Nursing Management in Cancer Care

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QUESTION 15:
Chapter 15, Oncology: Nursing Management in Cancer Care
The oncology clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is asked to develop a staff development program for registered nurses who will be administering chemotherapeutic agents. Because the nurses will be administering a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs to oncology patients, the CNS plans on presenting an overview of agents, classifications, and special precautions related to the safe handling and administration of these drugs. (Learning Objectives 6 and 8)
a. What does the CNS describe as the goals of chemotherapy?
b. How should the CNS respond to the following question: “Why do patients require rounds of chemotherapeutic drugs, including different drugs and varying intervals?” Nursing Questions & Answers .
c. In teaching about the administration of chemotherapeutic agents, what signs of extravasation should the nurse include?
d. What clinical manifestations of myelosuppression, secondary to chemotherapy administration, should the CNS include in this program? Nursing Questions & Answers .

Shock and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome

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Question 14:
Chapter 14, Shock and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome
Adam Smith, 77 years of age, is a male patient who was admitted from a nursing home to the intensive care unit with septic shock secondary to urosepsis. The patient has a Foley catheter in place from the nursing home with cloudy greenish, yellow-colored urine with sediments. The nurse removes the catheter after obtaining a urine culture and replaces it with a condom catheter attached to a drainage bag since the patient has a history of urinary and bowel incontinence. The patient is confused, afebrile, and hypotensive with a blood pressure of 82/44 mm Hg. His respiratory rate is 28 breaths/min and the pulse oximeter reading is at 88% room air, so the physician ordered 2 to 4 L of oxygen per nasal cannula titrated to keep SaO2 greater than 90%. The patient responded to 2 L of oxygen per nasal cannula with a SaO2 of 92%. The patient has diarrhea. His blood glucose level is elevated at 160 mg/dL. The white blood count is 15,000 and the C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation, is elevated. The patient is being treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and norepinephrine (Levophed) beginning at 2 mcg/min and titrated to keep systolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg. A subclavian triple lumen catheter was inserted and verified by chest x-ray for correct placement. An arterial line was placed in the right radial artery to closely monitor the patient’s blood pressure during the usage of the vasopressor therapy. (Learning Objectives 6 and 7)
a. What predisposed the patient to develop septic shock?
b. What potential findings would suggest that the patient’s septic shock is worsening from the point of admission? Nursing Questions & Answers .
c. The norepinephrine concentration is 16 mg in 250 mL of normal saline (NS). Explain how the nurse should administer the medication. What nursing implications are related to the usage of a vasoactive medication?
d. Explain why the effectiveness of a vasoactive medication decreases as the septic shock worsens. What treatment should the nurse anticipate to be obtained to help the patient? Nursing Questions & Answers .

What are possible causes of a low potassium level?

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QUESTION 13:
Chapter 13, Fluid and Electrolytes: Balance and Disturbance
Mrs. Dean is 75-year-old woman admitted to the hospital for a small bowel obstruction. Her medical history includes hypertension. Mrs. Dean is NPO. She has a nasogastric (NG) tube to low continuous suction. She has an IV of 0.9% NS at 83 mL/hr. Current medications include furosemide 20 mg daily and hydromorphone 0.2 mg every 4 hours, as needed for pain. The morning electrolytes reveal serum potassium of 3.2 mEq/L. (Learning Objective 4). Nursing Questions & Answers .
a. What are possible causes of a low potassium level?
b. What action should the nurse take in relation to the serum potassium level?
c. What clinical manifestations might the nurse assess in Mrs. Dean?

What are benefits of epidural versus systemic administration of opioids?

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QUESTION 12:
Chapter 12, Pain Management
Mr. Rogers is 2 days postoperative of a thoracotomy for removal of a malignant mass in his left chest. His pain is being managed via an epidural catheter with morphine (an opioid analgesic). As the nurse assumes care of Mr. Rogers, he is alert and fully oriented, and states that his current pain is 2 on a 1-to-10 scale. His vital signs are 37.8 – 92 – 12, 138/82. (Learning Objective 6). Nursing Questions & Answers . 
What are benefits of epidural versus systemic administration of opioids?
b. The nurse monitors Mr. Rogers’ respiratory status and vital signs every 2 hours. What is the rationale for these frequent assessments?
c. The nurse monitors Mr. Rogers for what other complications of epidural analgesia?
d. Mr. Rogers complains of a severe headache. What should the nurse do?
e. Mr. Rogers’ epidural morphine and decreased mobility increase his chances of constipation. What interventions should be included in his plan of care to minimize constipation? Nursing Questions & Answers .

What factors may be contributing to the urinary incontinence?

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QUESTION 11:
Chapter 11, Health Care of the Older Adult
The nurse working at the senior center notices Mrs. Jones, a 78-year-old, crying. The nurse approaches Mrs. Jones and asks if she needs help. Mrs. Jones states “I am so embarrassed. I had another accident and my pants are all wet. It’s like I’m a baby. I never should have come to the senior center.” (Learning Objectives 3 and 4). Nursing Questions & Answers .
a. What factors may be contributing to the urinary incontinence?
b. How should the nurse respond to Mrs. Jones?

Principles and Practices of Rehabilitation

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QUESTION 10: Chapter 10, Principles and Practices of Rehabilitation
You are assigned to care for David Ramsey, a 22-year-old male patient who sustained a back injury secondary to being thrown from a motorcycle. He did not damage the spinal cord, but the computed tomography revealed a compression fracture at L-2 (lumbar area). David complains of severe lower back pain with numbness and tingling in the lower extremities. You identify the following nursing diagnosis: Impaired Physical Mobility. Nursing Questions & Answers .
(Learning Objective 4)
a. What assessments are indicated based on this nursing diagnosis?
b. List other major nursing diagnoses based on David’s clinical presentation.

Chronic Illness and Disability

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QUESTION 9: Chapter 9, Chronic Illness and Disability
Mr. Edwards is 20-year-old male patient who is admitted for treatment of recurring pyelonephritis (kidney infection) and surgical treatment of a urinary stricture, which has decreased the urinary stream. Mr. Edwards has paraplegia; he is paralyzed from the waist down secondary to an automobile accident when he was 16. He came by ambulance to the hospital, leaving his wheelchair and wheelchair pressure-relieving cushion at home. According to the nursing history, the patient is a nonsmoker and he does not drink alcohol or take any illegal drugs. (Learning Objective 5). Nursing Questions & Answers . 
a. What nursing considerations should be made for Mr. Edwards related to his disability?
b. What health promotion and prevention education does Mr. Edwards need?

Describe the pattern of autosomal dominant inheritance.

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QUESTION 8: Chapter 8, Overview of Genetics and Genomics in Nursing
Mr. Wayne is a 38-year-old man with a significant family history of elevated cholesterol levels. His father died at age 42 from a massive heart attack secondary to elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, and two of his older siblings are currently taking medications to lower their cholesterol levels. Mr. Wayne makes an appointment to discuss his risk for hypercholesterolemia. The nurse recognizes that Mr. Wayne is at risk for familial hypercholesterolemia because this is an autosomal dominant inherited condition. (Learning Objective 2). Nursing Questions & Answers .
a. Describe the pattern of autosomal dominant inheritance.
b. Mr. Wayne asks what chance his children have of developing familial hypercholesterolemia. How should the nurse respond? Nursing Questions & Answers .
c. Explain the phenomenon of penetrance observed in autosomal dominant inheritance.

Transcultural Nursing

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QUESTION 7:
Chapter 7, Overview of Transcultural Nursing
The nurse manager of an ambulatory care clinic has noted an increased number of visits by patients from different countries and cultures, including patients from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Concerned about meeting the needs of this culturally diverse population, the nurse manager convenes a staff meeting to discuss this change in patient demographics, and to query the staff about any learning needs they have related to the care of these patients. (Learning Objective 3)
a. What strategy to avoid stereotyping clients from other cultures should the nurse include in this meeting?
b. Identify culturally sensitive issues to be discussed in the staff meeting. Nursing Questions & Answers .
c. One technician on the staff complains that some patients never make eye contact, and this makes it difficult for him to complete his work. How should the nurse respond?