HIV/AIDS
The nurse is caring for a client who has a CD4+ cell count of 700 cells/μL of blood and appears to be free from opportunistic infections. Based on this information, which statement is true?
A diagnosis cannot be determined based on the given information. The diagnosis of HIV infection is determined with the use of the ELISA and Western blot test. Overt AIDS occurs with a CD4+ count less than 200 cells/μL of blood, or an AIDS-defining illness.
Therapeutic treatment for the HIV infection includes which assessments?
-A combination of antiretroviral medications -Early recognition and treatment of opportunistic infections -Surveillance of HIV profile -Treatment of cognitive and affective disorders
A client has discussed therapy for his HIV-positive status. What does the nurse understand is the goal of antiretroviral therapy?
Bring the viral load to a virtually undetectable level
A college student has just received a positive HIV test result. How can the nurse most accurately interpret and respond to this finding?
The student has HIV antigens and further testing should be done.
A nurse is monitoring the client's progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). What debilitating gastrointestinal condition found in up to 90% of all AIDS clients should the nurse be aware of?
Chronic diarrhea
Which client would be diagnosed with wasting syndrome?
Client with HIV, fever, diarrhea, and significant involuntary weight loss
A nurse is assesing a client with Kaposi's sarcoma. What initial sign does the nurse know to look for during assessment?
Deep purple cutaneous lesions
Which blood test confirms the presence of antibodies to HIV?
ELISA
A client suspected of having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has blood drawn for a screening test. What is the first test generally run to see if a client is, indeed, HIV positive?
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
When learning about HIV/AIDS, the student should be able to differentiate the two subtypes of virus by which characteristic?
HIV-1 is more prevalent than HIV-2 subtypes
A 48-year-old man who has been HIV positive for 6 years has just learned that he has been diagnosed with Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Which fact most accurately conveys an aspect of his diagnosis?
He is likely to have lesions on his skin, mouth, or GI tract.
A 36-year-old male who is positive for HIV antibodies notices purplish spots on his upper body. Which term is used to identify these areas as an opportunistic infection?
Kaposi sarcoma
Which of these is often found in a client with AIDS?
Kaposi sarcoma
While caring for a patient with pneumocystis pneumonia, the nurse assesses flat, purplish lesions on the back and trunk. What does the nurse suspect these lesions indicate?
Kaposi's sarcoma, the most common HIV-related malignancy, is a disease that involves the endothelial layer of blood and lymphatic vessels.
Typical symptoms seen in the latent period of HIV infection include which of the following?
No signs or symptoms
A 21-year-old woman diagnosed with HIV/AIDS 4 years ago now presents with cytomegalovirus. The nurse explains to the woman that the infection is caused by a common organism that normally does not cause infection in someone with a healthy immune system. This type of infection is called what?
Opportunistic infection
A client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) develops a nonproductive cough, shortness of breath, a fever of 101°F and an O2 saturation of 92%. What infection caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci does the nurse know could occur with this client?
Pneumocystis pneumonia
A client taking abacavir has developed fever and rash. What is the priority nursing action?
Report to the health care provider
A client with HIV will be started on a medication regimen of three medications. What drug will the nurse instruct the client about?
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors
A client in a late stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) shows signs of AIDS-related dementia. Which nursing diagnosis takes highest priority?
Risk for injury
An infant has been born to a client who is HIV positive. What is the infant's most likely prognosis for developing AIDS?
The infant can be HIV antibody positive by ELISA for up to 18 months of age without being actively infected with HIV.
A male patient has come into the free clinic asking to be tested for HIV infection. The patient asks the nurse how the test works. The nurse responds that if the testing shows antibodies to the AIDS virus are present in the blood, this indicates what?
The patient has been infected with HIV.
A client has been diagnosed with HIV and has been placed on antiretroviral therapy. What does the nurse inform the client will be required for determining the progression of the disease as well as guiding drug therapy?
Viral load and T4-cell counts will be performed every 2 to 3 months.
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is diagnosed through
biopsy
HIV is considered to be a retrovirus because:
it carries its genetic information in ribonucleic acid (RNA) rather than deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
What is the priority intervention for a nurse caring for a client with wasting syndrome from HIV?
promote nutritional intake
A nurse is caring for a client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). What would the nurse expect the health care provider to order to determine the effectiveness of treatment?
quantification of T-lymphocytes
A female client comes to the clinic and tells the nurse, "I think I have another vaginal infection and I also have some wartlike lesions on my vagina. This is happening quite often." What should the nurse consult with the physician regarding?
testing the client for the presence of HIV
The nurse identifies a nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance related to pneumocystis pneumonia and increased bronchial secretions for a client with AIDS. Which of the following would be appropriate for the nurse to include in the client's plan of care?
Assist with chest physiotherapy every 2 to 4 hours.
