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1. The nurse is making a home health visit to a patient and needs to contact the case manager of the patients home-care team. Which person should the nurse contact? a. Physician b. Social worker c. Registered nurse (RN) d. Home health agency administrator
1. ANS: C C. The RN is the case manager while the patient is receiving home health care. A. The physician prescribes orders and receives information to determine the patients care needs. B. The social worker evaluates community resources to assist the patient. D. The home health agency administrator oversees the business activities of the agency.
10. Prior to leaving a patients home after a visit, the nurse makes a note in the patients home-care folder. Why did the nurse write a note to be kept in the patients home? a. Explains the amount of time each visit takes to complete b. Provides a reminder to the patient of what care is needed c. Serves as communication between HCPs who are visiting the patient d. Provides information to justify the type and level of skilled care the patient requires
10. ANS: C C. A folder with information is kept at the patients residence. It usually consists of relevant patient information and a communication form that all staff members complete at each visit. Similar to hospital charting, this documentation is important to ensure continuity of care. It is even more vital in the home setting, because staff members do not receive verbal report. A. The communication note is not used to explain the amount of time each visit takes to complete. B. The communication note is not used by the patient. D. The communication note is not used to establish homebound status or skill level required when providing patient care.
_ 11. The nurse completes the OASIS form upon a patients admission to a home health care program. For which reasons does the nurse complete this form? (Select all that apply.) a. To determine per-visit paymentsb. To collect information about patient outcomesc. To document skills used in a specific home visitd. To develop a plan of care that meets the patients needse. To generate information about the home health care agency f. To identify relatives who will be trained as patient caregivers
11. ANS: B, D, E B. D. E. Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is used to generate information about the home health agency and patient outcomes and to help develop a plan of care that best meets the patients problems. A. C. F. The OASIS form is not used to determine payment structures, document skills used during the visit, or identify relatives to train as caregivers for the patient.
____ 12. The nurse is visiting the home of an 80-year-old patient who has hypertension and diabetes. In addition to obtaining vital signs and blood glucose levels, what other actions would be appropriate for the nurse to do? (Select all that apply.) a. Inspect bathroom cupboards for contents.b. Search the kitchen for high-salt or sugar foods.c. Ask why the bed has not been made or the dishes washed.d. Check the bathroom for safety bars in the tub/shower area.e. Note the presence of scatter rugs or other impediments to free movement. f. Ask the patient about lighting at night when getting up to use the bathroom.
12. ANS: D, E, F D. E. F. Checks that the nurse should do during a home visit to promote safety for the patient include checking the bathroom for safety bars, noting the presence of scatter rugs or other hazards that impede movement, and checking for adequate lighting. A. Searching the bathroom is not appropriate. B. Education related to appropriate dietary measures is important, but searching the kitchen is not appropriate. C. Housekeeping is not within the realm of the nurse unless it is noted to endanger the patient.
13. The nurse is making a third home health visit. Which observations indicate that the patient and family have understood safety instructions and recommendations made by the nurse on an earlier visit? (Select all that apply.) a. The patient is wearing an emergency response call device.b. The family has removed scatter rugs and installed wall-to-wall carpeting.c. The bathtub has no nonslip mat, and there is no grab bar near the shower.d. The patients telephone, eyeglasses, and TV remote are near the patients seat.e. The patient reports getting up frequently at night, but there is no visible night-light. f. The patients medications are in labeled bottles with a checklist for medication times.
13. ANS: A, B, D, F A. B. D. F. Observations that promote home safety include the patient wearing an emergency response call device; removal of scatter rugs throughout the home; personal items, such as eyeglasses and the remote for the TV, located in the patients seating area; and medications being appropriately labeled with a checklist. C. E. A lack of safety devices in the bathroom and insufficient lighting indicate that additional teaching is required by the nurse.
_ 14. The nurse is identifying care that a home-care patient requires. For which patient needs should the nurse seek assistance from the social worker? (Select all that apply.) a. Setting up Meals on Wheels b. Helping the patient obtain a prescription card c. Identifying agencies that offer respite care services d. Assisting the family with long-term placement of the patient e. Helping the patient use assistive devices such as canes and walkers f. Assisting the patient with an exercise program to regain strength and mobility
14. ANS: A, B, C, D A. B. C. D. Social workers work closely with community resources and assist the patient with obtaining community assistance, such as obtaining a prescription card, setting up Meals on Wheels, and assisting the family with long-term care placement, respite care, homemaker services, living wills, and financial assistive services. E and F would be provided by a physical therapist.
15. The family of a home-care patient asks the nurse to explain private duty nursing. How should the nurse respond to this question? (Select all that apply.) a. It is covered by Medicare. b. It is covered by Medicaid. c. It is considered an out-of-pocket expense. d. Most duties focus on companionship and respite care. e. Specific licensure is required to become a private duty nurse. f. Either licensed nurses or unlicensed assistive personnel may be used.
15. ANS: C, D, F C. D. F. Private duty nursing consists of scheduled care to assist the patient with personal and homemaking needs that often focus more on companionship and respite care. Either licensed nurses or unlicensed assistive personnel may be used. A. B. Private duty is not covered by Medicare and Medicaid. E. No specific licensure is required. It is an out-of-pocket expense.
__ 16. The nurse is making a first home-care visit to a patient recently discharged after hip replacement surgery. Which home observations should the nurse document as safety concerns? (Select all that apply.) a. The patients recliner faces the television. b. A safety bar has been installed in the shower. c. A bathmat towel is on the floor in front of the tub. d. Smoke detectors are located in the kitchen and near the bedrooms. e. The patient has a large birdcage sitting on the floor in the middle of the living room. f. The hallway between the bedroom and bathroom is partially blocked by a cedar chest.
16. ANS: C, E, F C. E. F. The home health nurse should always assess the patients safety in the home. Safety concerns would include an obstruction on the floor, such as a birdcage, and a walkway being blocked by a cedar chest. The bathmat towel needs to be replaced with a non-skid mat. A. B. D. The recliner facing the television is not a safety risk. A safety bar in the shower is not a safety risk. Smoke detectors support home safety.
_ 17. The nurse is preparing to make a telehealth visit to a patient with a foot wound. Which types of technology will the nurse use to complete this visit? (Select all that apply.) a. E-mailb. Telephonec. Fax machined. Blood pressure cuff e. Video conferencing
17. ANS: A, B, C, E A. B. C. E. Telenursing, a branch of telehealth, uses information technology and telecommunication to provide nursing care. Various types of technology can be used, including telephone, fax, e-mail, and video/audio conferencing. D. A blood pressure cuff would not be used during a telehealth visit, because the nurse is not in the same room as the patient.
___ 18. The nurse is planning to make home-care visits throughout the day. What tasks should the nurse perform before beginning these visits? (Select all that apply.) a. Place a map in the door sleeve.b. Plug the cell phone into the charger.c. Check that the cars gas tank is full.d. Check the home-care bag for a whistle. e. Check the wallet for at least $50 in cash.
18. ANS: A, B, C, D A. B. C. D. Safety tips for the nurse preparing to conduct home-care visits includes having a map in the car, having a cell phone, making sure the cars gas tank is full, and having a whistle in case help is needed. E. Carrying a large sum of money is not required while conducting home-care visits.
19. After entering a patients home for a visit, the nurse notes that the living room floor is littered with trash, and pet hair is on furniture and table stands. What should the nurse do to maintain a clean home-care bag? (Select all that apply.) a. Take the bag back to the car.b. Wear the bag as a shoulder bag.c. Place the bag on a disposable pad.d. Cleanse the bag after leaving the home.e. Place the bag on the nearest un-upholstered chair.
19. ANS: C, D C. D. Disposable pads can be put on the floor and the home health bag placed on these. After the visit, the nurse should disinfect the bag before the next visit. A. The nurse might need something from the bag during the visit, so taking the bag back to the car is not safe nursing care. B. Wearing the bag as a shoulder bag could limit the nurses ability to provide safe nursing care. E. Placing the bag on an un-upholstered chair could expose the bag to environmental hazards.
_ 2. The nurse is to see a patient who requires dressing changes. Which staff member obtains the required supplies to be used during the home health care visit? a. Nurseb. Physicianc. Social workerd. Home health aide
2. ANS: A A. In the home, the nurse making the visits is responsible for bringing supplies to ensure safe care. The nurse carries extra common supplies, such as various sizes of urinary catheters, sterile dressing gauze, different types of tape, and alcohol wipes, to be prepared for whatever care the patient may need. B. C. D. The physician, social worker, and home health aide are not responsible for ensuring supplies are available when providing patient care in the home.
_ 4. During a home visit, the nurse documents arrival and departure time, patient vital signs, data collected for the patient, and a narrative note of the patients response to medications and understanding of care being given. Which action does the nurse need to take prior to submitting this documentation? a. Obtain signature of case manager.b. Obtain signature of patient or caregiver.c. Comment about patients home surroundings. d. Record the time of documentation submission.
4. ANS: B B. Items generally included in all home health documentation are the arrival and departure times of the nurse, assessment findings, vital signs, a narrative note, and the patients signature verifying the nurse was present in the home. A. The case manager does not need to sign the nurses documentation. C. Information about the patients home surroundings is not necessary. D. The time of submission is not a part of the home-care documentation note.
5. During a home health visit, the nurse learns that the family member who is the primary caregiver of the patient is exhausted and tense. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse recommend for the patients plan of care? a. Social Isolationb. Caregiver Role Strainc. Altered Role Performanced. Ineffective Therapeutic Regimen Management
5. ANS: B B. Caregiver role strain is related to the management of a chronic illness and lack of understanding of resources available. The caregiver is exhibiting signs of role strain: exhaustion and being tense. A. B. D. The caregiver is not demonstrating signs of social isolation, altered role performance, or ineffective management of the therapeutic regimen.
6. While traveling to a patients home for a visit, the home-care nurse becomes lost in an unfamiliar part of town and sees a group of teenagers hanging around a boarded-up building. Which action should the nurse take? a. Proceed to the next appointment. b. Pull over to the curb to look at a map. c. Seek assistance from one of the teens. d. Drive to a familiar area and call the patient for directions.
6. ANS: D D. If lost in an unknown area, the home-care nurse should leave, go to a familiar place, and contact the patient for directions. The agency also can be contacted with any concerns about home safety. A. Skipping the appointment could jeopardize the patients health and welfare. B. C. Pulling over to the curb to look at a map and asking for help could jeopardize the nurses safety.
7. The nurse is completing the home-care flow sheet. When should the nurse plan to return this sheet to the home health agency? a. In 2 daysb. Within 6 hoursc. Within 24 hoursd. Before the patient is discharged
7. ANS: C C. In most situations, a flow sheet documenting a home health care visit should be returned to the home health care facility or agency within 24 hours of the visit. A. D. The sheet needs to be returned before 2 days or before the patient is discharged. B. It would be unrealistic to expect the checklist to be returned to the agency within 6 hours.
9. During a home visit, the patient asks if his spouse could take one of the patients prescribed pain pills for a severe headache. How should the nurse respond to this request? a. Explain that only 1 dose is permitted to be taken.b. Suggest the spouse use an over-the-counter pain medication instead.c. Discuss how frequently the spouse can safely take the prescribed pain medication.d. Ask the spouse to contact the health care provider for a prescription for the medication.
9. ANS: D D. Nurses are not able to prescribe medications. The best response would be for the spouse to contact the HCP and ask for a prescription for pain medication. A. B. C. The nurse cannot prescribe medication therefore explaining the number of doses to be taken, suggesting the use of over-the-counter pain medication, and discussing the frequency of taking the medication are all outside of the nurses scope of practice, could jeopardize the nurses license, and should not be done.
_ 8. An older patient requires intravenous medication to be infused three times a day. The nurse instructs the spouse to provide these infusions. How frequently should the nurse plan to make home-care visits to this patient? a. Daily b. Never c. Twice a week d. Every 2 weeks
B B. If the patient can manage the care either independently or with help from a family member, the services of a home health nurse may not be required. A. C. D. Since the family member is able to provide the medication, services of a home-care nurse would not be needed daily, twice a week, or every 2 weeks.
____ 3. During a home visit, the nurse notes that an older patient is sitting in a poorly lit room listening to the radio. When the nurse turns on a light before starting to evaluate the patient and change a dressing on a wound, the patient says, Oh, you dont need that light. I try to keep the lights off. Electricity is too expensive. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate? a. Oh, I didnt realize you were pinching pennies. Ill use my flashlight.b. I will turn off the light as soon as I finish changing the dressing on your wound. c. It sounds like it would be helpful for you to talk with the social worker who can identify financial programs that could help you. d. If you cant afford electricity, you may need to consider a new residence. I can set up a visit to a nice assisted living complex near here.
C C. The case manager can relay concerns of the home-care team to the physician and obtain an order for a social service visit. Social workers help the patient with financial assistive services. A. Good lighting is important to provide safe care associated with the dressing change. B. This option does not recognize the potential financial hardship faced by the patient. D. Identifying the patients wishes and financial options would be necessary before exploring alternative living arrangements.
