A nurse is caring for a patient who is admitted into the surgical ward and was diagnosed with perforated appendix and is shifted to operation room for appendectomy.
The nurse understands that this procedure is classified as:
A perforated appendix is a medical emergency requiring immediate surgical intervention to prevent complications such as peritonitis and sepsis. Therefore, an appendectomy in this context is classified as an emergent procedure. Emergent surgeries are those that need to be performed without delay to preserve the patient's life or health.
Smeltzer, S. C., Bare, B. G., Hinkle, J. L., & Cheever, K. H. (2010). Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
During a discharge planning of an educated 79-year-old woman, the patient expresses concern to the nurse about how she will remember taking the medications recently prescribed.
What is the BEST intervention that can be incorporated by the nurse in the discharge plan?
The best intervention for helping an educated 79-year-old woman remember to take her medications is to provide a weekly pill box and develop a written medication schedule. This approach empowers the patient to manage her medications independently, reducing the risk of non-compliance. Asking a family member to administer medications or referring the patient to a care home might not be necessary if the patient can manage with simple tools. Consulting the physician to reduce or combine medications is an option but does not address the immediate need for a practical solution to medication management.
Which of the following is the appropriate nursing action in the termination phase of the home visit?
In the termination phase of a home visit, the appropriate nursing action is to review important teaching topics discussed during the visit. This ensures that the family understands the care instructions and can ask any final questions. Validating the health history and documenting the care provided are important but are typically part of the initial or ongoing phases of the visit. Determining readiness for future visits is also important but is secondary to ensuring the family understands the teaching provided.
A nurse is providing education to a new parent about the psychosocial development of the newborn.
Applying Erikson's psychosocial development theory, the nurse would BEST instruct the parents to:
Applying Erikson's psychosocial development theory, the nurse should instruct the parents to observe and respond to the newborn's signals of needs. According to Erikson, the first stage of psychosocial development is 'Trust vs. Mistrust,' which occurs from birth to approximately 18 months.
Trust vs. Mistrust: In this stage, infants learn to trust their caregivers when their needs for food, comfort, and affection are consistently met. If caregivers are responsive to the infant's needs, the infant develops a sense of trust and security.
Ignoring and Distracting the Newborn: This approach may lead to feelings of mistrust as the infant's needs are not being adequately addressed.
Anticipating and Planning for the Newborn's Demands: While planning is important, it is more crucial to be responsive to the infant's immediate signals.
Providing a Comfortable Environment: This is beneficial but must be combined with responsive caregiving to establish trust.
Erikson, E. H. (1963). Childhood and Society.
American Psychological Association (APA): Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
The nurse observes an ophthalmologist assessing a patient with diabetes mellitus for a routine checkup.
Which of the following is a non-proliferative retinopathy complication in this patient?
Macular edema is a complication of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. It involves swelling or thickening of the macula due to fluid leakage from blood vessels, leading to vision problems. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is an early stage of diabetic retinopathy where blood vessels in the retina are damaged but do not yet proliferate. Nystagmus, glaucoma, and cataracts are not specific complications of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Macular edema is a key concern and requires timely management to prevent vision loss.
