What is comfort according to Kolcaba's theory?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Kolcaba's theory of comfort defines it as a holistic state that goes beyond just physical ease or the absence of pain. It encompasses a sense of calm, satisfaction, and well-being across physical, psychospiritual, environmental, and sociocultural dimensions. Comfort is not merely a fleeting moment of relief or limited to the physical body; it's an overarching experience that nurses aim to enhance for patients. Choice A focuses only on physical ease, which is too narrow, while Choice C limits it to pain absence, ignoring other aspects like emotional or spiritual comfort. Choice D suggests temporariness, but Kolcaba views comfort as a sustainable state that can be intentionally supported. Choice B captures the full scope of her theory, emphasizing a holistic calm and satisfaction that aligns with her framework of nursing care.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Symptom management is a key focus in end-of-life care, aiming to alleviate pain, nausea, dyspnea, or anxiety, ensuring the patient's final days are as comfortable as possible. This shifts priority from curing to caring, addressing physical and emotional suffering holistically. Choice A, aggressive curative measures, opposes this, as end-of-life care accepts the disease's terminality, avoiding futile treatments that may increase distress. Choice C, prolonged hospitalization, isn't a focuscare often moves to hospice or home settings for comfort and familiarity, not extended hospital stays. Choice D, avoiding patient interaction, is wrong; meaningful engagement with patients and families enhances dignity and support. Choice B stands out, reflecting palliative principles nurses uphold, using medications, positioning, or emotional care to manage symptoms, fostering peace over prolonging life unnecessarily.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The nurse most expects cool, clammy skin when assessing a client with acute pain, as it's a physiological response to sympathetic nervous system activationpain triggers stress, causing vasoconstriction and sweating, cooling the skin. This contrasts with chronic pain's subtler signs. Choice B, euphoria, is rareacute pain typically causes distress, not happiness, unless masked by strong analgesics, which isn't implied. Choice C, increased appetite, is unlikely; pain often suppresses hunger via stress hormones like cortisol. Choice D, lethargy, might occur in chronic pain from exhaustion, but acute pain usually heightens alertness initially due to adrenaline. Choice A is correct, reflecting a classic sign nurses assess in acute pain (e.g., post-injury), guiding interventions like analgesics or comfort measures to address both symptoms and underlying causes effectively.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The nurse would first try to determine why the client is refusing additional pain medication despite severe pain, as understanding the reasonfear of addiction, side effects, or cultural beliefsguides effective, respectful care. Post-surgical pain needs management, but forcing treatment violates autonomy. Choice A, forcing medication, is unethical and illegal, ignoring consent and escalating distress. Choice C, telling the client it's needed, assumes refusal stems from ignorance, not addressing underlying concerns, and may erode trust. Choice D, reporting to the surgeon, delays action; nurses assess first to inform reports with data. Choice B is correct, reflecting nursing's patient-centered approachasking open-ended questions (e.g., What worries you about the medication?') uncovers barriers, enabling education (e.g., on safety) or alternatives (e.g., non-opioids), ensuring pain relief aligns with the client's values and needs post-surgery.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The basis of the nurse's response is to maintain a stable blood level of the drug, as around-the-clock (ATC) dosing post-surgery prevents pain peaks by keeping analgesic levels consistent, blocking nociceptive signals before they escalate. This contrasts with PRN's reactive approach. Choice A, keeping the client sedated, isn't the goalsedation may occur, but pain control drives scheduling. Choice C, reducing total drug amount, is falseATC may use more initially to preempt pain, not less. Choice D, preventing addiction, isn't relevant; short-term post-op use rarely causes dependence. Choice B is correct, explaining ATC's pharmacokinetic logicnurses educate that steady levels (e.g., via morphine every 4 hours) optimize comfort, reduce breakthrough pain, and aid healing, a standard in acute post-surgical management.