to prevent transmission of communicable diseases through these vehicles.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Plasma cells are the primary type of cells responsible for the production of antibodies during the humoral immune response. When activated by antigens, B cells differentiate into plasma cells, which are specialized in producing large quantities of antibodies. These antibodies are essential in fighting off infections by binding to antigens and marking them for destruction by other immune cells. T helper cells assist in activating B cells, but the actual production of antibodies is mainly carried out by plasma cells. Memory B cells are involved in mounting a rapid and specific secondary response upon re-exposure to the same antigen. Macrophages play a role in phagocytosis and antigen presentation, but they are not the primary cells responsible for producing antibodies during the humoral immune response.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In pneumothorax, air enters the normally negative pressure space between the lung and chest wall, leading to loss of negative intra-pleural pressure. However, this loss of negative pressure typically does not directly result in lung collapse. Instead, the accumulation of air in the pleural space can lead to a pressure imbalance, causing the lung to collapse partially or completely, which is known as atelectasis. Therefore, it is more accurate to state that the loss of negative intra-pleural pressure can result in lung collapse due to the presence of air in the pleural space, rather than the loss of negative pressure itself causing the collapse.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is characterized by ascending motor weakness, starting typically in the lower extremities and progressing upwards. Patients with GBS often verbalize the early onset of symptoms as weakness starting in the legs and potentially spreading to involve the arms and sometimes the face. Therefore, the common verbalization of the patient with GBS regarding the early onset of symptoms is ascending motor weakness. Acute hemiplegia (choice A) and acute hemiparesis (choice D) involve weakness or paralysis typically limited to one side of the body, which is not a characteristic presentation of GBS. Weakness of the four lower extremities (choice C) is also not a typical description in GBS as the weakness usually starts distally and progresses proximally.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The symptoms described - gradual-onset weakness, spasticity, hyperreflexia, positive Babinski sign, and demyelinating plaques in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord - are indicative of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks the myelin sheath, leading to the formation of plaques in the central nervous system. The characteristic symptoms of MS include weakness, spasticity (stiffness in muscles), hyperreflexia (exaggerated reflex responses), and positive Babinski sign (upward movement of the big toe). While ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) presents with progressive muscle weakness and atrophy without sensory involvement and demyelinating plaques, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is typically an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy affecting peripheral nerves rather than the central nervous system, and myast

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: In planning their care, Nurse Gina should consider holistic care, which emphasizes treating the patient as a whole person - including their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. By addressing all aspects of the patient's well-being, Nurse Gina can provide comprehensive care that promotes overall health and wellness. This approach recognizes that physical health is interconnected with other aspects of a person's life and aims to support the individual in achieving balance and harmony in all areas. Holistic care also encourages the patient to be actively involved in their own healing process, fostering a sense of empowerment and self-awareness.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Administering a stool softener as ordered is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a postpartum client experiencing severe perineal pain and difficulty passing stools following a vaginal delivery. Stool softeners help to soften the stool, making it easier for the client to pass without straining, which can exacerbate perineal pain. It is important to follow the healthcare provider's orders when administering medications to ensure proper dosing and effectiveness. Encouraging the client to refrain from defecation may lead to constipation and worsen the situation. Applying ice packs to the perineum can provide temporary pain relief, but addressing the underlying issue of constipation with a stool softener is more effective in the long term. Providing education on proper perineal hygiene is important for overall postpartum care, but addressing the immediate issue of constipation with a stool softener takes precedence in this scenario.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When the supervisor allocates nurses to the priority wards in response to the situation of several nurses not reporting due to the Jeepney strike, she is practicing the ethical principle of justice. Justice in healthcare pertains to the fair distribution of resources and the equitable treatment of individuals. By ensuring that nurses are allocated fairly and appropriately to address the urgent needs of the hospital and its patients, the supervisor is upholding the principle of justice. This decision aims to ensure that all patients receive the care they need despite the unexpected staffing shortage.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare blood disorder characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, neurological abnormalities, and renal dysfunction. The peripheral blood smear in TTP typically shows fragmented red blood cells (schistocytes) due to mechanical destruction within small blood vessels. Laboratory findings in TTP commonly include elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), decreased haptoglobin (as it is consumed in the clearance of free hemoglobin), and increased indirect bilirubin due to increased red blood cell breakdown. This combination of clinical presentation and laboratory abnormalities is classic for TTP. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) may present similarly but is more commonly associated with renal dysfunction and is often triggered by infection with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.