Deck 11: Experiencing Health Illness

Question 1

The nurse is providing care to a client with a history of schizophrenia who is diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Which is the most significant barrier the nurse recognizes as this patient facing?
1)Chronic urinary incontinence
2)Stigma associated with mental illness
3)Risk for recurring infections
4)Auditory hallucinations ("hearing things")

Answer 1

2

Question 2

The nurse is attending to a 76-year-old patient who is being admitted for an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). The doctor tells the patient that an angioplasty is necessary, and the patient agrees and signs the informed consent form. Which stage of illness behavior does the nurse identify the patient experiencing?
1)Sick-role behavior
2)Seeking professional care
3)Experiencing symptoms
4)Dependence on others

Answer 2

4

Question 3

Some people readily become ill when under stress, while others are able to deal with tremendous stress and remain physically and mentally healthy. This disparity is affected by a person's level of hardiness. In which manner does the nurse apply this knowledge to nursing care?
1)The nurse cannot use the presented information. People are innately hardy or not, a state that the nurse must merely recognize.
2)Nurses need to encourage all people to develop some level of hardiness to help them get through difficult physical and emotional times.
3)Nurses need to assess for their own level of hardiness. If nurses are hardy, they will be better nurses; if not, nurses can learn more about hardiness.
4)Nurses assess for hardiness in patients and can encourage hardy patients to learn about their illness as a means for them to be more comfortable.

Answer 3

4

Question 4

Many healthcare providers define illness as pathology; however, people experience, rather than define, illness. In which manner do most people experience illness?
1)"Feeling lousy," a true sense of not being all right
2)A change in the way they feel or a disruption in their typical life
3)Something to be dreaded and avoided, if at all possible
4)An experience that offers a potential for learning and spiritual growth

Question 5

A parent of three small children has had nausea, vomiting, and extreme fatigue for the past 2 days and calls the children's grandmother for assistance with caring for the children. Which illness behavior is the parent experiencing?
1)Sick-role behavior
2)Dependence on others
3)Seeking professional care
4)Experiencing symptoms

Question 6

Dunn believes that an individual's state of health should be evaluated in the context of the person's environment. Which is an approach that illustrates Dunn's belief?
1)An unhealthy physical environment, characterized by poor living conditions, always has a negative effect on an individual's health.
2)Adequate income, food, and shelter create a healthful environment and always improve physical health status.
3)Physical environment, family, and social support may help or hinder the health status of an individual.
4)The environment that should always be assessed is the client's immediate surroundings; extended boundaries do not apply in an ill state.

Question 7

The nurse works at a busy trauma center and needs to establish a relationship of caring, respect, and understanding with clients during a time of extreme physical and emotional stress. Which behavior from the nurse is most likely to convey a sense of compassion?
1)Extend kindness to the client and family.
2)Display competency during procedures.
3)Provide a healing presence.
4)Remain professionally aloof.

Question 8

The nurse recognizes which type of loss as being most common among patients who are hospitalized for complex health conditions?
1)Privacy
2)Dignity
3)Functional
4)Identity

Question 9

The new graduate nurse is working with another nurse who is functioning as a mentor to the new graduate. Which advice from the mentor is best suited when the new graduate is preparing to interact with the first patient?
1)Be maximally attentive to the patient at all times.
2)Take a few moments to settle in to the situation.
3)Accept the patient regardless of background.
4)Create a broad attitude of enjoyment of the patient.

Question 10

The nurse is aware the client's risk of breast cancer is dramatically increased because both her sister and her mother had breast cancer. Which of the multidimensional aspects of health does this scenario illustrate?
1)Personal relationships
2)Biological factors
3)Lifestyle choices
4)Environmental factors

Question 11

The nurse is providing care for a client who has been hospitalized for 6 weeks. Which nursing intervention is specifically focused on helping the patient cope with the emotional responses to prolonged hospitalization?
1)Providing skin care every shift to prevent skin breakdown
2)Encouraging the patient to get up in a chair to eat meals
3)Assisting the patient to ambulate in the hallway for several minutes each day
4)Designating a corner of the patient's room to display personal mementos

Question 12

When transferring a patient from a hospital to a long-term care facility, which action by the nurse is most helpful in facilitating the patient's planning and emotional adjustment?
1)Notify the patient and family as much in advance of the transfer as possible.
2)Send a complete copy of the patient's medical records to the new facility.
3)Carefully coordinate the transfer with the long-term facility to keep it smooth.
4)Help arrange for transportation and accompany the patient to the transport vehicle.

Question 13

The nurse is admitting a 62-year-old patient with a diagnosis of hypertension to the hospital. Which question by the nurse is most important when performing the initial assessment interview?
1)"What medications do you take at home?"
2)"Do you have any environmental, food, or drug allergies?"
3)"Do you have an advance directive?"
4)"What greatest concern you are dealing with today?"

Question 14

The nurse is providing care for a 55-year-old client with severe respiratory disease. Using Neuman's Continuum as a resource, which stage of illness is the nurse most likely to identify as being applicable to this client?
1)Moderate energy related to resiliency of age
2)High energy related to available treatment
3)Low energy related to compromised breathing
4)Extremely low energy due to impending death

Question 15

The nurse is providing care for a patient with a terminal illness. Which is particularly valuable in helping a patient with a terminal illness maintain a sense of self?
1)Family relationships
2)Spirituality
3)Nutrition
4)Sleep and rest

Question 16

The nurse uses the concept of the wellness-illness continuum for developing a nursing plan of care. Which plan for a chronically ill patient does the nurse select?
1)Educate the patient about every possible complication associated with the specific illness.
2)Encourage positive health characteristics within the limits of the specific illness.
3)Limit activities because of the progressive deterioration associated with chronic illnesses.
4)Recommend activity beyond the scope of tolerance to prevent early deterioration.

Question 17

Living in a healthy family is an important dimension of wellness. Which condition most accurately describes a characteristic of healthy families?
1)A family in which individual members live a health-promoting lifestyle
2)A family that responds to its members' needs only during serious illness
3)A family who may avoid or withhold the truth to prevent hurting someone's feelings
4)A family that understands a family member is powerless when experiencing severe illness

Question 18

The nurse assigns a nursing assistant the task of ambulating a group of patients on the medical-surgical unit. Later in the morning, the nursing assistant tells the nurse, "Some of my patients feel very sick but want to get out of bed. Others say they feel well but don't want to get out of bed. What should I do?" Which is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
1)"All patients are supposed to be out of bed today, so do the best you can with them."
2)"This is not uncommon. Sometimes you have to push some patients more than others."
3)"All patients may respond to illness differently. Explain that they must be out of bed today.
4)"Get the patients up if they want to get up, and help the others to ambulate later in the day."

Question 19

A patient who is 80 years old arrives in the emergency department experiencing a severe heart attack. The patient's condition is deteriorating and the physician informs the spouse that the patient is not expected to survive. The spouse becomes distraught and tells the nurse, "We have been married for 60 years. What am I going to do?" Which is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
1)"You had a good life together. You just need to understand that death is part of life, too."
2)"I understand how you feel, but living to 80 years of age is a good long life."
3)"I will get a social worker to see you for some help you may need at home."
4)"I understand that this is an incredible and unexpected loss for you."

Question 20

The nurse is providing care for client who is 76 years of age and experiencing chronic illness related to genetic-linked anemia. The client does not eat a balanced diet and admits preferring sweets to meat and vegetables. Which dimension of health is the nurse most likely to influence with teaching and counseling?
1)Age-related changes
2)Genetic anemia
3)Eating habits
4)Gender-related issues

Question 21

The home care nurse is providing care for a patient. After several visits and review of the plan of care, the nurse notices the patient does not follow the prescribed diet and exercise regimen. Which is the most appropriate action by the nurse?
1)Discharge the patient from home care because of noncompliance to the medical regimen.
2)Continue to teach and reinforce the importance of the diet and exercise regimen.
3)Notify the healthcare provider of the patient's refusal to follow the diet and exercise regimen.
4)Identify why the patient is not following the plan, and revise the plan in collaboration with the patient.

Question 22

The nurse is admitting to the medical floor a patient who does not speak English. The patient does not appear to understand the nurse's questions or instructions. Which is the most appropriate action by the nurse?
1)Contact a family member, and defer the admission assessment until someone arrives.
2)Use hand gesturing and facial expressions to communicate with the patient.
3)See if a staff member who speaks the patient's language is available to help translate.
4)Activate the hospital's translating system, and obtain an available translator.

Question 23

The nurse is aware that which situations can lead to family caregiver's feeling(s) of "burnout"? Select all that apply.
1)Caring for an infant during eruption of a first tooth
2)Caring for an adolescent child with schizophrenia
3)Caring for child being treated for a broken leg
4)Caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's disease
5)Caring for grandchildren once a week, as needed

Question 24

A newly hired nurse is working with an experienced nurse on the oncology unit. The newly hired nurse expresses interest in helping patients and making their hospital stay a better experience. Which is the most appropriate response for the experienced nurse to make? Select all that apply.
1)"This takes time. Once you have worked on the unit for a while, it will become clear to you."
2)"Find your best approach to patient care, and then use this approach with every patient."
3)"One of the very best ways is to listen to your patient and be attentive to their needs."
4)"It is helpful to consider your strengths and weaknesses and how you cope with illness."
5)"Just remember to apply all your nursing knowledge when you interact with a patient."

Question 25

A patient who is 30 years of age has been experiencing joint pain for several months and is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The patient tells the nurse, "This can't be happening to me. I don't understand this." Which statement best describes the nurse's primary understanding of the patient comments?
1)The patient is too young to possess the ability to cope with this diagnosis.
2)The patient exhibiting the stage of denial related to the illness diagnosis.
3)The patient's developmental stage affects the ability to cope with stressors.
4)The patient's statements indicate an inability to accept an ongoing illness.

Question 26

The nurse is admitting a patient with heart disease to the cardiac unit. When answering questions related to health history, the patient's responses are lengthy and time consuming. Which is the most appropriate action by the nurse?
1)Recognize that the patient may be lonely and just wants to talk to someone.
2)Set a time limit, and inform the patient of your time frame to complete the assessment.
3)Anticipate the patient's answers, and quickly go on to the next question.
4)Be attentive, focus on what the patient has to say, and respond accordingly.

Question 27

Which situation is most reflective of a life change for managing chronic illness?
1)Beginning self-injection of insulin for diabetes mellitus
2)Taking an antibiotic for a streptococcal throat infection
3)Going to the gym and participating in an exercise program
4)Taking prescribed pain medication after a tooth extraction

Question 28

The nurse in a retirement complex is intrigued by the time and energy residents spend on favorite activities, which they refer to as their "work." Which definitions best describe what can be identified as "meaningful work"? Select all that apply.
1)Volunteering in the children's ward at the local hospital
2)Starting a garden club in the living community
3)Reaching a desired salary after 10 years of employment
4)Playing an instrument in a rock-and-roll band
5)Deciding to return to work because of boredom

Question 29

The nurse is aware that patients may fail to comply with a proposed healthcare regimen and be perceived as being noncompliant. For which common reason(s) does a nurse identify as causing a patient to be noncompliant with a plan of care? Select all that apply.
1)There patient lacks a support system.
2)The patient does not understand the plan.
3)The plan of care is inconvenient.
4)The patient is stubborn by nature.
5)The plan is financially inhibitive.