To ensure quality nursing care to a patient in skin traction, what is the PRIORTTY intervention that a nurse has to assess frequently?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When a patient is in skin traction, the constant pressure and rubbing against the skin from the traction device can lead to skin breakdown. Therefore, assessing for signs of skin breakdown, such as redness, irritation, or pressure injuries, is crucial to prevent complications and ensure the patient's comfort and safety. Prompt identification and intervention for any skin issues can prevent further damage and promote healing, making this the priority intervention for quality nursing care in skin traction. While monitoring for signs of infection, urinary incontinence, and bowel sounds are important, skin breakdown poses a more immediate threat to the patient's well-being in this scenario.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: When assessing and managing distress in a patient with advanced dementia who is no longer able to communicate verbally, the palliative nurse should consider exploring non-verbal cues and behaviors to identify the underlying causes of distress. Since the patient cannot communicate through words, it is essential to pay close attention to their non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and changes in behavior. Distress in dementia patients can be caused by a variety of factors including physical discomfort, unmet needs, environmental stressors, emotional distress, or even medication side effects. By carefully observing and interpreting non-verbal cues, the nurse can gain insight into what might be causing the patient's distress and tailor interventions accordingly. Simply focusing on physical comfort measures may not address the root cause of the distress, and administering sedative medications without understanding the underlying cause is not considered best practice in palliative care for dementia patients.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rabies has a shorter incubation period if the bite is located on the hand. This is because bites on the hand are more likely to have direct access to nerve pathways, which can lead to a faster spread of the rabies virus to the central nervous system. In general, bites on parts of the body closer to the brain and spinal cord, such as the hand and face, can result in a quicker onset of rabies symptoms compared to bites on farther extremities like the leg or abdomen.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Validity refers to the extent to which a test accurately measures what it is intended to measure. In the context of screening tests for diseases, validity is crucial in assessing whether the test can correctly distinguish between individuals who have the disease (true positives) and those who do not have the disease (true negatives). This includes the ability to minimize false positives (incorrectly identifying someone as having the disease) and false negatives (incorrectly identifying someone as not having the disease). Therefore, when assessing the ability of a screening test to distinguish correctly between persons with and without a disease, we are essentially evaluating its validity.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Obtaining informed consent is primarily the responsibility of the physician. Informed consent is a crucial ethical and legal concept in healthcare that requires the healthcare provider, usually the physician, to ensure that the patient understands the proposed treatment, including the risks, benefits, alternatives, and potential outcomes, before agreeing to proceed with the treatment. While other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, nurse managers, anesthesiologists, and midwives, may also play a role in the informed consent process by providing information and clarifying details, it is ultimately the physician who must obtain the patient's informed consent before any treatment or procedure is performed.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The nurse's best approach to address non-compliance with prescribed medications and treatment plans is to actively listen to the patient's reasons for non-compliance. By acknowledging and addressing any barriers or concerns the patient may have, the nurse can work collaboratively with the patient to find effective solutions. This approach promotes open communication, trust, and a patient-centered care plan that takes into consideration the patient's individual needs and circumstances. Dismissing the patient's reasons (choice A), ignoring the non-compliance (choice C), or resorting to a confrontational approach (choice D) are less effective strategies that may lead to further resistance and hinder the patient's willingness to engage in their treatment.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The patient's presentation with fatigue, pallor, dyspnea on exertion, low hemoglobin level, decreased MCV, and decreased MCHC are all consistent with iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia and occurs when there is insufficient iron available for hemoglobin production. The low hemoglobin level results in symptoms such as fatigue and pallor, while the decreased MCV and MCHC indicate microcytic and hypochromic red blood cells, respectively, which are characteristic of iron deficiency anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia and thalassemia typically present with a different pattern of laboratory findings and clinical manifestations. Sickle cell anemia is characterized by sickle-shaped red blood cells due to a genetic mutation, and the laboratory findings in sickle cell anemia are different from those seen in the patient described in this scenario.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When a patient is in skin traction, the constant pressure and rubbing against the skin from the traction device can lead to skin breakdown. Therefore, assessing for signs of skin breakdown, such as redness, irritation, or pressure injuries, is crucial to prevent complications and ensure the patient's comfort and safety. Prompt identification and intervention for any skin issues can prevent further damage and promote healing, making this the priority intervention for quality nursing care in skin traction. While monitoring for signs of infection, urinary incontinence, and bowel sounds are important, skin breakdown poses a more immediate threat to the patient's well-being in this scenario.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattentiveness, overactivity, and impulsiveness. Individuals with ADHD may have difficulty paying attention, completing tasks, sitting still, or controlling their impulses. Mental retardation (now referred to as intellectual disability) is a separate condition characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors. While individuals with ADHD may experience difficulties in school or work due to their symptoms, ADHD itself does not indicate mental retardation.