One of the functions of nursing care of the terminally ill is to support the patient and his or her family as they come to terms with the diagnosis and progression of the disease process. How should nurses support patients and their families during this process? Select all that apply.

Questions 100

ATI RN

ATI RN Test Bank

foundations of nursing test bank Questions

Question 1 of 9

One of the functions of nursing care of the terminally ill is to support the patient and his or her family as they come to terms with the diagnosis and progression of the disease process. How should nurses support patients and their families during this process? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rationale: Choice C is correct because understanding the illness from the patient's perspective helps nurses provide individualized care. By empathizing with the patient's experience, nurses can tailor support to meet their specific needs. Describing personal experiences (A) may not be appropriate as it shifts the focus from the patient. Encouraging fighting for a cure (B) may not align with the patient's wishes for quality of life. Assisting with life review (D) can be beneficial but may not be a priority for all patients. Providing interventions for end-of-life closure (E) is important, but understanding the illness from the patient's perspective (C) forms the foundation for effective support.

Question 2 of 9

A laboratory finding indicatiNveU oRf SDIICN iGs oTnBe .thCatO sMhows

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: decreased fibrinogen. In disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), there is widespread activation of coagulation leading to consumption of clotting factors like fibrinogen, resulting in decreased levels. Platelets are usually decreased, not increased, in DIC. Hematocrit may be elevated due to hemoconcentration but not directly related to DIC. Thromboplastin time would be prolonged, not decreased, in DIC due to consumption of clotting factors.

Question 3 of 9

During discharge teaching the nurse realizes that the patient is not able to read medication bottles accurately and has not been taking her medications consistently at home. How should the nurse intervene most appropriately in this situation?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The nurse should arrange for a referral to a rehabilitation facility for vision training. This option directly addresses the patient's inability to read medication bottles accurately due to a vision problem. Vision training can help improve the patient's ability to manage medication independently. A: Asking the social worker to investigate alternative housing arrangements is not relevant to the patient's vision problem affecting medication management. B: Asking the social worker to investigate community support agencies may not directly address the patient's vision issue and medication management. C: Encouraging the patient to explore surgical corrections for the vision problem is not appropriate without considering less invasive options first, such as vision training.

Question 4 of 9

A nurse is caring for a group of patients. Which patient will the nurse seefirst?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because the nurse should prioritize the patient who has been receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) infusing with the same tubing for 26 hours. This patient needs to be seen first to monitor for any potential complications or issues related to TPN administration. Choice A can be ruled out because 50 hours is longer than 26 hours. Choices C and D involve enteral feeding, which is important but generally less critical than TPN. Additionally, choice D has a shorter duration than choice B. Therefore, choice B is the most time-sensitive and critical patient to assess first.

Question 5 of 9

A patient, diagnosed with cancer of the lung, has just been told he has metastases to the brain. What change in health status would the nurse attribute to the patients metastatic brain disease?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Personality changes. Metastases to the brain can affect cognitive function and behavior, leading to personality changes. This is due to the impact on specific areas of the brain responsible for personality and behavior. Chronic pain (A) is more commonly associated with advanced cancer and not specific to brain metastases. Respiratory distress (B) is more likely related to lung cancer itself, not brain metastases. Fixed pupils (C) may indicate brainstem involvement, but personality changes are a more direct and common manifestation of brain metastases.

Question 6 of 9

A patients primary infection with HIV has subsided and an equilibrium now exists between HIV levels and the patients immune response. This physiologic state is known as which of the following?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Viral set point. The viral set point refers to the stable level of HIV in the body after the initial infection. This state indicates a balance between viral replication and the immune response. The other choices are incorrect because: A) Static stage implies no change, which is not the case with HIV levels fluctuating; B) Latent stage refers to a period of inactivity, not the stable state described; D) Window period is the time between infection and detectable antibodies, not the equilibrium state described.

Question 7 of 9

A 56-year-old patient has come to the clinic for his routine eye examination and is told he needs bifocals. The patient asks the nurse what change in his eyes has caused his need for bifocals. How should the nurse respond?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because it accurately explains the physiological change in the eye that leads to the need for bifocals. As individuals age, there is a gradual thickening of the lens of the eye, which affects the eye's ability to accommodate for near vision. This thickening makes it harder for the eye to focus on close objects, necessitating the use of bifocals to correct this near vision issue. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not provide a scientifically accurate explanation for the need for bifocals in older individuals. Option A is dismissive and does not address the specific change in the eye that leads to the need for bifocals. Option B implies aging as a general concept without specifying the relevant change in the eye. Option D incorrectly states that the eye gets shorter as we age, which is not the reason for needing bifocals.

Question 8 of 9

A 58-year-old male patient has been hospitalized for a wedge resection of the left lower lung lobe after a routine chest x-ray shows carcinoma. The patient is anxious and asks if he can smoke. Which statement by the nurse would be most therapeutic?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: "You are anxious about the surgery. Do you see smoking as helping?" This response acknowledges the patient's anxiety and invites him to explore his reasons for wanting to smoke, opening up a dialogue and potentially uncovering underlying issues. It also avoids judgment or direct orders, fostering a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. Explanation of why the other choices are incorrect: A: "Smoking is the reason you are here." - This response is blaming and may increase the patient's guilt or anxiety, hindering effective communication. B: "The doctor left orders for you not to smoke." - This response is authoritative and may lead to resistance or defensiveness from the patient, rather than addressing his concerns. D: "Smoking is OK right now, but after your surgery it is contraindicated." - This response is unclear and may send mixed messages to the patient, potentially leading to confusion or misunderstanding.

Question 9 of 9

Which findings should the nurse follow up on afterremoval of a catheter from a patient? (Select allthat apply.)

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Dribbling of urine. This finding should be followed up on after catheter removal because it may indicate urinary retention or incomplete bladder emptying, which can lead to complications such as urinary tract infection. A: Increasing fluid intake is important for overall hydration but is not a specific finding that requires follow-up after catheter removal. C: Voiding in small amounts may be a normal response initially after catheter removal and does not necessarily indicate a problem. D: Voiding within 6 hours of catheter removal is a positive sign of bladder function recovery and does not require immediate follow-up.

Access More Questions!

ATI RN Basic


$89/ 30 days

ATI RN Premium


$150/ 90 days