Adult 3 TB Questions Test 4
A hospital patient is immunocompromised because of stage 3 HIV infection and the physician has ordered a chest radiograph. How should the nurse most safely facilitate the test? A) Arrange for a portable x-ray machine to be used. B) Have the patient wear a mask to the x-ray department. C) Ensure that the radiology department has been disinfected prior to the test. D) Send the patient to the x-ray department, and have the staff in the department wear masks.
A A patient who is immunocompromised is at an increased risk of contracting nosocomial infections due to suppressed immunity. The safest way the test can be facilitated is to have a portable x-ray machine in the patients room. This confers more protection than disinfecting the radiology department or using masks.
During a mumps outbreak at a local school, a patient, who is a school teacher, is exposed. She has previously been immunized for mumps. What type of immunity does she possess? A) Acquired immunity B) Natural immunity C) Phagocytic immunity D) Humoral immunity
A Acquired immunity usually develops as a result of prior exposure to an antigen, often through immunization. When the body is attacked by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens, it has three means of defense. The first line of defense, the phagocytic immune response, involves the WBCs that have the ability to ingest foreign particles. A second protective response is the humoral immune response, which begins when the B lymphocytes transform themselves into plasma cells that manufacture antibodies. The natural immune response system is rapid, nonspecific immunity present at birth.
A patient with HIV infection has begun experiencing severe diarrhea. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention to help alleviate the diarrhea? A) Administer antidiarrheal medications on a scheduled basis, as ordered. B) Encourage the patient to eat three balanced meals and a snack at bedtime. C) Increase the patients oral fluid intake. D) Encourage the patient to increase his or her activity level.
A Administering antidiarrheal agents on a regular schedule may be more beneficial than administering them on an as-needed basis, provided the patients diarrhea is not caused by an infectious microorganism. Increased oral fluid may exacerbate diarrhea; IV fluid replacement is often indicated. Small, more frequent meals may be beneficial, and it is unrealistic to increase activity while the patient has frequent diarrhea.
An infection control nurse is presenting an inservice reviewing the immune response. The nurse describes the clumping effect that occurs when an antibody acts like a cross-link between two antigens. What process is the nurse explaining? A) Agglutination B) Cellular immune response C) Humoral response D) Phagocytic immune response
A Agglutination refers to the clumping effect occurring when an antibody acts as a cross-link between two antigens. This takes place within the context of the humoral immune response, but is not synonymous with it. Cellular immune response, the immune systems third line of defense, involves the attack of pathogens by T-cells. The phagocytic immune response, or immune response, is the systems first line of defense, involving white blood cells that have the ability to ingest foreign particles.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is to begin receiving external radiation for a malignant tumor of the neck. While providing patient education, what potential adverse effects should the nurse discuss with the patient? A) Impaired nutritional status B) Cognitive changes C) Diarrhea D) Alopecia
A Alterations in oral mucosa, change and loss of taste, pain, and dysphasia often occur as a result of radiotherapy to the head and neck. The patient is at an increased risk of impaired nutritional status. Radiotherapy does not cause cognitive changes. Diarrhea is not a likely concern for this patient. Radiation only results in alopecia when targeted at the whole brain; radiation of other parts of the body does not lead to hair loss.
A nurse is planning the care of a patient with AIDS who is admitted to the unit withPneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority for this patient? A) Ineffective Airway Clearance B) Impaired Oral Mucous Membranes C) Imbalanced Nutrition: Less than Body Requirements D) Activity Intolerance
A Although all these nursing diagnoses are appropriate for a patient with AIDS, Ineffective Airway Clearance is the priority nursing diagnosis for the patient with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Airway and breathing take top priority over the other listed concerns.
The nurse is providing care for a patient who has experienced a type I hypersensitivity reaction. What condition is an example of such a reaction? A) Anaphylactic reaction after a bee sting B) Skin reaction resulting from adhesive tape C) Myasthenia gravis D) Rheumatoid arthritis
A Anaphylactic (type I) hypersensitivity is an immediate reaction mediated by IgE antibodies and requires previous exposure to the specific antigen. Skin reactions are more commonly type IV and myasthenia gravis is thought to be a type II reaction. Rheumatoid arthritis is not a type I hypersensitivity reaction.
A 50-year-old man diagnosed with leukemia will begin chemotherapy. What would the nurse do to combat the most common adverse effects of chemotherapy? A) Administer an antiemetic. B) Administer an antimetabolite. C) Administer a tumor antibiotic. D) Administer an anticoagulant.
A Antiemetics are used to treat nausea and vomiting, the most common adverse effects of chemotherapy. Antihistamines and certain steroids are also used to treat nausea and vomiting. Antimetabolites and tumor antibiotics are classes of chemotherapeutic medications. Anticoagulants slow blood clotting time, thereby helping to prevent thrombi and emboli.
The nurse is providing care for a patient who has multiple sclerosis. The nurse recognizes the autoimmune etiology of this disease and the potential benefits of what treatment? A) Stem cell transplantation B) Serial immunizations C) Immunosuppression D) Genetic engineering
A Clinical trials using stem cells are under way in patients with a variety of disorders having an autoimmune component, including multiple sclerosis. Immunizations and genetic engineering are not used to treat multiple sclerosis. Immunosuppression would exacerbate symptoms of MS.
A nursing home patient has been diagnosed with Clostridium dif icile. What type of precautions should the nurse implement to prevent the spread of this infectious disease to other residents? A) Contact B) Droplet C) Airborne D) Positive pressure isolation
A Contact precautions are used for organisms that are spread by skin-to-skin contact, such as antibiotic- resistant organisms or Clostridium dif icile. Droplet precautions are used for organisms that can be transmitted by close, face-to-face contact, such as influenza or meningococcal meningitis. Airborne precautions are required for patients with presumed or proven pulmonary TB or chickenpox. Positive pressure isolation is unnecessary and ineffective.
A patient with a history of dermatitis takes corticosteroids on a regular basis. The nurse should assess the patient for which of the following complications of therapy? A) Immunosuppression B) Agranulocytosis C) Anemia D) Thrombocytopenia
A Corticosteroids such as prednisone can cause immunosuppression. Corticosteroids do not typically cause agranulocytosis, anemia, or low platelet counts.
A patient with HIV has a nursing diagnosis of Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity. What nursing intervention best addresses this risk? A) Utilize a pressure-reducing mattress. B) Limit the patients physical activity. C) Apply antibiotic ointment to dependent skin surfaces. D) Avoid contact with synthetic fabrics.
A Devices such as alternating-pressure mattresses and low-air-loss beds are used to prevent skin breakdown. Activity should be promoted, not limited, and contact with synthetic fabrics does not necessary threaten skin integrity. Antibiotic ointments are not normally used unless there is a break in the skin surface.
While a patient is receiving IV doxorubicin hydrochloride for the treatment of cancer, the nurse observes swelling and pain at the IV site. The nurse should prioritize what action? A) Stopping the administration of the drug immediately B) Notifying the patients physician C) Continuing the infusion but decreasing the rate D) Applying a warm compress to the infusion site
A Doxorubicin hydrochloride is a chemotherapeutic vesicant that can cause severe tissue damage. The nurse should stop the administration of the drug immediately and then notify the patients physician. Ice can be applied to the site once the drug therapy has stopped.
The clinic nurse is caring for a 42-year-old male oncology patient. He complains of extreme fatigue and weakness after his first week of radiation therapy. Which response by the nurse would best reassure this patient? A) These symptoms usually result from radiation therapy; however, we will continue to monitor your laboratory and x-ray studies. B) These symptoms are part of your disease and are an unfortunately inevitable part of living with cancer. C) Try not to be concerned about these symptoms. Every patient feels this way after having radiation therapy. D) Even though it is uncomfortable, this is a good sign. It means that only the cancer cells are dying.
A Fatigue and weakness result from radiation treatment and usually do not represent deterioration or disease progression. The symptoms associated with radiation therapy usually decrease after therapy ends. The symptoms may concern the patient and should not be belittled. Radiation destroys both cancerous and normal cells.
Chapter 36 Questions Since the emergence of HIV/AIDS, there have been significant changes in epidemiologic trends. Members of what group currently have the greatest risk of contracting HIV? A) Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men B) Recreational drug users C) Blood transfusion recipients D) Health care providers
A Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men remain the population most affected by HIV and account for 2% of the population but 61% of the new infections. This exceeds the incidence among drug users, health care workers, and transfusion recipients.
A clinic nurse is caring for a patient admitted with AIDS. The nurse has assessed that the patient is experiencing a progressive decline in cognitive, behavioral, and motor functions. The nurse recognizes that these symptoms are most likely related to the onset of what complication? A) HIV encephalopathy B) B-cell lymphoma C) Kaposis sarcoma D) Wasting syndrome
A HIV encephalopathy is a clinical syndrome characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive, behavioral, and motor functions. The other listed complications do not normally have cognitive and behavioral manifestations.
An HIV-infected patient presents at the clinic for a scheduled CD4+ count. The results of the test are 45 cells/mL, and the nurse recognizes the patients increased risk for Mycobacterium aviumcomplex (MAC disease). The nurse should anticipate the administration of what drug? A) Azithromycin B) Vancomycin C) Levofloxacin D) Fluconazole
A HIV-infected adults and adolescents should receive chemoprophylaxis against disseminatedMycobacterium avium complex (MAC disease) if they have a CD4+ count less than 50 cells/L. Azithromycin (Zithromax) or clarithromycin (Biaxin) are the preferred prophylactic agents. Vancomycin, levoflaxacin, and fluconazole are not prophylactic agents for MAC.
A patient has been admitted to the emergency department with signs of anaphylaxis following a bee sting. The nurse knows that if this is a true allergic reaction the patient will present with what alteration in laboratory values? A) Increased eosinophils B) Increased neutrophils C) Increased serum albumin D) Decreased blood glucose
A Higher percentages of eosinophils are considered moderate to severe eosinophilia. Moderate eosinophilia is defined as 15% to 40% eosinophils and is found in patients with allergic disorders. Hypersensitivity does not result in hypoglycemia or increased albumin and neutrophil counts.
A school nurse is caring for a child who appears to be having an allergic response. What should be the initial action of the school nurse? A) Assess for signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis. B) Assess for erythema and urticaria. C) Administer an OTC antihistamine. D) Administer epinephrine.
A If a patient is experiencing an allergic response, the nurses initial action is to assess the patient for signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis. Erythema and urticaria may be present, but these are not the most significant or most common signs of anaphylaxis. Assessment must precede interventions, such as administering an antihistamine. Epinephrine is indicated in the treatment of anaphylaxis, not for every allergic reaction.
A gardener sustained a deep laceration while working and requires sutures. The patient is asked about the date of her last tetanus shot, which is over 10 years ago. Based on this information, the patient will receive a tetanus immunization. The tetanus injection will allow for the release of what? A) Antibodies B) Antigens C) Cytokines D) Phagocytes
A Immunizations activate the humoral immune response, culminating in antibody production. Antigens are the substances that induce the production of antibodies. Immunizations do not prompt cytokine or phagocyte production.
An adult patient in the ICU has a central venous catheter in place. Over the past 24 hours, the patient has developed signs and symptoms that are suggestive of a central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). What aspect of the patients care may have increased susceptibility to CLABSI? A) The patients central line was placed in the femoral vein. B) The patient had blood cultures drawn from the central line. C) The patient was treated for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) during a previous admission. D) The patient has received antibiotics and IV fluids through the same line.
A In adult patients, the femoral site should be avoided in order to reduce the risk of CLABSI. Drawing blood cultures, receiving treatment for VRE, and receiving fluids and drugs through the same line are not known to increase the risk for CLABSI.
After the completion of testing, a childs allergies have been attributed to her familys cat. When introducing the family to the principles of avoidance therapy, the nurse should promote what action? A) Removing the cat from the familys home B) Administering OTC antihistamines to the child regularly C) Keeping the cat restricted from the childs bedroom D) Maximizing airflow in the house
A In avoidance therapy, every attempt is made to remove the allergens that act as precipitating factors. Fully removing the cat from the environment is preferable to just keeping the cat out of the childs bedroom. Avoidance therapy does not involve improving airflow or using antihistamines.
The nurse places a patient in isolation. Isolation techniques have the potential to break the chain of infection by interfering with what component of the chain of infection? A) Mode of transmission B) Agent C) Susceptible host D) Portal of entry
A Isolation techniques attempt to break the chain of infection by interfering with the transmission mode. These techniques do not directly affect the agent, host, or portal of entry.
A nurse is addressing the incidence and prevalence of HIV infection among older adults. What principle should guide the nurses choice of educational interventions? A) Many older adults do not see themselves as being at risk for HIV infection. B) Many older adults are not aware of the difference between HIV and AIDS. C) Older adults tend to have more sex partners than younger adults. D) Older adults have the highest incidence of intravenous drug use.
A It is known that many older adults do not see themselves as being at risk for HIV infection. Knowledge of the relationship between HIV infection and AIDS is not known to affect the incidence of new cases. The statements about sex partners and IV drug use are untrue.
A patient has undergone treatment for septic shock and received high doses of numerous antibiotics during the course of treatment. When planning the patients subsequent care, the nurse should be aware of what potential effect on the patients immune function? A) Bone marrow suppression B) Uncontrolled apoptosis C) Thymus atrophy D) Lymphoma
A Large doses of antibiotics can precipitate bone marrow suppression, affecting immune function. Antibiotics are not noted to cause apoptosis, thymus atrophy, or lymphoma
A patient who has AIDS is being treated in the hospital and admits to having periods of extreme anxiety. What would be the most appropriate nursing intervention? A) Teach the patient guided imagery. B) Give the patient more control of her antiretroviral regimen. C)Increase the patients activity level. D) Collaborate with the patients physician to obtain an order for hydromorphone.
A Measures such as relaxation and guided imagery may be beneficial because they decrease anxiety, which contributes to weakness and fatigue. Increased activity may be of benefit, but for other patients this may exacerbate feelings of anxiety or loss. Granting the patient control has the potential to reduce anxiety, but the patient is not normally given unilateral control of the ART regimen. Hydromorphone is not used to treat anxiety.
A nurse who provides care in a busy ED is in contact with hundreds of patients each year. The nurse has a responsibility to receive what vaccine? A) Hepatitis B vaccine B) Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine C) Clostridium dif icile vaccine D) Staphylococcus aureus vaccine
A Nurses should recognize their personal responsibility to receive the hepatitis B vaccine and an annual influenza vaccine to reduce potential transmission to themselves and vulnerable patient groups. HPV is not a threat because it is sexually transmitted. No vaccines are available againstC. dif icile and S. aureus.
A 16-year-old male patient comes to the free clinic and is subsequently diagnosed with primary syphilis. What health problem most likely prompted the patient to seek care? A) The emergence of a chancre on his penis B) Painful urination C) Signs of a systemic infection D) Unilateral testicular swelling
A Primary syphilis occurs 2 to 3 weeks after initial inoculation with the organism. A painless chancre develops at the site of infection. Initial infection with syphilis is not associated with testicular swelling, painful voiding, or signs of systemic infection
A 16-year-old female patient experiences alopecia resulting from chemotherapy, prompting the nursing diagnoses of disturbed body image and situational low self-esteem. What action by the patient would best indicate that she is meeting the goal of improved body image and self-esteem? A) The patient requests that her family bring her makeup and wig. B) The patient begins to discuss the future with her family. C) The patient reports less disruption from pain and discomfort. D) The patient cries openly when discussing her disease
A Requesting her wig and makeup indicates that the patient with alopecia is becoming interested in looking her best and that her body image and self-esteem may be improving. The other options may indicate that other nursing goals are being met, but they do not necessarily indicate improved body image and self-esteem.
A patient is vigilant in her efforts to take good care of herself but is frustrated by her recent history of upper respiratory infections and influenza. What aspect of the patients lifestyle may have a negative effect on immune response? A) The patient works out at the gym twice daily. B) The patient does not eat red meats. C) The patient takes over-the-counter dietary supplements. D) The patient sleeps approximately 6 hours each night.
A Rigorous exercise or competitive exerciseusually considered a positive lifestyle factorcan be a physiologic stressor and cause negative effects on immune response. The patients habits around diet and sleep do not present obvious threats to immune function.
The home health nurse is performing a home visit for an oncology patient discharged 3 days ago after completing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The nurses assessment should include examination for the signs and symptoms of what complication? A) Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) B) Syndrome of inappropriate antiduretic hormone (SIADH) C) Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) D) Hypercalcemia
A TLS is a potentially fatal complication that occurs spontaneously or more commonly following radiation, biotherapy, or chemotherapy-induced cell destruction of large or rapidly growing cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and small cell lung cancer. DIC, SIADH and hypercalcemia are less likely complications following this treatment and diagnosis.
The hospice nurse has just admitted a new patient to the program. What principle guides hospice care? A) Care addresses the needs of the patient as well as the needs of the family. B) Care is focused on the patient centrally and the family peripherally. C) The focus of all aspects of care is solely on the patient. D) The care team prioritizes the patients physical needs and the family is responsible for the patients emotional needs.
A The focus of hospice care is on the family as well as the patient. The family is not solely responsible for the patients emotional well-being
An infectious outbreak of unknown origin has occurred in a long-term care facility. The nurse who oversees care at the facility should report the outbreak to what organization? A) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) B) American Medical Association (AMA) C) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) D) American Nurses Association (ANA)
A The goals of the CDC are to provide scientific recommendations regarding disease prevention and control to reduce disease, which it includes in publications. As such, outbreaks of unknown origin should normally be reported to the CDC. The AMA is the professional organization for medical doctors; the EPA oversees our environment; the ANA is the professional organization for American nurses.
The nurse is planning the care of a patient who has a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, which commonly affects both of her hands and forearms. What risk nursing diagnosis should the nurse include in the patients care plan? A) Risk for Disturbed Body Image Related to Skin Lesions B) Risk for Disuse Syndrome Related to Dermatitis C) Risk for Ineffective Role Performance Related to Dermatitis D) Risk for Self-Care Deficit Related to Skin Lesions
A The highly visible skin lesions associated with atopic dermatitis constitute a risk for disturbed body image. This may culminate in ineffective role performance, but this is not likely the case for the majority of patients. Dermatitis is unlikely to cause a disuse syndrome or self-care deficit.
An office worker takes a cupcake that contains peanut butter. He begins wheezing, with an inspiratory stridor and air hunger and the occupational health nurse is called to the office. The nurse should recognize that the worker is likely suffering from which type of hypersensitivity? A) Anaphylactic (type 1) B) Cytotoxic (type II) C) Immune complex (type III) D) Delayed-type (type IV)
A The most severe form of a hypersensitivity reaction is anaphylaxis. An unanticipated severe allergic reaction that is often explosive in onset, anaphylaxis is characterized by edema in many tissues, including the larynx, and is often accompanied by hypotension, bronchospasm, and cardiovascular collapse in severe cases. Type II, or cytotoxic, hypersensitivity occurs when the system mistakenly identifies a normal constituent of the body as foreign. Immune complex (type III) hypersensitivity involves immune complexes formed when antigens bind to antibodies. Type III is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, certain types of nephritis, and bacterial endocarditis. Delayed-type (type IV), also known as cellular hypersensitivity, occurs 24 to 72 hours after exposure to an allergen.
A 5-year-old boy has been diagnosed with a severe food allergy. What is an important parameter to address when educating the parents of this child about his allergy and care? A) Wear a medical identification bracelet. B) Know how to use the antihistamine pen. C) Know how to give injections of lidocaine. D) Avoid live attenuated vaccinations.
A The nurse also advises the patient to wear a medical identification bracelet or to carry emergency equipment at all times. Patients and their families do not carry antihistamine pens, they carry epinephrine pens. Lidocaine is not self-administered to treat allergies. The patient may safely be vaccinated.
A patient on Airborne Precautions asks the nurse to leave his door open. What is the nurses best reply? A) I have to keep your door shut at all times. Ill open the curtains so that you dont feel so closed in. B) Ill keep the door open for you, but please try to avoid moving around the room too much. C) I can open your door if you wear this mask. D) I can open your door, but Ill have to come back and close it in a few minutes.
A The nurse is placing the patient on airborne precautions, which require that doors and windows be closed at all times. Opening the curtains is acceptable. Antibiotics, wearing a mask, and standard precautions are not sufficient to allow the patients door to be open.
A nurse is assessing the skin integrity of a patient who has AIDS. When performing this inspection, the nurse should prioritize assessment of what skin surfaces? A) Perianal region and oral mucosa B) Sacral region and lower abdomen C) Scalp and skin over the scapulae D) Axillae and upper thorax
A The nurse should inspect all the patients skin surfaces and mucous membranes, but the oral mucosa and perianal region are particularly vulnerable to skin breakdown and fungal infection.
A nurse has asked the nurse educator if there is any way to predict the severity of a patients anaphylactic reaction. What would be the nurses best response? A) The faster the onset of symptoms, the more severe the reaction. B) The reaction will be about one-third more severe than the patients last reaction to the same antigen. C) There is no way to gauge the severity of a patients anaphylaxis, even if it has occurred repeatedly in the past. D) The reaction will generally be slightly less severe than the last reaction to the same antigen.
A The time from exposure to the antigen to onset of symptoms is a good indicator of the severity of the reaction: the faster the onset, the more severe the reaction. None of the other statements is an accurate description of the course of anaphylactic reactions.
Chapter 35 Questions A woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is being treated aggressively with a chemotherapeutic regimen. As a result of this regimen, she has an inability to fight infection due to the fact that her bone marrow is unable to produce a sufficient amount of what? A) Lymphocytes B) Cytoblasts C) Antibodies D) Capillaries
A The white blood cells involved in immunity (including lymphocytes) are produced in the bone marrow. Capillaries are small blood vessels.
The nurses plan of care for a patient with stage 3 HIV addresses the diagnosis of Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity Related to Candidiasis. What nursing intervention best addresses this risk? A) Providing thorough oral care before and after meals B) Administering prophylactic antibiotics C) Promoting nutrition and adequate fluid intake D) Applying skin emollients as needed
A Thorough mouth care has the potential to prevent or limit the severity of this infection. Antibiotics are irrelevant because of the fungal etiology. The patient requires adequate food and fluids, but these do not necessarily prevent candidiasis. Skin emollients are not appropriate because candidiasis is usually oral.
A patient with multiple food and environmental allergies tells the nurse that he is frustrated and angry about having to be so watchful all the time and wonders if it is really worth it. What would be the nurses best response? A) I can only imagine how you feel. Would you like to talk about it? B) Lets find a quiet spot and Ill teach you a few coping strategies. C) Thats the same way that most patients who have a chronic illness feel. D) Do you think that maybe you could be managing things more efficiently?
A To assist the patient in adjusting to these modifications, the nurse must have an appreciation of the difficulties encountered by the patient. The patient is encouraged to verbalize feelings and concerns in a supportive environment and to identify strategies to deal with them effectively. The nurse should not suggest that the patient has been mismanaging his health problem and the nurse should not make comparisons with other patients. Further assessment should precede educational interventions.
A 60-year-old patient with a diagnosis of prostate cancer is scheduled to have an interstitial implant for high-dose radiation (HDR). What safety measure should the nurse include in this patients subsequent plan of care? A) Limit the time that visitors spend at the patients bedside. B) Teach the patient to perform all aspects of basic care independently. C) Assign male nurses to the patients care whenever possible. D) Situate the patient in a shared room with other patients receiving brachytherapy.
A To limit radiation exposure, visitors should generally not spend more than 30 minutes with the patient. Pregnant nurses or visitors should not be near the patient, but there is no reason to limit care to nurses who are male. All necessary care should be provided to the patient and a single room should be used.
A patient has sought care, stating that she developed hives overnight. The nurses inspection confirms the presence of urticaria. What type of allergic hypersensitivity reaction has the patient developed? A) Type I B) Type II C) Type III D) Type IV
A Urticaria (hives) is a type I hypersensitive allergic reaction
During a health education session, a participant asks the nurse how a vaccine can protect from future exposures to diseases against which she is vaccinated. What would be the nurses best response? A) The vaccine causes an antibody response in the body. B) The vaccine responds to an infection in the body after it occurs. C) The vaccine is similar to an antibiotic that is used to treat an infection. D) The vaccine actively attacks the microorganism.
A Vaccines are an antigen preparation that produces an antibody response in a human to protect him or her from future exposure to the vaccinated organism. A vaccine does not respond to an infection after it occurs; it does not act like an antibiotic and does not actively attack the microorganism.
A patients exposure to which of the following microorganisms is most likely to trigger a cellular response? A) Herpes simplex B) Staphylococcus aureus C) Pseudomonas aeruginosa D) Beta hemolytic Streptococcus
A Viral, rather than bacterial antigens, induce a cellular response.
Family members are caring for a patient with HIV in the patients home. What should the nurse encourage family members to do to reduce the risk of infection transmission? A) Use caution when shaving the patient. B) Use separate dishes for the patient and family members. C) Use separate bed linens for the patient. D) Disinfect the patients bedclothes regularly.
A When caring for a patient with HIV at home, family members should use caution when providing care that may expose them to the patients blood, such as shaving. Dishes, bed linens, and bedclothes, unless contaminated with blood, only require the usual cleaning.
You are caring for a patient who has just been told that her stage IV colon cancer has recurred and metastasized to the liver. The oncologist offers the patient the option of surgery to treat the progression of this disease. What type of surgery does the oncologist offer? A) Palliative B) Reconstructive C) Salvage D) Prophylactic
A When cure is not possible, the goals of treatment are to make the patient as comfortable as possible and to promote quality of life as defined by the patient and his or her family. Palliative surgery is performed in an attempt to relieve complications of cancer, such as ulceration, obstruction, hemorrhage, pain, and malignant effusion. Reconstructive surgery may follow curative or radical surgery in an attempt to improve function or obtain a more desirable cosmetic effect. Salvage surgery is an additional treatment option that uses an extensive surgical approach to treat the local recurrence of a cancer after the use of a less extensive primary approach. Prophylactic surgery involves removing nonvital tissues or organs that are at increased risk to develop cancer.
A medical nurse is careful to adhere to infection control protocols, including handwashing. Which statement about handwashing supports the nurses practice? A) Frequent handwashing reduces transmission of pathogens from one patient to another. B) Wearing gloves is known to be an adequate substitute for handwashing. C) Bar soap is preferable to liquid soap. D) Waterless products should be avoided in situations where running water is unavailable.
A Whether gloves are worn or not, handwashing is required before and after patient contact because thorough handwashing reduces the risk of cross-contamination. Bar soap should not be used because it is a potential carrier of bacteria. Soap dispensers are preferable, but they must also be checked for bacteria. When water is unavailable, the nurse should wash using a liquid hand sanitzier.
A nurse who works in an oncology clinic is assessing a patient who has arrived for a 2-month follow-up appointment following chemotherapy. The nurse notes that the patients skin appears yellow. Which blood tests should be done to further explore this clinical sign? A) Liver function tests (LFTs) B) Complete blood count (CBC) C) Platelet count D) Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine
A Yellow skin is a sign of jaundice and the liver is a common organ affected by metastatic disease. An LFT should be done to determine if the liver is functioning. A CBC, platelet count and tests of renal function would not directly assess for liver disease.
A patient has been brought to the emergency department by EMS after being found unresponsive. Rapid assessment reveals anaphylaxis as a potential cause of the patients condition. The care team should attempt to assess for what potential causes of anaphylaxis? Select all that apply. A) Foods B) Medications C) Insect stings D) Autoimmunity E) Environmental pollutants
A, B, C Substances that most commonly cause anaphylaxis include foods, medications, insect stings, and latex. Pollutants do not commonly cause anaphylaxis and autoimmune processes are more closely associated with types II and III hypersensitivities.
A nurse is performing the admission assessment of a patient who has AIDS. What components should the nurse include in this comprehensive assessment? Select all that apply. A) Current medication regimen B) Identification of patients support system C) Immune system function D) Genetic risk factors for HIV E) History of sexual practices
A, B, C, E Nursing assessment includes numerous focuses, including identification of medication use, support system, immune function and sexual history. HIV does not have a genetic component.
A nurse is completing a nutritional status of a patient who has been admitted with AIDS-related complications. What components should the nurse include in this assessment? Select all that apply. A) Serum albumin level B) Weight history C) White blood cell count D) Body mass index E) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level
A, B, D, E Nutritional status is assessed by obtaining a dietary history and identifying factors that may interfere with oral intake, such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, oral pain, or difficulty swallowing. In addition, the patients ability to purchase and prepare food is assessed. Weight history (i.e., changes over time); anthropometric measurements; and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum protein, albumin, and transferrin levels provide objective measurements of nutritional status. White cell count is not a typical component of a nutritional assessment.
The nurse is describing some of the major characteristics of cancer to a patient who has recently received a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. When differentiating between benign and malignant cancer cells, the nurse should explain differences in which of the following aspects? Select all that apply. A) Rate of growth B) Ability to cause death C) Size of cells D) Cell contents E) Ability to spread
A, B, E Benign and malignant cells differ in many cellular growth characteristics, including the method and rate of growth, ability to metastasize or spread, general effects, destruction of tissue, and ability to cause death. Cells come in many sizes, both benign and malignant. Cell contents are basically the same, but they behave differently.
A nurse is participating in a vaccination clinic at the local public health clinic. The nurse is describing the public health benefits of vaccinations to participants. Vaccine programs addressing which of the following diseases have been deemed successful? Select all that apply. A) Polio B) Diphtheria C) Hepatitis D) Tuberculosis E) Pertussis
A, B, E The most successful vaccine programs have been ones for the prevention of smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. There is no vaccine for tuberculosis. Hepatitis is not counted as one of the most successful vaccination programs, because vaccination rates for hepatitis leave room for improvement.
You are caring for an adult patient who has developed a mild oral yeast infection following chemotherapy. What actions should you encourage the patient to perform? Select all that apply. A) Use a lip lubricant. B) Scrub the tongue with a firm-bristled toothbrush. C) Use dental floss every 24 hours. D) Rinse the mouth with normal saline. E) Eat spicy food to aid in eradicating the yeast.
A, C, D Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral cavity. The patient should be encouraged to brush the teeth with a soft toothbrush after meals, use dental floss every 24 hours, rinse with normal saline, and use a lip lubricant. Mouthwashes and hot foods should be avoided.
The nurse should recognize a patients risk for impaired immune function if the patient has undergone surgical removal of which of the following? A) Thyroid gland B) Spleen C) Kidney D) Pancreas
B A history of surgical removal of the spleen, lymph nodes, or thymus may place the patient at risk for impaired immune function. Removal of the thyroid, kidney, or pancreas would not directly lead to impairment of the immune system.
A patient is receiving a transfusion of packed red blood cells. Shortly after initiation of the transfusion, the patient begins to exhibit signs and symptoms of a transfusion reaction. The patient is suffering from which type of hypersensitivity? A) Anaphylactic (type 1) B) Cytotoxic (type II) C) Immunecomplex (type III) D) Delayed type (type IV)
B A type II hypersensitivity reaction resulting in red blood cell destruction is associated with blood transfusions. This type of reaction does not result from types I, III, or IV reactions.
A patient is beginning an antiretroviral drug regimen shortly after being diagnosed with HIV. What nursing action is most likely to increase the likelihood of successful therapy? A) Promoting appropriate use of complementary therapies B) Addressing possible barriers to adherence C) Educating the patient about the pathophysiology of HIV D) Teaching the patient about the need for follow-up blood work
B ART is highly dependent on adherence to treatment, and the nurse should proactively address this. Blood work is necessary, but this will not have a direct bearing on the success or failure of treatment. Complementary therapies are appropriate, but are not the main factor in successful treatment. The patient may or may not benefit from teaching about HIV pathophysiology.
A nurse has administered a childs scheduled vaccination for rubella. This vaccination will cause the child to develop which of the following? A) Natural immunity B) Active acquired immunity C) Cellular immunity D) Mild hypersensitivity
B Active acquired immunity usually develops as a result of vaccination or contracting a disease. Natural immunity is present at birth and provides a nonspecific response to any foreign invader. Immunizations do not activate the process of cellular immunity. Hypersensitivity is not an expected outcome of immunization.
A hospital nurse has experienced percutaneous exposure to an HIV-positive patients blood as a result of a needlestick injury. The nurse has informed the supervisor and identified the patient. What action should the nurse take next? A) Flush the wound site with chlorhexidine. B) Report to the emergency department or employee health department. C) Apply a hydrocolloid dressing to the wound site. D) Follow up with the nurses primary care provider.
B After initiating the emergency reporting system, the nurse should report as quickly as possible to the employee health services, the emergency department, or other designated treatment facility. Flushing is recommended, but chlorhexidine is not used for this purpose. Applying a dressing is not recommended.Following up with the nurses own primary care provider would require an unacceptable delay.
A child has been diagnosed with a severe walnut allergy after suffering an anaphylactic reaction. What is a priority for health education? A) The need to begin immunotherapy as soon as possible B) The need for the parents to carry an epinephrine pen C) The need to vigilantly maintain the childs immunization status D) The need for the child to avoid all foods that have a high potential for allergies
B All patients with food allergies, especially seafood and nuts, should have an EpiPen device prescribed. The child does not necessarily need to avoid all common food allergens. Immunotherapy is not indicated in the treatment of childhood food allergies. Immunizations are important, but do not address food allergies.
A patient with severe environmental allergies is scheduled for an immunotherapy injection. What should be included in teaching the patient about this treatment? A) The patient will be given a low dose of epinephrine before the treatment. B) The patient will remain in the clinic to be monitored for 30 minutes following the injection. C) Therapeutic failure occurs if the symptoms to the allergen do not decrease after 3 months. D) The allergen will be administered by the peripheral intravenous route.
B Although severe systemic reactions are rare, the risk of systemic and potentially fatal anaphylaxis exists. Because of this risk, the patient must remain in the office or clinic for at least 30 minutes after the injection and is observed for possible systemic symptoms. Therapeutic failure is evident when a patient does not experience a decrease in symptoms within 12 to 24 months. Epinephrine is not given prior to treatment and the IV route is not used.
A patient is brought to the emergency department (ED) in a state of anaphylaxis. What is the ED nurses priority for care? A) Monitor the patients level of consciousness. B) Protect the patients airway. C) Provide psychosocial support. D) Administer medications as ordered.
B Anaphylaxis severely threatens a patients airway; the nurses priority is preserving airway patency and breathing pattern. This is a higher priority than other valid aspects of care, including medication administration, psychosocial support, and assessment of LOC.
A 2-year-old is brought to the clinic by her mother who tells the nurse her daughter has diarrhea and the child is complaining of pain in her stomach. The mother says that the little girl had not eaten anything unusual, consuming homemade chicken strips and carrot sticks the evening prior. Which bacterial infection would the nurse suspect this little girl of contracting? A) Escherichia coli B) Salmonella C) Shigella D) Giardia lamblia
B Annually in the United States, Salmonella species contaminate approximately 2.2 million eggs (1 in 20,000 eggs) and one in eight chickens raised as meat. Diarrhea with gastroenteritis is a common manifestation associated with Salmonella. Recent outbreaks of E. coli have been associated with ingestion of undercooked beef. Shigella spreads through the fecaloral route, with easy transmission from one person to another. People infected with Giardia lambliacontract the disease by drinking contaminated water.
A patient with HIV is admitted to the hospital because of chronic severe diarrhea. The nurse caring for this patient should expect the physician to order what drug for the management of the patients diarrhea? A) Zithromax B) Sandostatin C) Levaquin D) Biaxin
B Therapy with octreotide acetate (Sandostatin), a synthetic analogue of somatostatin, has been shown to be effective in managing chronic severe diarrhea. Zithromax, Levaquin, and Biaxin are not used to treat chronic severe diarrhea.
A nurse knows of several patients who have achieved adequate control of their allergy symptoms using over-the-counter antihistamines. Antihistamines would be contraindicated in the care of which patient? A) A patient who has previously been treated for tuberculosis B) A pregnant woman at 30 weeks gestation C) A patient who is on estrogen-replacement therapy D) A patient with a severe allergy to eggs
B Antihistamines are contraindicated during the third trimester of pregnancy. Previous tuberculosis, hormone therapy, and food allergies do not contraindicate the use of antihistamines.
A nurse is explaining the process by which the body removes cells from circulation after they have performed their physiologic function. The nurse is describing what process? A) The cellular immune response B) Apoptosis C) Phagocytosis D) Opsonization
B Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is the bodys way of destroying worn out cells such as blood or skin cells or cells that need to be renewed. Opsonization is the coating of antigenantibody molecules with a sticky substance to facilitate phagocytosis. The body does not use phagocytosis or the cellular immune response to remove cells from circulation.
A nurse is caring for a child who was admitted to the pediatric unit with infectious diarrhea. The nurse should be alert to what assessment finding as an indicator of dehydration? A) Labile BP B) Weak pulse C) Fever D) Diaphoresis
B Assessment of dehydration includes evaluation of thirst, oral mucous membrane dryness, sunken eyes, a weakened pulse, and loss of skin turgor. Diaphoresis, labile BP, and fever are not characteristic signs and symptoms of dehydration.
Brunner Ch 15 The public health nurse is presenting a health-promotion class to a group at a local community center. Which intervention most directly addresses the leading cause of cancer deaths in North America? A) Monthly self-breast exams B) Smoking cessation C) Annual colonoscopies D) Monthly testicular exams
B Cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of death in the United States. Although the numbers of cancer deaths have decreased slightly, more than 570,000 Americans were expected to die from a malignant process in 2011. The leading causes of cancer death in the United States, in order of frequency, are lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer in men and lung, breast, and colorectal cancer in women, so smoking cessation is the health promotion initiative directly related to lung cancer.
A patient is undergoing testing to determine the overall function of her immune system. What test can be performed to evaluate the functioning of the patients cellular immune system? A) Immunoglobulin testing B) Delayed hypersensitivity skin test C) Specific antibody response D) Total serum globulin assessment
B Cellular (cell-mediated) immunity tests include the delayed hypersensitivity skin test, since this immune response is specifically dependent on the cellular immune response. Each of the other listed tests assesses functioning of the humoral immune system.
A patient has a concentration of S. aureus located on his skin. The patient is not showing signs of increased temperature, redness, or pain at the site. The nurse is aware that this is a sign of a microorganism at which of the following stages? A) Infection B) Colonization C) Disease D) Bacteremia
B Colonization refers to the presence of microorganisms without host interference or interaction. Infection is a condition in which the host interacts physiologically and immunologically with a microorganism. Disease is the decline in wellness of a host due to infection. Bacteremia is a condition of bacteria in the blood.
The nurse is admitting an oncology patient to the unit prior to surgery. The nurse reads in the electronic health record that the patient has just finished radiation therapy. With knowledge of the consequent health risks, the nurse should prioritize assessments related to what health problem? A) Cognitive deficits B) Impaired wound healing C) Cardiac tamponade D) Tumor lysis syndrome
B Combining other treatment methods, such as radiation and chemotherapy, with surgery contributes to postoperative complications, such as infection, impaired wound healing, altered pulmonary or renal function, and the development of deep vein thrombosis.
A nurse is performing an admission assessment on a patient with stage 3 HIV. After assessing the patients gastrointestinal system and analyzing the data, what is most likely to be the priority nursing diagnosis? A) Acute Abdominal Pain B) Diarrhea C) Bowel Incontinence D) Constipation
B Diarrhea is a problem in 50% to 60% of all AIDS patients. As such, this nursing diagnosis is more likely than abdominal pain, incontinence, or constipation, though none of these diagnoses is guaranteed not to apply.
A patient is admitted with cellulitis and experiences a consequent increase in white blood cell count. The nurse is aware that during the immune response, pathogens are engulfed by white blood cells that ingest foreign particles. What is this process known as? A) Apoptosis B) Phagocytosis C) Antibody response D) Cellular immune response
B During the first mechanism of defense, white blood cells, which have the ability to ingest foreign particles, move to the point of attack, where they engulf and destroy the invading agents. This is known as phagocytosis. The action described is not apoptosis (programmed cell death) or an antibody response. Phagocytosis occurs in the context of the cellular immune response, but it does not constitute the entire cellular response.
A patient has come into contact with HIV. As a result, HIV glycoproteins have fused with the patients CD4+ T-cell membranes. This process characterizes what phase in the HIV life cycle? A) Integration B) Attachment C) Cleavage D) Budding
B During the process of attachment, glycoproteins of HIV bind with the hosts uninfected CD4+ receptor and chemokine coreceptors, which results in fusion of HIV with the CD4+ T-cell membrane. Integration, cleavage, and budding are steps that are subsequent to this initial phase of the HIV life cycle.
The nurse in an allergy clinic is educating a new patient about the pathology of the patients health problem. What response should the nurse describe as a possible consequence of histamine release? A) Constriction of small venules B) Contraction of bronchial smooth muscle C) Dilation of large blood vessels D) Decreased secretions from gastric and mucosal cells
B Histamines effects during the immune response include contraction of bronchial smooth muscle, resulting in wheezing and bronchospasm, dilation of small venules, constriction of large blood vessels, and an increase in secretion of gastric and mucosal cells.
A patient with a diagnosis of gastric cancer has been unable to tolerate oral food and fluid intake and her tumor location precludes the use of enteral feeding. What intervention should the nurse identify as best meeting this patients nutritional needs? A) Administration of parenteral feeds via a peripheral IV B) TPN administered via a peripherally inserted central catheter C) Insertion of an NG tube for administration of feeds D) Maintaining NPO status and IV hydration until treatment completion
B If malabsorption is severe, or the cancer involves the upper GI tract, parenteral nutrition may be necessary. TPN is administered by way of a central line, not a peripheral IV. An NG would be contraindicated for this patient. Long-term NPO status would result in malnutrition.
A public health nurse is teaching a mother about vaccinations prior to obtaining informed consent for her childs vaccination. What should the nurse cite as the most common adverse effect of vaccinations? A) Temporary sensitivity to the sun B) Allergic reactions to the antigen or carrier solution C) Nausea and vomiting D) Joint pain near the injection site
B The most common adverse effects are an allergic reaction to the antigen or carrier solution and the occurrence of the actual disease (often in modified form) when live vaccine is used. Reactions to vaccines do not typically include sensitivity to the sun, nausea and vomiting, or joint pain.
A nurse is assessing a 28-year-old man with HIV who has been admitted with pneumonia. In assessing the patient, which of the following observations takes immediate priority? A) Oral temperature of 100F B) Tachypnea and restlessness C) Frequent loose stools D) Weight loss of 1 pound since yesterday
B In prioritizing care, the pneumonia would be assessed first by the nurse. Tachypnea and restlessness are symptoms of altered respiratory status and need immediate priority. Weight loss of 1 pound is probably fluid related; frequent loose stools would not take short-term precedence over a temperature or tachypnea and restlessness. An oral temperature of 100F is not considered a fever and would not be the first issue addressed.
A patient was recently exposed to infectious microorganisms and many T lymphocytes are now differentiating into killer T cells. This process characterizes what stage of the immune response? A) Effector B) Proliferation C) Response D) Recognition
B In the proliferation stage, T lymphocytes differentiate into cytotoxic (or killer) T cells, whereas B lymphocytes produce and release antibodies. This does not occur in the response, recognition, or effector stages.
A patient with HIV will be receiving care in the home setting. What aspect of self-care should the nurse emphasize during discharge education? A) Appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics B) Importance of personal hygiene C) Signs and symptoms of wasting syndrome D) Strategies for adjusting antiretroviral dosages
B Infection control is of high importance in patients living with HIV, thus personal hygiene is paramount. This is a more important topic than signs and symptoms of one specific complication (wasting syndrome). Drug dosages should never be independently adjusted. Prophylactic antibiotics are not normally prescribed unless the patients CD4 count is below 50.
A patient who has AIDS has been admitted for the treatment of Kaposis sarcoma. What nursing diagnosis should the nurse associate with this complication of AIDS? A) Risk for Disuse Syndrome Related to Kaposis Sarcoma B)Impaired Skin Integrity Related to Kaposis Sarcoma C) Diarrhea Related to Kaposis Sarcoma D) Impaired Swallowing Related to Kaposis Sarcoma
B Kaposis sarcoma (KS) is a disease that involves the endothelial layer of blood and lymphatic vessels. This malignancy does not directly affect swallowing or bowel motility and it does not constitute a risk for disuse syndrome.
The clinic nurse is caring for a patient whose grandmother and sister have both had breast cancer. She requested a screening test to determine her risk of developing breast cancer and it has come back positive. The patient asks you what she can do to help prevent breast cancer from occurring. What would be your best response? A) Research has shown that eating a healthy diet can provide all the protection you need against breast cancer. B) Research has shown that taking the drug tamoxifen can reduce your chance of breast cancer. C) Research has shown that exercising at least 30 minutes every day can reduce your chance of breast cancer. D) Research has shown that there is little you can do to reduce your risk of breast cancer if you have a genetic predisposition.
B Large-scale breast cancer prevention studies supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) indicated that chemoprevention with the medication tamoxifen can reduce the incidence of breast cancer by 50% in women at high risk for breast cancer. A healthy diet and regular exercise are important, but not wholly sufficient preventive measures.
A patients most recent diagnostic imaging has revealed that his lung cancer has metastasized to his bones and liver. What is the most likely mechanism by which the patients cancer cells spread? A) Hematologic spread B) Lymphatic circulation C) Invasion D) Angiogenesis
B Lymph and blood are key mechanisms by which cancer cells spread. Lymphatic spread (the transport of tumor cells through the lymphatic circulation) is the most common mechanism of metastasis.
A patient is learning about his new diagnosis of asthma with the asthma nurse. What medication has the ability to prevent the onset of acute asthma exacerbations? A) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) B) Montelukast (Singulair) C) Albuterol sulfate (Ventolin) D) Epinephrine
B Many manifestations of inflammation can be attributed in part to leukotrienes. Medications categorized as leukotriene antagonists or modifiers such as montelukast (Singulair) block the synthesis or action of leukotrienes and prevent signs and symptoms associated with asthma. Diphenhydramine prevents histamines effect on smooth muscle. Albuterol sulfate relaxes smooth muscle during an asthma attack. Epinephrine relaxes bronchial smooth muscle but is not used on a preventative basis.
A 16-year-old has been brought to the emergency department by his parents after falling through the glass of a patio door, suffering a laceration. The nurse caring for this patient knows that the site of the injury will have an invasion of what? A) Interferons B) Phagocytic cells C) Apoptosis D) Cytokines
B Monocytes migrate to injury sites and function as phagocytic cells, engulfing, ingesting, and destroying greater numbers and quantities of foreign bodies or toxins than granulocytes. This occurs in response to the foreign bodies that have invaded the laceration from the dirt on the broken glass. Interferon, one type of biologic response modifier, is a nonspecific viricidal protein that is naturally produced by the body and is capable of activating other components of the immune system. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is the bodys way of destroying worn out cells such as blood or skin cells or cells that need to be renewed. Cytokines are the various proteins that mediate the immune response. These do not migrate to injury sites.
A patient newly diagnosed with cancer is scheduled to begin chemotherapy treatment and the nurse is providing anticipatory guidance about potential adverse effects. When addressing the most common adverse effect, what should the nurse describe? A) Pruritis (itching) B) Nausea and vomiting C) Altered glucose metabolism D) Confusion
B Nausea and vomiting, the most common side effects of chemotherapy, may persist for as long as 24 to 48 hours after its administration. Antiemetic drugs are frequently prescribed for these patients. Confusion, alterations in glucose metabolism, and pruritis are not common adverse effects.
A nurse is creating a plan of care for an oncology patient and one of the identified nursing diagnoses is risk for infection related to myelosuppression. What intervention addresses the leading cause of infection-related death in oncology patients? A) Encourage several small meals daily. B) Provide skin care to maintain skin integrity. C) Assist the patient with hygiene, as needed. D) Assess the integrity of the patients oral mucosa regularly.
B Nursing care for patients with skin reactions includes maintaining skin integrity, cleansing the skin, promoting comfort, reducing pain, preventing additional trauma, and preventing and managing infection. Malnutrition in oncology patients may be present, but it is not the leading cause of infection-related death. Poor hygiene does not normally cause events that result in death. Broken oral mucosa may be an avenue for infection, but it is not the leading cause of death in an oncology patient.
A patient was prescribed an oral antibiotic for the treatment of sinusitis. The patient has now stopped, stating she developed a rash shortly after taking the first dose of the drug. What is the nurses most appropriate response? A) Encourage the woman to continue with the medication while monitoring her skin condition closely. B) Refer the woman to her primary care provider to have the medication changed. C) Arrange for the woman to go to the nearest emergency department. D) Encourage the woman to take an OTC antihistamine with each dose of the antibiotic.
B On discovery of a medication allergy, patients are warned that they have a hypersensitivity to a particular medication and are advised not to take it again. As a result, the patient would need to liaise with the primary care provider. There is no need for emergency care unless symptoms worsen to involve respiratory function. An antihistamine would not be an adequate or appropriate recommendation from the nurse.
The nurse is caring for a patient with an advanced stage of breast cancer and the patient has recently learned that her cancer has metastasized. The nurse enters the room and finds the patient struggling to breath and the nurses rapid assessment reveals that the patients jugular veins are distended. The nurse should suspect the development of what oncologic emergency? A) Increased intracranial pressure B) Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) C) Spinal cord compression D) Metastatic tumor of the neck
B SVCS occurs when there is gradual or sudden impaired venous drainage giving rise to progressive shortness of breath (dyspnea), cough, hoarseness, chest pain, and facial swelling; edema of the neck, arms, hands, and thorax and reported sensation of skin tightness and difficulty swallowing; as well as possibly engorged and distended jugular, temporal, and arm veins. Increased intracranial pressure may be a part of SVCS, but it is not what is causing the patients symptoms. The scenario does not mention a problem with the patients spinal cord. The scenario says that the cancer has metastasized, but not that it has metastasized to the neck.
A student nurse completing a preceptorship is reviewing the use of standard precautions. Which of the following practices is most consistent with standard precautions? A) Wearing a mask and gown when starting an IV line B) Washing hands immediately after removing gloves C) Recapping all needles promptly after use to prevent needlestick injuries D) Double-gloving when working with a patient who has a blood-borne illness
B Standard precautions are used to prevent contamination from blood and body fluids. Gloves are worn whenever exposure is possible, and hands should be washed after removing gloves. Needles are never recapped after use because this increases the risk of accidental needlesticks. Under ordinary circumstances, masks and gowns are not necessary for starting an IV line. Double-gloving is not a recognized component of standard precautions.
The nurse is assessing a clients risk for impaired immune function. What assessment finding should the nurse identify as a risk factor for decreased immunity? A) The patient takes a beta blocker for the treatment of hypertension. B) The patient is under significant psychosocial stress. C) The patient had a pulmonary embolism 18 months ago. D) The patient has a family history of breast cancer.
B Stress is a psychoneuroimmunologic factor that is known to depress the immune response. Use of beta blockers, a family history of cancer, and a prior PE are significant assessment findings, but none represents an immediate threat to immune function.
A nurse is explaining how the humoral and cellular immune responses should be seen as interacting parts of the broader immune system rather than as independent and unrelated processes. What aspect of immune function best demonstrates this? A) The movement of B cells in and out of lymph nodes B) The interactions that occur between T cells and B cells C) The differentiation between different types of T cells D) The universal role of the complement system
B T cells interact closely with B cells, indicating that humoral and cellular immune responses are not separate, unrelated processes, but rather branches of the immune response that interact. Movement of B cells does not clearly show the presence of a unified immune system. The differentiation between types of T cells and the role of the complement system do not directly suggest a single immune system.
A 54-year-old has a diagnosis of breast cancer and is tearfully discussing her diagnosis with the nurse. The patient states, They tell me my cancer is malignant, while my coworkers breast tumor was benign. I just dont understand at all. When preparing a response to this patient, the nurse should be cognizant of what characteristic that distinguishes malignant cells from benign cells of the same tissue type? A) Slow rate of mitosis of cancer cells B) Different proteins in the cell membrane C) Differing size of the cells D) Different molecular structure in the cells
B The cell membrane of malignant cells also contains proteins called tumor-specific antigens (e.g., carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] and prostate-specific antigen [PSA]), which develop over time as the cells become less differentiated (mature). These proteins distinguish malignant cells from benign cells of the same tissue type.
An oncology nurse educator is providing health education to a patient who has been diagnosed with skin cancer. The patients wife has asked about the differences between normal cells and cancer cells. What characteristic of a cancer cell should the educator cite? A) Malignant cells contain more fibronectin than normal body cells. B) Malignant cells contain proteins called tumor-specific antigens. C) Chromosomes contained in cancer cells are more durable and stable than those of normal cells. D) The nuclei of cancer cells are unusually large, but regularly shaped.
B The cell membranes are altered in cancer cells, which affect fluid movement in and out of the cell. The cell membrane of malignant cells also contains proteins called tumor-specific antigens. Malignant cellular membranes also contain less fibronectin, a cellular cement. Typically, nuclei of cancer cells are large and irregularly shaped (pleomorphism). Fragility of chromosomes is commonly found when cancer cells are analyzed.
A patient has a documented history of allergies presents to the clinic. She states that she is frustrated by her chronic nasal congestion, anosmia (inability to smell) and inability to concentrate. The nurse should identify which of the following nursing diagnoses? A) Deficient Knowledge of Self-Care Practices Related to Allergies B) Ineffective Individual Coping with Chronicity of Condition and Need for Environmental Modification C) Acute Confusion Related to Cognitive Effects of Allergic Rhinitis D) Disturbed Body Image Related to Sequelae of Allergic Rhinitis
B The most appropriate nursing diagnosis is Ineffective Individual Coping with Chronicity of Condition and Need for Environmental Modification. This nursing diagnosis is all encompassing of the subjective and objective data. Altered body image and acute confusion are not evidenced by the data. The patients condition is not necessary attributable to a knowledge deficit.
A nurse at an allergy clinic is providing education for a patient starting immunotherapy for the treatment of allergies. What education should the nurse prioritize? A) The importance of scheduling appointments for the same time each month B) The importance of keeping appointments for desensitization procedures C) The importance of avoiding antihistamines for the duration of treatment D) The importance of keeping a diary of reactions to the immunotherapy
B The nurse informs and reminds the patient of the importance of keeping appointments for desensitization procedures, because dosages are usually adjusted on a weekly basis, and missed appointments may interfere with the dosage adjustment. Appointments are more frequent than monthly and antihistamines are not contraindicated. There is no need to keep a diary of reactions.
A nurse is caring for a teenage girl who has had an anaphylactic reaction after a bee sting. The nurse is providing patient teaching prior to the patients discharge. In the event of an anaphylactic reaction, the nurse informs the patient that she should self-administer epinephrine in what site? A) Forearm B) Thigh C) Deltoid muscle D) Abdomen
B The patient is taught to position the device at the middle portion of the thigh and push the device into the thigh as far as possible. The device will autoinject a premeasured dose of epinephrine into the subcutaneous tissue.
A patient is in the primary infection stage of HIV. What is true of this patients current health status? A) The patients HIV antibodies are successfully, but temporarily, killing the virus. B) The patient is infected with HIV but lacks HIV-specific antibodies. C) The patients risk for opportunistic infections is at its peak. D) The patient may or may not develop long-standing HIV infection.
B The period from infection with HIV to the development of HIV-specific antibodies is known as primary infection. The virus is not being eradicated and infection is certain. Opportunistic infections emerge much later in the course of the disease.
A man was scratched by an old tool and developed a virulent staphylococcus infection. In the course of the mans immune response, circulating lymphocytes containing the antigenic message returned to the nearest lymph node. During what stage of the immune response did this occur? A) Recognition stage B) Proliferation stage C) Response stage D) Effector stage
B The recognition stage of antigens as foreign by the immune system is the initiating event in any immune response. The body must first recognize invaders as foreign before it can react to them. In the proliferation stage, the circulating lymphocyte containing the antigenic message returns to the nearest lymph node. Once in the node, the sensitized lymphocyte stimulates some of the resident dormant T and B lymphocytes to enlarge, divide, and proliferate. In the response stage, the differentiated lymphocytes function either in a humoral or a cellular capacity. In the effector stage, either the antibody of the humoral response or the cytotoxic (killer) T cell of the cellular response reaches and connects with the antigen on the surface of the foreign invader.
A patient is admitted from the ED diagnosed withNeisseria meningitides. What type of isolation precautions should the nurse institute? A) Contact precautions B) Droplet precautions C) Airborne precautions D) Observation precautions
B This patient requires droplet precautions because the organism can be transmitted through large airborne droplets when the patient coughs, sneezes, or fails to cover the mouth. Smaller droplets can be addressed by airborne precautions, but this is insufficient for this microorganism.
A patient is alarmed that she has tested positive for MRSA following culture testing during her admission to the hospital. What should the nurse teach the patient about this diagnostic finding? A) There are promising treatments for MRSA, so this is no cause for serious concern. B) This doesnt mean that you have an infection; it shows that the bacteria live on one of your skin surfaces. C) The vast majority of patients in the hospital test positive for MRSA, but the infection doesnt normally cause serious symptoms. D) This finding is only preliminary, and your doctor will likely order further testing.
B This patients testing results are indicative of colonization, which is not synonymous with infection. The test results are considered reliable, and would not be characterized as preliminary. Treatment is not normally prescribed for colonizations.
What is the best rationale for health care providers receiving the influenza vaccination on a yearly basis? A) To decreased nurses susceptibility to health care-associated infections B) To decrease risk of transmission to vulnerable patients C) To eventually eradicate the influenza virus in the United States D) To prevent the emergence of drug-resistant strains of the influenza virus
B To reduce the chance of transmission to vulnerable patients, health care workers are advised to obtain influenza vaccinations. The vaccine will not decrease nurses risks of developing health care-associated infections, eradicate the influenza virus, or decrease the risk of developing new strains of the influenza virus.
A patients decline in respiratory and renal function has been attributed to Goodpasture syndrome, which is a type II hypersensitivity reaction. What pathologic process underlies the patients health problem? A) Antigens have bound to antibodies and formed inappropriate immune complexes. B) The patients body has mistakenly identified a normal constituent of the body as foreign. C) Sensitized T cells have caused cell and tissue damage. D) Mast cells have released histamines that directly cause cell lysis.
B Type II reactions, or cytotoxic hypersensitivity, occur when the system mistakenly identifies a normal constituent of the body as foreign. An example of this type of reaction is Goodpasture syndrome. Type III, or immune complex, hypersensitivity involves immune complexes that are formed when antigens bind to antibodies. Type IV hypersensitivity is mediated by sensitized T cells that cause cell and tissue damage. Histamine does not directly cause cell lysis.
A public health nurse is preparing an educational campaign to address a recent local increase in the incidence of HIV infection. The nurse should prioritize which of the following interventions? A) Lifestyle actions that improve immune function B) Educational programs that focus on control and prevention C) Appropriate use of standard precautions D) Screening programs for youth and young adults
B Until an effective vaccine is developed, preventing HIV by eliminating and reducing risk behaviors is essential. Educational interventions are the primary means by which behaviors can be influenced. Screening is appropriate, but education is paramount. Enhancing immune function does not prevent HIV infection. Ineffective use of standard precautions apply to very few cases of HIV infection.
A male patient with gonorrhea asks the nurse how he can reduce his risk of contracting another sexually transmitted infection. The patient is not in a monogamous relationship. The nurse should instruct the patient to do which of the following? A) Ask all potential sexual partners if they have a sexually transmitted disease. B) Wear a condom every time he has intercourse. C) Consider intercourse to be risk-free if his partner has no visible discharge, lesions, or rashes. D) Aim to limit the number of sexual partners to fewer than five over his lifetime.
B Wearing a condom during intercourse considerably reduces the risk of contracting STIs. The other options may help reduce the risk for contracting an STI, but not to the extent that wearing a condom will. A monogamous relationship reduces the risk of contracting STIs.
A nurse is working with a patient who was diagnosed with HIV several months earlier. The nurse should recognize that a patient with HIV is considered to have AIDS at the point when the CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell count drops below what threshold? A) 75 cells/mm3 of blood B) 200 cells/mm3 of blood C) 325 cells/mm3 of blood D) 450 cells/mm3 of blood
B When CD4+ T-cell levels drop below 200 cells/mm3 of blood, the person is said to have AIDS.
An older adult patient tells the nurse that she had chicken pox as a child and is eager to be vaccinated against shingles. What should the nurse teach the patient about this vaccine? A) Vaccination against shingles is contraindicated in patients over the age of 80. B) Vaccination can reduce her risk of shingles by approximately 50%. C) Vaccination against shingles involves a series of three injections over the course of 6 months. D) Vaccination against shingles is only effective if preceded by a childhood varicella vaccination.
B Zostavax, a vaccine to reduce the risk of shingles, is recommended for people older than 60 years of age because it reduces the risk of shingles by approximately 50%. It does not need to be preceded by childhood varicella vaccine. The vaccine consists of a single injection.
The nurse educator is discussing emerging diseases with a group of nurses. The educator should cite what causes of emerging diseases? Select all that apply. A) Progressive weakening of human immune systems B) Use of extended-spectrum antibiotics C) Population movements D) Increased global travel E) Globalization of food supplies
B, C, D, E Many factors contribute to newly emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases. These include travel, globalization of food supply and central processing of food, population growth, increased urban crowding, population movements (e.g., those that result from war, famine, or man-made or natural disasters), ecologic changes, human behavior (e.g., risky sexual behavior, IV/injection drug use), antimicrobial resistance, and breakdown in public health measures. Not noted is an overall decline in human immunity.
A child has been transported to the emergency department (ED) after a severe allergic reaction. The ED nurse is evaluating the patients respiratory status. How should the nurse evaluate the patients respiratory status? Select all that apply. A) Facilitate lung function testing. B) Assess breath sounds. C) Measure the childs oxygen saturation by oximeter. D) Monitor the childs respiratory pattern. E) Assess the childs respiratory rate.
B, C, D, E The respiratory status is evaluated by monitoring the respiratory rate and pattern and by assessing for breathing difficulties, low oxygen saturation, or abnormal lung sounds such as wheezing. Lung function testing is a lengthy procedure that is not appropriate in an emergency context.
The nurse on a bone marrow transplant unit is caring for a patient with cancer who is preparing for HSCT. What is a priority nursing diagnosis for this patient? A) Fatigue related to altered metabolic processes B) Altered nutrition: less than body requirements related to anorexia C) Risk for infection related to altered immunologic response D) Body image disturbance related to weight loss and anorexia
C A priority nursing diagnosis for this patient is risk for infection related to altered immunologic response. Because the patients immunity is suppressed, he or she will be at a high risk for infection. The other listed nursing diagnoses are valid, but they are not as high a priority as is risk for infection.
A patients recent diagnostic testing included a total lymphocyte count. The results of this test will allow the care team to gauge what aspect of the patients immunity? A) Humoral immune function B) Antigen recognition C) Cell-mediated immune function D) Antibody production
C A total lymphocyte count is a test used to determine cellular immune function. It is not normally used for testing humoral immune function and the associated antigenantibody.
A nurse is caring for a patient hospitalized with AIDS. A friend comes to visit the patient and privately asks the nurse about the risk of contracting HIV when visiting the patient. What is the nurses best response? A) Do you think that you might already have HIV? B) Dont worry. Your immune system is likely very healthy. C) AIDS isnt transmitted by casual contact. D) You cant contract AIDS in a hospital setting.
C AIDS is commonly transmitted by contact with blood and body fluids. Patients, family, and friends must be reassured that HIV is not spread through casual contact. A healthy immune system is not necessarily a protection against HIV. A hospital setting does not necessarily preclude HIV infection.
A gerontologic nurse is caring for an older adult patient who has a diagnosis of pneumonia. What age- related change increases older adults susceptibility to respiratory infections? A) Atrophy of the thymus B) Bronchial stenosis C) Impaired ciliary action D) Decreased diaphragmatic muscle tone
C As a consequence of impaired ciliary action due to exposure to smoke and environmental toxins, older adults are vulnerable to lung infections. This vulnerability is not the result of thymus atrophy, stenosis of the bronchi, or loss of diaphragmatic muscle tone.
A clinic nurse is caring for a male patient diagnosed with gonorrhea who has been prescribed ceftriaxone and doxycycline. The patient asks why he is receiving two antibiotics. What is the nurses best response? A) There are many drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea, so more than one antibiotic may be required for successful treatment. B) The combination of these two antibiotics reduces the later risk of reinfection. C) Many people infected with gonorrhea are infected with chlamydia as well. D) This combination of medications will eradicate the infection twice as fast than a single antibiotic.
C Because patients are often coinfected with both gonorrhea and chlamydia, the CDC recommends dual therapy even if only gonorrhea has been laboratory proven. Although the number of resistant strains of gonorrhea has increased, that is not the reason for use of combination antibiotic therapy. Dual therapy is prescribed to treat both gonorrhea and chlamydia, because many patients with gonorrhea have a coexisting chlamydial infection. This combination of antibiotics does not reduce the risk of reinfection or provide a faster cure.
The nurse knows that the response of natural immunity is enhanced by processes that are inherent in the physical and chemical barriers of the body. What is a chemical barrier that enhances the response of natural immunity? A) Cell cytoplasm B) Interstitial fluid C) Gastric secretions D) Cerebrospinal fluid
C Chemical barriers, such as mucus, acidic gastric secretions, enzymes in tears and saliva, and substances in sebaceous and sweat secretions, act in a nonspecific way to destroy invading bacteria and fungi. Not all body fluids are chemical barriers, however. Cell cytoplasm, interstitial fluid, and CSF are not normally categorized as chemical barriers to infection.
A nurse is reviewing a patients medication administration record in an effort to identify drugs that may contribute to the patients recent immunosuppression. What drug is most likely to have this effect? A) An antibiotic B) A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) C) An antineoplastic D) An antiretroviral
C Chemotherapy affects bone marrow function, destroying cells that contribute to an effective immune response and resulting in immunosuppression. Antibiotics in large doses cause bone marrow suppression, but antineoplastic drugs have the most pronounced immunosuppressive effect. NSAIDs and antiretrovirals do not normally have this effect.
A patients diagnostic testing revealed that he is colonized with vancomycin-resistantenterococcus (VRE). What change in the patients health status could precipitate an infection? A) Use of a narrow-spectrum antibiotic B) Treatment of a concurrent infection using vancomycin C) Development of a skin break D) Persistent contact of the bacteria with skin surfaces
C Colonization can progress to infection if there is a portal of entry by which bacteria can invade body tissues. The use of vancomycin, or any other antibiotic, would not necessarily precipitate a VRE infection. Prolonged skin contact is similarly unlikely to cause infection, provided the skin remains intact.
Diagnostic testing has revealed a deficiency in the function of a patients complement system. This patient is likely to have an impaired ability to do which of the following? A) Protecting the body against viral infection B) Marking the parameters of the immune response C) Bridging natural and acquired immunity D) Collecting immune complexes during inflammation
C Complement has three major physiologic functions: defending the body against bacterial infection, bridging natural and acquired immunity, and disposing of immune complexes and the byproducts associated with inflammation. Complement does not mark the parameters of the immune response; complement does not collect immune complexes during inflammation.
A patients current immune response involves the direct destruction of foreign microorganisms. This aspect of the immune response may be performed by what cells? A) Suppressor T cells B) Memory T cells C) Cytotoxic T cells D) Complement T cells
C Cytotoxic T cells (also called CD8 + cells) participate in the destruction of foreign organisms. Memory T cells and suppressor T cells do not perform this role in the immune response. The complement system does not exist as a type of T cell.
A nurse is admitting a patient who exhibits signs and symptoms of a nutritional deficit. Inadequate intake of what nutrient increases a patients susceptibility to infection? A) Vitamin B12 B) Unsaturated fats C) Proteins D) Complex carbohydrates
C Depletion of protein reserves results in atrophy of lymphoid tissues, depression of antibody response, reduction in the number of circulating T cells, and impaired phagocytic function. As a result, the patient has an increased susceptibility to infection. Low intake of fat and vitamin B12affects health, but is not noted to directly create a risk for infection. Low intake of complex carbohydrates is not noted to constitute a direct risk factor for infection.
The school nurse is teaching a nutrition class in the local high school. One student states that he has heard that certain foods can increase the incidence of cancer. The nurse responds, Research has shown that certain foods indeed appear to increase the risk of cancer. Which of the following menu selections would be the best choice for potentially reducing the risks of cancer? A) Smoked salmon and green beans B) Pork chops and fried green tomatoes C) Baked apricot chicken and steamed broccoli D) Liver, onions, and steamed peas
C Fruits and vegetables appear to reduce cancer risk. Salt-cured foods, such as ham and processed meats, as well as red meats, should be limited.
A nurse would identify that a colleague needs additional instruction on standard precautions when the colleague exhibits which of the following behaviors? A) The nurse wears face protection, gloves, and a gown when irrigating a wound. B) The nurse washes the hands with a waterless antiseptic agent after removing a pair of soiled gloves. C) The nurse puts on a second pair of gloves over soiled gloves while performing a bloody procedure. D) The nurse places a used needle and syringe in the puncture-resistant container without capping the needle.
C Gloves must be changed after contact with materials that may contain high concentration of microorganisms, even when working with the same patient. Each of the other listed actions adheres to standard precautions.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). What infection control measure has the greatest potential to reduce transmission of MRSA and other nosocomial pathogens in a health care setting? A) Using antibacterial soap when bathing patients with MRSA B) Conducting culture surveys on a regularly scheduled basis C) Performing hand hygiene before and after contact with every patient D) Using aseptic housekeeping practices for environmental cleaning
C Handwashing is the major infection control measure to reduce the risk of transmission of MRSA and other nosocomial pathogens. No convincing evidence exists to support that bathing patients with antibacterial soap is effective. Culture surveys can help establish the true prevalence of MRSA in a facility, but are used only to help implement where and when infection-control measures are needed. Hand hygiene is known to be more clinically important than housekeeping.
A patient has presented with signs and symptoms that are consistent with contact dermatitis. What aspect of care should the nurse prioritize when working with this patient? A) Promoting adequate perfusion in affected regions B) Promoting safe use of topical antihistamines C) Identifying the offending agent, if possible D) Teaching the patient to safely use an EpiPen
C Identifying the offending agent is a priority in the care of a patient with dermatitis. Antihistamines are not administered topically and epinephrine is not used to treat dermatitis. Inadequate perfusion occurs with PAD or vasoconstriction.
A junior nursing student is having an observation day in the operating room. Early in the day, the student tells the OR nurse that her eyes are swelling and she is having trouble breathing. What should the nurse suspect? A) Cytotoxic reaction due to contact with the powder in the gloves B) Immune complex reaction due to contact with anesthetic gases C) Anaphylaxis due to a latex allergy D) Delayed reaction due to exposure to cleaning products
C Immediate hypersensitivity to latex, a type I allergic reaction, is mediated by the IgE mast cell system. Symptoms can include rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis. The term latex allergy is usually used to describe the type I reaction. The rapid onset is not consistent with a cytotoxic reaction, an immune complex reaction, or a delayed reaction.
A patient is responding to a microbial invasion and the patients differentiated lymphocytes have begun to function in either a humoral or a cellular capacity. During what stage of the immune response does this occur? A) The recognition stage B) The effector stage C) The response stage D) The proliferation stage
C In the response stage, the differentiated lymphocytes function in either a humoral or a cellular capacity. In the effector stage, either the antibody of the humoral response or the cytotoxic (killer) T cell of the cellular response reaches and connects with the antigen on the surface of the foreign invader. In the recognition stage, the recognition of antigens as foreign, or non-self, by the immune system is the initiating event in any immune response. During the proliferation stage the circulating lymphocytes containing the antigenic message return to the nearest lymph node.
A public health nurse promoting the annual influenza vaccination is focusing health promotion efforts on the populations most vulnerable to death from influenza. The nurse should focus on which of the following groups? A) Preschool-aged children B) Adults with diabetes and/or renal failure C) Older adults with compromised health status D) Infants under the age of 12 months
C Influenza vaccination is particularly beneficial in preventing death among older adults, especially those with compromised health status or those who live in institutional settings. It is recommended for children and adults, but carries the greatest reduction in morbidity and mortality in older adults.
A nurse is planning the assessment of a patient who is exhibiting signs and symptoms of an autoimmune disorder. The nurse should be aware that the incidence and prevalence of autoimmune diseases is known to be higher among what group? A) Young adults B) Native Americans C) Women D) Hispanics
C Many autoimmune diseases have a higher incidence in females than in males, a phenomenon believed to be correlated with sex hormones.
A patient with AIDS is admitted to the hospital with AIDS-related wasting syndrome and AIDS-related anorexia. What drug has been found to promote significant weight gain in AIDS patients by increasing body fat stores? A) Advera B) Momordicacharantia C) Megestrol D) Ranitidine
C Megestrol acetate (Megace), a synthetic oral progesterone preparation, promotes significant weight gain. In patients with HIV infection, it increases body weight primarily by increasing body fat stores. Advera is a nutritional supplement that has been developed specifically for people with HIV infection and AIDS. Momordicacharantia (bitter melon) is given as an enema and is part of alternative treatment for HIV/AIDS. Ranitidine prevents ulcers.
A patient with cystic fibrosis has received a double lung transplant and is now experiencing signs of rejection. What is the immune response that predominates in this situation? A) Humoral B) Nonspecific C) Cellular D) Mitigated
C Most immune responses to antigens involve both humoral and cellular responses, although only one predominates. During transplantation rejection, the cellular response predominates over the humoral response. Neither a mitigated nor nonspecific cell response is noted in this situation.
A mother brings her 12 month-old son into the clinic for his measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination. What would the clinic nurse advise the mother about the MMR vaccine? A) Photophobia and hives might occur. B) There are no documented reactions to an MMR. C) Fever and hypersensitivity reaction might occur. D) Hypothermia might occur.
C Patients should be advised that fever, transient lymphadenopathy, or a hypersensitivity reaction might occur following an MMR vaccination. Reactions to an MMR do not include photophobia or hypothermia.
A nurse has included the nursing diagnosis of Risk for Latex Allergy Response in a patients plan of care. The presence of what chronic health problem would most likely prompt this diagnosis? A) Herpes simplex B) HIV C) Spina bifida D) Hypogammaglobulinemia
C Patients with spina bifida are at a particularly high risk for developing a latex allergy. This is not true of patients with herpes simplex, HIV, or hypogammaglobulinemia.
A patient on the oncology unit is receiving carmustine, a chemotherapy agent, and the nurse is aware that a significant side effect of this medication is thrombocytopenia. Which symptom should the nurse assess for in patients at risk for thrombocytopenia? A) Interrupted sleep pattern B) Hot flashes C) Epistaxis (nose bleed) D) Increased weight
C Patients with thrombocytopenia are at risk for bleeding due to decreased platelet counts. Patients with thrombocytopenia do not exhibit interrupted sleep pattern, hot flashes, or increased weight.
An oncology patient has just returned from the postanesthesia care unit after an open hemicolectomy. This patients plan of nursing care should prioritize which of the following? A) Assess the patient hourly for signs of compartment syndrome. B) Assess the patients fine motor skills once per shift. C) Assess the patients wound for dehiscence every 4 hours. D) Maintain the patients head of bed at 45 degrees or more at all times.
C Postoperatively, the nurse assesses the patients responses to the surgery and monitors the patient for possible complications, such as infection, bleeding, thrombophlebitis, wound dehiscence, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and organ dysfunction. Fine motor skills are unlikely to be affected by surgery and compartment syndrome is a complication of fracture casting, not abdominal surgery. There is no need to maintain a high head of bed.
A patient requires ongoing treatment and infection-control precautions because of an inherited deficit in immune function. The nurse should recognize that this patient most likely has what type of immune disorder? A) A primary immune deficiency B) A gammopathy C) An autoimmune disorder D) A rheumatic disorder
C Primary immune deficiency results from improper development of immune cells or tissues. These disorders are usually congenital or inherited. Autoimmune disorders are less likely to have a genetic component, though some have a genetic component. Overproduction of immunoglobulins is the hallmark of gammopathies. Rheumatic disorders do not normally involve impaired immune function.
Traditionally, nurses have been involved with tertiary cancer prevention. However, an increasing emphasis is being placed on both primary and secondary prevention. What would be an example of primary prevention? A) Yearly Pap tests B) Testicular self-examination C) Teaching patients to wear sunscreen D) Screening mammograms
C Primary prevention is concerned with reducing the risks of cancer in healthy people through practices such as use of sunscreen. Secondary prevention involves detection and screening to achieve early diagnosis, as demonstrated by Pap tests, mammograms, and testicular exams.
The nurse is caring for a 39-year-old woman with a family history of breast cancer. She requested a breast tumor marking test and the results have come back positive. As a result, the patient is requesting a bilateral mastectomy. This surgery is an example of what type of oncologic surgery? A) Salvage surgery B) Palliative surgery C) Prophylactic surgery D) Reconstructive surgery
C Prophylactic surgery is used when there is an extensive family history and nonvital tissues are removed. Salvage surgery is an additional treatment option that uses an extensive surgical approach to treat the local recurrence of a cancer after the use of a less extensive primary approach. Palliative surgery is performed in an attempt to relieve complications of cancer, such as ulceration, obstruction, hemorrhage, pain, and malignant effusion. Reconstructive surgery may follow curative or radical surgery in an attempt to improve function or obtain a more desirable cosmetic effect.
A nurse is aware of the need to assess patients risks for anaphylaxis. What health care procedure constitutes the highest risk for anaphylaxis? A) Administration of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine B) Rapid administration of intravenous fluids C) Computed tomography with contrast solution D) Administration of nebulized bronchodilators
C Radiocontrast agents present a significant threat of anaphylaxis in the hospital setting. Vaccinations less often cause anaphylaxis. Bronchodilators and IV fluids are not implicated in hypersensitivity reactions.
A public health nurse has formed an interdisciplinary team that is developing an educational program entitled Cancer: The Risks and What You Can Do About Them. Participants will receive information, but the major focus will be screening for relevant cancers. This program is an example of what type of health promotion activity? A) Disease prophylaxis B) Risk reduction C) Secondary prevention D) Tertiary prevention
C Secondary prevention involves screening and early detection activities that seek to identify early stage cancer in individuals who lack signs and symptoms suggestive of cancer. Primary prevention is concerned with reducing the risks of disease through health promotion strategies. Tertiary prevention is the care and rehabilitation of the patient after having been diagnosed with cancer.
The nurse care plan for a patient with AIDS includes the diagnosis of Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity. What nursing intervention should be included in the plan of care? A) Maximize the patients fluid intake. B) Provide total parenteral nutrition (TPN). C) Keep the patients bed linens free of wrinkles. D) Provide the patient with snug clothing at all times.
C Skin surfaces are protected from friction and rubbing by keeping bed linens free of wrinkles and avoiding tight or restrictive clothing. Fluid intake should be adequate, and must be monitored, but maximizing fluid intake is not a goal. TPN is a nutritional intervention of last resort.
A 58-year-old male patient has been hospitalized for a wedge resection of the left lower lung lobe after a routine chest x-ray shows carcinoma. The patient is anxious and asks if he can smoke. Which statement by the nurse would be most therapeutic? A) Smoking is the reason you are here. B) The doctor left orders for you not to smoke. C) You are anxious about the surgery. Do you see smoking as helping? D) Smoking is OK right now, but after your surgery it is contraindicated.
C Stating You are anxious about the surgery. Do you see smoking as helping? acknowledges the patients feelings and encourages him to assess his previous behavior. Saying Smoking is the reason you are here belittles the patient. Citing the doctors orders does not address the patients anxiety. Sanctioning smoking would be highly detrimental to this patient.
A patient was tested for HIV using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and results were positive. The nurse should expect the primary care provider to order what test to confirm the EIA test results? A) Another EIA test B) Viral load test C) Western blot test D) CD4/CD8 ratio
C The Western blot test detects antibodies to HIV and is used to confirm the EIA test results. The viral load test measures HIV RNA in the plasma and is not used to confirm EIA test results, but instead to track the progression of the disease process. The CD4/CD8 ratio test evaluates the ratio of CD4 and CD8 cells but is not used to confirm results of EIA testing.
A child is undergoing testing for food allergies after experiencing unexplained signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity. What food items would the nurse inform the parents are common allergens? A) Citrus fruits and rice B) Root vegetables and tomatoes C) Eggs and wheat D) Hard cheeses and vegetable oils
C The most common causes of food allergies are seafood (lobster, shrimp, crab, clams, fish), legumes (peanuts, peas, beans, licorice), seeds (sesame, cottonseed, caraway, mustard, flaxseed, sunflower seeds), tree nuts, berries, egg white, buckwheat, milk, and chocolate.
The mother of two young children has been diagnosed with HIV and expresses fear of dying. How should the nurse best respond to the patient? A) Would you like me to have the chaplain come speak with you? B) Youll learn much about the promise of a cure for HIV. C) Can you tell me what concerns you most about dying? D) You need to maintain hope because you may live for several years.
C The nurse can help the patient verbalize feelings and identify resources for support. The nurse should respond with an open-ended question to help the patient to identify fears about being diagnosed with a life-threatening chronic illness. Immediate deferral to spiritual care is not a substitute for engaging with the patient. The nurse should attempt to foster hope, but not in a way that downplays the patients expressed fears.
A patient with a recent diagnosis of HIV infection expresses an interest in exploring alternative and complementary therapies. How should the nurse best respond? A) Complementary therapies generally have not been approved, so patients are usually discouraged from using them. B) Researchers have not looked at the benefits of alternative therapy for patients with HIV, so we suggest that you stay away from these therapies until there is solid research data available. C) Many patients with HIV use some type of alternative therapy and, as with most health treatments, there are benefits and risks. D) Youll need to meet with your doctor to choose between an alternative approach to treatment and a medical approach.
C The nurse should approach the topic of alternative or complementary therapies from an open-ended, supportive approach, emphasizing the need to communicate with care providers. Complementary therapies and medical treatment are not mutually exclusive, though some contraindications exist. Research supports the efficacy of some forms of complementary and alternative treatment.
The hospice nurse is caring for a patient with cancer in her home. The nurse has explained to the patient and the family that the patient is at risk for hypercalcemia and has educated them on that signs and symptoms of this health problem. What else should the nurse teach this patient and family to do to reduce the patients risk of hypercalcemia? A) Stool softeners are contraindicated. B) Laxatives should be taken daily. C) Consume 2 to 4 L of fluid daily. D) Restrict calcium intake.
C The nurse should identify patients at risk for hypercalcemia, assess for signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia, and educate the patient and family. The nurse should teach at-risk patients to recognize and report signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia and encourage patients to consume 2 to 4 L of fluid daily unless contraindicated by existing renal or cardiac disease. Also, the nurse should explain the use of dietary and pharmacologic interventions, such as stool softeners and laxatives for constipation, and advise patients to maintain nutritional intake without restricting normal calcium intake.
When a disease infects a host a portal of entry is needed for an organism to gain access. What has been identified as the portal of entry for tuberculosis? A) Integumentary system B) Urinary system C) Respiratory system D) Gastrointestinal system
C The portal of entry for M. tuberculosis is through the respiratory tract.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has had a severe antigen/antibody reaction. The nurse knows that the portion of the antigen that is involved in binding with the antibody is called what? A) Antibody lock B) Antigenic sequence C) Antigenic determinant D) Antibody channel
C The portion of the antigen involved in binding with the antibody is referred to as the antigenic determinant. This portion is not known as an antibody lock, antigenic sequence, or antibody channel.
A patients primary infection with HIV has subsided and an equilibrium now exists between HIV levels and the patients immune response. This physiologic state is known as which of the following? A) Static stage B) Latent stage C) Viral set point D) Window period
C The remaining amount of virus in the body after primary infection is referred to as the viral set point, which results in a steady state of infection that lasts for years. This is not known as the static or latent stage. The window period is the time a person infected with HIV tests negative even though he or she is infected.
A long-term care facility is the site of an outbreak of infectious diarrhea. The nurse educator has emphasized the importance of hand hygiene to staff members. The use of alcohol-based cleansers may be ineffective if the causative microorganism is identified as what? A) Shigella B) Escherichia coli C) Clostridium dif icile D) Norovirus
C The spore form of the bacterium C. dif icile is resistant to alcohol and other hand disinfectants; therefore, the use of gloves and handwashing (soap and water for physical removal) are required when C. dif icile has been identified. Each of the other listed microorganisms is susceptible to alcohol-based cleansers.
The nurse is providing care for an older adult patient who has developed signs and symptoms ofCalicivirus (Norovirus). What assessment should the nurse prioritize when planning this patients care? A) Respiratory status B) Pain C) Fluid intake and output D) Deep tendon reflexes and neurological status
C The vomiting and diarrhea that accompany Norovirus create a severe risk of fluid volume deficit. For this reason, assessments relating to fluid balance should be prioritized, even though each of the listed assessments should be included in the plan of care.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has been admitted for the treatment of AIDS. In the morning, the patient tells the nurse that he experienced night sweats and recently coughed up some blood. What is the nurses most appropriate action? A) Assess the patient for additional signs and symptoms of Kaposis sarcoma. B) Review the patients most recent viral load and CD4+ count. C) Place the patient on respiratory isolation and inform the physician. D) Perform oral suctioning to reduce the patients risk for aspiration.
C These signs and symptoms are suggestive of tuberculosis, not Kaposis sarcoma; prompt assessment and treatment is necessary. There is no indication of a need for oral suctioning and the patients blood work will not reflect the onset of this opportunistic infection.
A patient has been living with seasonal allergies for many years, but does not take antihistamines, stating, When I was young I used to take antihistamines, but they always put me to sleep. How should the nurse best respond? A) Newer antihistamines are combined with a stimulant that offsets drowsiness. B) Most people find that they develop a tolerance to sedation after a few months. C) The newer antihistamines are different than in years past, and cause less sedation. D) Have you considered taking them at bedtime instead of in the morning?
C Unlike first-generation H1 receptor antagonists, newer antihistamines bind to peripheral rather than central nervous system H1 receptors, causing less sedation, if at all. Tolerance to sedation did not usually occur with first-generation drugs and newer antihistamines are not combined with a stimulant.
A nurse is preparing to administer a patients scheduled dose of subcutaneous heparin. To reduce the risk of needlestick injury, the nurse should perform what action? A) Recap the needle before leaving the bedside. B) Recap the needle immediately before leaving the room. C) Avoid recapping the needle before disposing of it. D) Wear gloves when administering the injection.
C Used needles should not be recapped. Instead, they are placed directly into puncture-resistant containers near the place where they are used. Gloves do not prevent needlestick injuries.
A nurse is preparing a patient for allergy skin testing. Which of the following precautionary steps is most important for the nurse to follow? A) The patient must not have received an immunization within 7 days. B) The nurse should administer albuterol 30 to 45 minutes prior to the test. C) Prophylactic epinephrine should be administered before the test. D) Emergency equipment should be readily available.
D Emergency equipment must be readily available during testing to treat anaphylaxis. Immunizations do not contraindicate testing. Neither epinephrine nor albuterol is given prior to testing.
The infectious control nurse is presenting a program on West Nile virus for a local community group. To reduce the incidence of this disease, the nurse should recommend what action? A) Covering open wounds at all times B) Vigilant handwashing in home and work settings C) Consistent use of mosquito repellants D) Annual vaccination
C West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, which become infected by biting birds that are infected with the virus. Prevention of mosquito bites can reduce the risk of contracting the disease. Handwashing and bandaging open wounds are appropriate general infection control measures, but these actions do not specifically prevent West Nile virus for which no vaccine currently exists.
An immunosuppressed patient is receiving chemotherapy treatment at home. What infection-control measure should the nurse recommend to the family? A) Family members should avoid receiving vaccinations until the patient has recovered from his or her illness. B) Wipe down hard surfaces with a dilute bleach solution once per day. C) Maintain cleanliness in the home, but recognize that the home does not need to be sterile. D) Avoid physical contact with the patient unless absolutely necessary.
C When assessing the risk of the immunosuppressed patient in the home environment for infection, it is important to realize that intrinsic colonizing bacteria and latent viral infections present a greater risk than do extrinsic environmental contaminants. The nurse should reassure the patient and family that their home needs to be clean but not sterile. Common-sense approaches to cleanliness and risk reduction are helpful. The family need not avoid vaccinations and it is unnecessary to avoid all contact or to wipe down surfaces daily.
The nurse is performing an initial assessment of an older adult resident who has just relocated to the long-term care facility. During the nurses interview with the patient, she admits that she drinks around 20 ounces of vodka every evening. What types of cancer does this put her at risk for? Select all that apply. A) Malignant melanoma B) Brain cancer C) Breast cancer D) Esophageal cancer E) Liver cancer
C, D, E Dietary substances that appear to increase the risk of cancer include fats, alcohol, salt-cured or smoked meats, nitrate- and nitrite-containing foods, and red and processed meats. Alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colorectum, and breast.
A patient has been diagnosed with AIDS complicated by chronic diarrhea. What nursing intervention would be appropriate for this patient? A) Position the patient in the high Fowlers position whenever possible. B) Temporarily eliminate animal protein from the patients diet. C) Make sure the patient eats at least two servings of raw fruit each day. D) Obtain a stool culture to identify possible pathogens.
D A stool culture should be obtained to determine the possible presence of microorganisms that cause diarrhea. Patients should generally avoid raw fruit when having diarrhea. There is no need to avoid animal protein or increase the height of the patients bed.
A patient on the medical unit is found to have pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). What is the most appropriate precaution for the staff to take to prevent transmission of this disease? A) Standard precautions only B) Droplet precautions C) Standard and contact precautions D) Standard and airborne precautions
D Airborne precautions are required for proven or suspected pulmonary TB. Standard precaution techniques are used in conjunction with the transmission-based precautions, regardless of the patients diagnosis. Droplet and contact precautions are insufficient.
The nurse is providing care for a patient who has a diagnosis of hereditary angioedema. When planning this patients care, what nursing diagnosis should be prioritized? A) Risk for Infection Related to Skin Sloughing B) Risk for Acute Pain Related to Loss of Skin Integrity C) Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity Related to Cutaneous Lesions D) Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange Related to Airway Obstruction
D Edema of the respiratory tract can compromise the airway in patients with hereditary angioedema. As such, this is a priority nursing diagnosis over pain and possible infection. Skin integrity is not threatened by angioedema.
Chapter 37 Questions A patient with a family history of allergies has suffered an allergic response based on a genetic predisposition. This atopic response is usually mediated by what immunoglobulin? A) Immunoglobulin A B) Immunoglobulin M C) Immunoglobulin G D) Immunoglobulin E
D Atopy refers to allergic reactions characterized by the action of IgE antibodies and a genetic predisposition to allergic reactions.
An oncology nurse is contributing to the care of a patient who has failed to respond appreciably to conventional cancer treatments. As a result, the care team is considering the possible use of biologic response modifiers (BRFs). The nurse should know that these achieve a therapeutic effect by what means? A) Promoting the synthesis and release of leukocytes B) Focusing the patients immune system exclusively on the tumor C) Potentiating the effects of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy D) Altering the immunologic relationship between the tumor and the patient
D BRFs alter the immunologic relationship between the tumor and the cancer patient (host) to provide a therapeutic benefit. They do not necessarily increase white cell production or focus the immune system solely on the tumor. BRFs do not potentiate radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
A nurse provides care on a bone marrow transplant unit and is preparing a female patient for a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) the following day. What information should the nurse emphasize to the patients family and friends? A) Your family should likely gather at the bedside in case theres a negative outcome. B) Make sure she doesnt eat any food in the 24 hours before the procedure. C) Wear a hospital gown when you go into the patients room. D) Do not visit if youve had a recent infection.
D Before HSCT, patients are at a high risk for infection, sepsis, and bleeding. Visitors should not visit if they have had a recent illness or vaccination. Gowns should indeed be worn, but this is secondary in importance to avoiding the patients contact with ill visitors. Prolonged fasting is unnecessary. Negative outcomes are possible, but the procedure would not normally be so risky as to require the family to gather at the bedside.
An oncology nurse is caring for a patient who has developed erythema following radiation therapy. What should the nurse instruct the patient to do? A) Periodically apply ice to the area. B) Keep the area cleanly shaven. C) Apply petroleum jelly to the affected area. D) Avoid using soap on the treatment area.
D Care to the affected area must focus on preventing further skin irritation, drying, and damage. Soaps, petroleum ointment, and shaving the area could worsen the erythema. Ice is also contraindicated.
A patient who is scheduled for a skin test informs the nurse that he has been taking corticosteroids to help control his allergy symptoms. What nursing intervention should the nurse implement? A) The patient should take his corticosteroids regularly prior to testing. B) The patient should only be tested for grass, mold, and dust initially. C) The nurse should have an emergency cart available in case of anaphylaxis during the test. D) The patients test should be cancelled until he is off his corticosteroids.
D Corticosteroids and antihistamines, including over-the-counter allergy medications, suppress skin test reactivity and should be stopped 48 to 96 hours before testing, depending on the duration of their activity. Emergency equipment must be at hand during allergy testing, but the test would be postponed.
A patient is being treated for cancer and the nurse has identified the nursing diagnosis of Risk for Infection Due to Protein Losses. Protein losses inhibit immune response in which of the following ways? A) Causing apoptosis of cytokines B) Increasing interferon production C) Causing CD4+ cells to mutate D) Depressing antibody response
D Depletion of protein reserves results in atrophy of lymphoid tissues, depression of antibody response, reduction in the number of circulating T cells, and impaired phagocytic function. This specific nutritional deficit does not cause T-cell mutation, an increase in the production of interferons, or apoptosis of cytokines.
The nurse is completing a focused assessment addressing a patients immune function. What should the nurse prioritize in the physical assessment? A) Percussion of the patients abdomen B) Palpation of the patients liver C) Auscultation of the patients apical heart rate D) Palpation of the patients lymph nodes
D During the assessment of immune function, the anterior and posterior cervical, supraclavicular, axillary, and inguinal lymph nodes are palpated for enlargement. If palpable nodes are detected, their location, size, consistency, and reports of tenderness on palpation are noted. Because of the central role of lymph nodes in the immune system, they are prioritized over the heart, liver, and abdomen, even though these would be assessed.
The nurse is caring for a patient has just been given a 6-month prognosis following a diagnosis of extensive stage small-cell lung cancer. The patient states that he would like to die at home, but the team believes that the patients care needs are unable to be met in a home environment. What might you suggest as an alternative? A) Discuss a referral for rehabilitation hospital. B) Panel the patient for a personal care home. C) Discuss a referral for acute care. D) Discuss a referral for hospice care.
D Hospice care can be provided in several settings. Because of the high cost associated with free-standing hospices, care is often delivered by coordinating services provided by both hospitals and the community. The primary goal of hospice care is to provide support to the patient and family. Patients who are referred to hospice care generally have fewer than 6 months to live. Each of the other listed options would be less appropriate for the patients physical and psychosocial needs.
A patient has presented at the ED with copious diarrhea and accompanying signs of dehydration. During the patients health history, the nurse learns that the patient recently ate oysters from the Gulf of Mexico. The nurse should recognize the need to have the patients stool cultured for microorganisms associated with what disease? A) Ebola B) West Nile virus C) Legionnaires disease D) Cholera
D In the U.S., cholera should be suspected in patients who have watery diarrhea after eating shellfish harvested from the Gulf of Mexico.
A nurse is planning a patients care and is relating it to normal immune response. During what stage of the immune response should the nurse know that antibodies or cytotoxic T cells combine and destroy the invading microbes? A) Recognition stage B) Proliferation stage C) Response stage D) Effector stage
D In the effector stage, either the antibody of the humoral response or the cytotoxic (killer) T cell of the cellular response reaches and couples with the antigen on the surface of the foreign invader. The coupling initiates a series of events that in most instances results in total destruction of the invading microbes or the complete neutralization of the toxin. This does not take place during the three preceding stages.
An oncology patient will begin a course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the treatment of bone metastases. What is one means by which malignant disease processes transfer cells from one place to another? A) Adhering to primary tumor cells B) Inducing mutation of cells of another organ C) Phagocytizing healthy cells D) Invading healthy host tissues
D Invasion, which refers to the growth of the primary tumor into the surrounding host tissues, occurs in several ways. Malignant cells are less likely to adhere than are normal cells. Malignant cells do not cause healthy cells to mutate. Malignant cells do not eat other cells.
The nurse is caring for a patient with secondary syphilis. What intervention should the nurse institute when caring for this patient? A) Ensure that the patient is housed in a private room. B) Administer hydrocortisone ointment to the lesions as ordered. C) Administer combination therapy with antiretrovirals as ordered. D) Wear gloves if contact with lesions is possible.
D Lesions of primary and secondary syphilis may be highly infective. Gloves are worn when direct contact with lesions is likely, and hand hygiene is performed after gloves are removed. Isolation in a private room is not required. Corticosteroids antiviral medications are not indicated.
A patients current antiretroviral regimen includes nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). What dietary counseling will the nurse provide based on the patients medication regimen? A) Avoid high-fat meals while taking this medication. B) Limit fluid intake to 2 liters a day. C) Limit sodium intake to 2 grams per day. D) Take this medication without regard to meals.
D Many NRTIs exist, but all of them may be safely taken without regard to meals. Protein, fluid, and sodium restrictions play no role in relation to these drugs.
The nurse is providing health education to the parents of a toddler who has been diagnosed with food allergies. What should the nurse teach this family about the childs health problem? A) Food allergies are a life-long condition, but most families adjust quite well to the necessary lifestyle changes. B) Consistent use of over-the-counter antihistamines can often help a child overcome food allergies. C) Make sure that you carry a steroid inhaler with you at all times, especially when you eat in restaurants. D) Many children outgrow their food allergies in a few years if they avoid the offending foods.
D Many food allergies disappear with time, particularly in children. About one-third of proven allergies disappear in 1 to 2 years if the patient carefully avoids the offending food. Antihistamines do not cure allergies and an EpiPen is carried, not a steroid inhaler.
A nurse has admitted a patient who has been diagnosed with urosepsis. What immune response predominates in sepsis? A) Mitigated B) Nonspecific C) Cellular D) Humoral
D Most immune responses to antigens involve both humoral and cellular responses, although only one predominates. For example, during transplantation rejection, the cellular response predominates, whereas in the bacterial pneumonias and sepsis, the humoral response plays the dominant role. Neither mitigated nor nonspecific cell response is noted in this situation.
An 18-year-old pregnant female has tested positive for HIV and asks the nurse if her baby is going to be born with HIV. What is the nurses best response? A) There is no way to know that for certain, but we do know that your baby has a one in four chance of being born with HIV. B) Your physician is likely the best one to ask that question. C) If the baby is HIV positive there is nothing that can be done until it is born, so try your best not to worry about it now. D) Its possible that your baby could contract HIV, either before, during, or after delivery.
D Mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 is possible and may occur in utero, at the time of delivery, or through breast-feeding. There is no evidence that the infants risk is 25%. Deferral to the physician is not a substitute for responding appropriately to the patients concern. Downplaying the patients concerns is inappropriate.
A neonate exhibited some preliminary signs of infection, but the infants condition resolved spontaneously prior to discharge home from the hospital. This infants recovery was most likely due to what type of immunity? A) Cytokine immunity B) Specific immunity C) Active acquired immunity D) Nonspecific immunity
D Natural immunity, or nonspecific immunity, is present at birth. Active acquired or specific immunity develops after birth. Cytokines are proteins that mediate the immune response; they are not a type of immunity.
A patients injury has initiated an immune response that involves inflammation. What are the first cells to arrive at a site of inflammation? A) Eosinophils B) Red blood cells C) Lymphocytes D) Neutrophils
D Neutrophils are the first cells to arrive at the site where inflammation occurs. Eosinophils increase in number during allergic reactions and stress responses, but are not always present during inflammation. RBCs do not migrate during an immune response. Lymphocytes become active but do not migrate to the site of inflammation.
The nurse receives a phone call from a clinic patient who experienced fever and slight dyspnea several hours after receiving the pneumococcus vaccine. What is the nurses most appropriate action? A) Instruct the patient to call 911. B) Inform the patient that this is an expected response to vaccination. C) Encourage the patient to take NSAIDs until symptoms are relieved. D) Ensure that the adverse reaction is reported.
D Nurses should ask adult vaccine recipients to provide information about any problems encountered after vaccination. As mandated by law, a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form must be completed with the following information: type of vaccine received, timing of vaccination, onset of the adverse event, current illnesses or medication, history of adverse events after vaccination, and demographic information about the recipient. NSAIDs are not necessarily required and no evidence of distress warrants a call to 911. This is not an expected response to vaccination.
An adolescent patients history of skin hyperreactivity and inflammation has been attributed to atopic dermatitis. The nurse should recognize that this patient consequently faces an increased risk of what health problem? A) Bronchitis B) Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) C) Rheumatoid arthritis D) Asthma
D Nurses should be aware that atopic dermatitis is often the first step in a process that leads to asthma and allergic rhinitis. It is not linked as closely to bronchitis, SLE, and RA.
A 16-year-old has come to the clinic and asks to talk to a nurse. The nurse asks the teen what she needs and the teen responds that she has become sexually active and is concerned about getting HIV. The teen asks the nurse what she can do keep from getting HIV. What would be the nurses best response? A) Theres no way to be sure you wont get HIV except to use condoms correctly. B) Only the correct use of a female condom protects against the transmission of HIV. C) There are new ways of protecting yourself from HIV that are being discovered every day. D) Other than abstinence, only the consistent and correct use of condoms is effective in preventing HIV.
D Other than abstinence, consistent and correct use of condoms is the only effective method to decrease the risk of sexual transmission of HIV infection. Both female and male condoms confer significant protection. New prevention techniques are not commonly discovered, though advances in treatment are constant.
A patient has developed severe contact dermatitis with burning, itching, cracking, and peeling of the skin on her hands. What should the nurse teach the patient to do? A) Wear powdered latex gloves when in public. B) Wash her hands with antibacterial soap every few hours. C) Maintain room temperature at 75F to 80F whenever possible. D) Keep her hands well-moisturized at all times.
D Powdered latex gloves can cause contact dermatitis. Skin should be kept well-hydrated and should be washed with mild soap. Maintaining roomtemperature at 75F to 80F is not necessary.
An oncology patient has begun to experience skin reactions to radiation therapy, prompting the nurse to make the diagnosis Impaired Skin Integrity: erythematous reaction to radiation therapy. What intervention best addresses this nursing diagnosis? A) Apply an ice pack or heating pad PRN to relieve pain and pruritis B) Avoid skin contact with water whenever possible C) Apply phototherapy PRN D) Avoid rubbing or scratching the affected area
D Rubbing and or scratching will lead to additional skin irritation, damage, and increased risk of infection. Extremes of hot, cold and light should be avoided. No need to avoid contact with water.
A 62-year-old woman diagnosed with breast cancer is scheduled for a partial mastectomy. The oncology nurse explained that the surgeon will want to take tissue samples to ensure the disease has not spread to adjacent axillary lymph nodes. The patient has asked if she will have her lymph nodes dissected, like her mother did several years ago. What alternative to lymph node dissection will this patient most likely undergo? A) Lymphadenectomy B) Needle biopsy C) Open biopsy D) Sentinel node biopsy
D Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), also known as sentinel lymph node mapping, is a minimally invasive surgical approach that, in some instances, has replaced more invasive lymph node dissections (lymphadenectomy) and their associated complications such as lymphedema and delayed healing. SLNB has been widely adopted for regional lymph node staging in selected cases of melanoma and breast cancer.
A nursing student is giving a report on the immune system. What function of cytokines should the student describe? A) Determining whether a cell is foreign B) Determining if lymphokines will be activated C) Determining whether the T cells will remain in the nodes and retain a memory of the antigen D) Determining whether the immune response will be the production of antibodies or a cell-mediated response
D Separate subpopulations of helper T cells produce different types of cytokines and determine whether the immune response will be the production of antibodies or a cell-mediated immune response. Cytokines do not determine whether cells are foreign, determine if lymphokines will be activated, or determine the role of memory T cells.
Chapter 71 Questions A male patient comes to the clinic and is diagnosed with gonorrhea. Which symptom most likely prompted him to seek medical attention? A) Rashes on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet B) Cauliflower-like warts on the penis C) Painful, red papules on the shaft of the penis D) Foul-smelling discharge from the penis
D Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea in men include purulent, foul-smelling drainage from the penis and painful urination. Rashes on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet are a sign of the secondary stage of syphilis. Cauliflower-like warts on the penis are a sign of human papillomavirus. Painful red papules on the shaft of the penis may be a sign of the first stage of genital herpes.
Which of the following individuals would be the most appropriate candidate for immunotherapy? A) A patient who had an anaphylactic reaction to an insect sting B) A child with allergies to eggs and dairy C) A patient who has had a positive tuberculin skin test D) A patient with severe allergies to grass and tree pollen
D The benefit of immunotherapy has been fairly well established in instances of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma that are clearly due to sensitivity to one of the common pollens, molds, or household dust. Immunotherapy is not used to treat type I hypersensitivities. A positive tuberculin skin test is not an indication for immunotherapy.
The nurse is addressing condom use in the context of a health promotion workshop. When discussing the correct use of condoms, what should the nurse tell the attendees? A) Attach the condom prior to erection. B) A condom may be reused with the same partner if ejaculation has not occurred. C) Use skin lotion as a lubricant if alternatives are unavailable. D) Hold the condom by the cuff upon withdrawal.
D The condom should be unrolled over the hard penis before any kind of sex. The condom should be held by the tip to squeeze out air. Skin lotions, baby oil, petroleum jelly, or cold cream should not be used with condoms because they cause latex deterioration/condom breakage. The condom should be held during withdrawal so it does not come off the penis. Condoms should never be reused.
The nurse is creating a care plan for a patient suffering from allergic rhinitis. Which of the following outcomes should the nurse identify? A) Appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics B) Safe injection of corticosteroids C) Improved skin integrity D) Improved coping with lifestyle modifications
D The goals for the patient with allergies may include restoration of normal breathing pattern, increased knowledge about the causes and control of allergic symptoms, improved coping with alterations and modifications, and absence of complications. Antibiotics are not used to treat allergies and corticosteroids, if needed, are not administered parenterally. Allergies do not normally threaten skin integrity.
A nurse is reviewing the immune system before planning an immunocompromised patients care. How should the nurse characterize the humoral immune response? A) Specialized cells recognize and ingest cells that are recognized as foreign. B) T lymphocytes are assisted by cytokines to fight infection. C) Lymphocytesare stimulated to become cells that attack microbes directly. D) Antibodies are made by B lymphocytes in response to a specific antigen.
D The humoral response is characterized by the production of antibodies by B lymphocytes in response to a specific antigen. Phagocytosis and direct attack on microbes occur in the context of the cellular immune response.
A patient is being treated for bacterial pneumonia. In the first stages of illness, the patients dyspnea was accompanied by a high fever. Currently, the patient claims to be feeling better and is afebrile. The patient is most likely in which stage of the immune response? A) Recognition stage B) Proliferation stage C) Response stage D) Effector stage
D The immune response culminates with the effector stage, during which offending microorganisms are killed by the various actions of the immune system. The patients improvement in health status is likely the result of this final stage in the immune response.
An older adult patient has been diagnosed with Legionella infection. When planning this patients care, the nurse should prioritize which of the following nursing actions? A) Monitoring for evidence of skin breakdown B) Emotional support and promotion of coping C) Assessment for signs of internal hemorrhage D) Vigilant monitoring of respiratory status
D The lungs are the principal organs of Legionella infection. The patient develops increasing pulmonary symptoms, including productive cough, dyspnea, and chest pain. Consequently, respiratory support is vital. Hemorrhage and skin breakdown are not central manifestations of the disease. Preservation of the patients airway is a priority over emotional support, even though this aspect of care is important.
The nurse is orienting a new nurse to the oncology unit. When reviewing the safe administration of antineoplastic agents, what action should the nurse emphasize? A) Adjust the dose to the patients present symptoms. B) Wash hands with an alcohol-based cleanser following administration. C) Use gloves and a lab coat when preparing the medication. D) Dispose of the antineoplastic wastes in the hazardous waste receptacle.
D The nurse should use surgical gloves and disposable long-sleeved gowns when administering antineoplastic agents. The antineoplastic wastes are disposed of as hazardous materials. Dosages are not adjusted on a short-term basis. Hand and arm hygiene must be performed before and after administering the medication.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has allergic rhinitis. What intervention would be most likely to help the patient meet the goal of improved breathing pattern? A) Teach the patient to take deep breaths and cough frequently. B) Use antihistamines daily throughout the year. C) Teach the patient to seek medical attention at the first sign of an allergic reaction. D) Modify the environment to reduce the severity of allergic symptoms.
D The patient is instructed and assisted to modify the environment to reduce the severity of allergic symptoms or to prevent their occurrence. Deep breathing and coughing are not indicated unless an infection is present. Anaphylaxis requires prompt medical attention, but a minority of allergic reactions are anaphylaxis. Overuse of antihistamines reduces their effectiveness.
During the admission assessment of an HIV-positive patient whose CD4+ count has recently fallen, the nurse carefully assesses for signs and symptoms related to opportunistic infections. What is the most common life-threatening infection? A) Salmonella infection B) Mycobacterium tuberculosis C) Clostridium dif icile D) Pneumocystis pneumonia
D There are a number of opportunistic infections that can infect individuals with AIDS. The most common life-threatening infection in those living with AIDS is Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), caused by P. jiroveci (formerly carinii). Other opportunistic infections may involve Salmonella,Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Clostridium dif icile.
The nurse who provides care at a wilderness camp is teaching staff members about measures that reduce campers and workers risks of developing Giardia infections. The nurse should emphasize which of the following practices? A) Making sure not to drink water that has not been purified B) Avoiding the consumption of wild berries C) Removing ticks safely and promptly D) Using mosquito repellant consistently
D Transmission of the protozoan Giardia lamblia occurs when food or drink is contaminated with viable cysts of the organism. People often become infected while traveling to endemic areas or by drinking contaminated water from mountain streams within the United States. Berries, mosquitoes, and ticks are not sources of this microorganism.
A 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 that antibodies to the AIDS virus are present in the blood, this indicates what? A) The patient is immune to HIV. B) The patients immune system is intact. C) The patient has AIDS-related complications. D) The patient has been infected with HIV.
d Positive test results indicate that antibodies to the AIDS virus are present in the blood. The presence of antibodies does not imply an intact immune system or specific immunity to HIV. This finding does not indicate the presence of AIDS-related complications.