When should a nurse provide mouth care for an unconscious patient?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Providing mouth care after meals and as needed for an unconscious patient prevents bacterial buildup, dry mouth, and infections like pneumonia, addressing immediate hygiene needs. Weekly care is too infrequent, risking oral health decline. Unconscious patients can't request care, making proactive nursing essential. Limiting to visiting hours ignores clinical necessity care timing reflects patient condition, not schedules. Nurses perform this frequently, using swabs or brushes, to maintain mucosal health and comfort, a vital task in dependent care to avert complications.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A drawsheet prevents skin irritation during repositioning by reducing friction and shear on a patient's skin, protecting against breakdown or ulcers in bedridden individuals. Sleep quality might improve indirectly, but it's not the focus it's physical protection. Pain assessment occurs separately, not via drawsheets. Communication isn't facilitated; it's a manual aid. Nurses slide patients with this linen layer to minimize drag, preserving skin integrity, a simple yet essential technique in immobility care.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Using a soft toothbrush and offering assistance as needed ensures proper oral hygiene for a mobility-impaired patient by cleaning effectively while accommodating their limitations, preventing decay or infection. Weekly care neglects daily plaque buildup, risking health. Self-management may be impossible with poor dexterity or strength. Avoiding care invites complications like gingivitis discomfort comes from neglect, not care. Nurses adapt tools and techniques, brushing gently or swabbing, to maintain oral health, balancing independence with support for optimal outcomes.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Maintaining a calm and reassuring approach during bathing helps a dementia patient feel safe, reducing agitation or fear common in unfamiliar routines. Rapid bathing heightens stress, worsening distress. Cold water shocks, not alerts, risking resistance. Minimal communication isolates gentle explanation soothes, even if not fully grasped. Nurses use warm water, soft tones, and patience, adapting to cues, ensuring comfort and dignity while managing cognitive limitations effectively in this sensitive task.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Offering assistance with hair care as needed maintains hygiene for a mobility-limited patient by washing or brushing as they're able, preventing scalp issues or matting while respecting effort. Shaving saves time but dismisses preference and dignity. Monthly care neglects cleanliness weekly or as soiled is standard. Ignoring hygiene risks discomfort from buildup, not care itself. Nurses adapt tools (e.g., dry shampoo) and support, ensuring grooming supports health and morale, a small but vital care aspect.