Deck 32: Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Question 1

When the patient asked the nurse about the use of acupuncture for the control of back pain, the nurse warned that acupuncture can put the patient at risk for:

A) meningitis.
B) streptococcal infection.
C) hepatitis.
D) Shigella.

Answer 1

hepatitis.

Question 2

A patient asks the nurse about the difference between manipulative and body-based methods and mind-body therapies. The nurse's correct response is that:

A) manipulative and body-based methods involve touching or manipulation, and mind-body therapies deal with the mind's ability to affect the body.
B) mind-body therapies involve touch and manipulation, and body-based methods involve the mind's ability to affect the body.
C) mind-body therapies involve the use of herbal remedies, whereas manipulative and body-based methods deal with touch.
D) an example of manipulative body-based methods is biofeedback, and an example of mind-body therapies is massage.

Answer 2

manipulative and body-based methods involve touching or manipulation, and mind-body therapies deal with the mind's ability to affect the body.

Question 3

A patient who has job-related stress and chronic back pain wants to start exercising but dislikes physical activity. The nurse suggests that the most beneficial therapy for this patient is:

A) yoga therapy.
B) dance therapy.
C) Ayurveda.
D) shamanism.

Answer 3

yoga therapy.

Question 4

A patient who is in labor is having anxiety and sobs with each contraction. The nurse decides to use imagery to calm the patient by:

A) having the patient close her eyes and picture herself in her favorite place.
B) having the patient do stretch exercises before each contraction.
C) telling the patient to relax and to calm down.
D) telling the patient strenuously focus on some image in the room.

Question 5

The home health nurse helps a patient schedule an appointment with a chiropractor because of chronic back pain, instructing the patient that the chiropractic treatment will involve:

A) manipulation of the spine.
B) deep massage.
C) herbal remedies.
D) energy therapies.

Question 6

When asked to give an example of complementary therapies, the nurse gives:

A) eating a macrobiotic diet to treat cancer instead of having surgery.
B) using imagery along with pain medication to increase comfort.
C) practicing naturopathic medicine, a natural means of promoting health.
D) practicing traditional Chinese medicine based on yin and yang.

Question 7

A Hispanic female patient visits the clinic with complaints of sleep loss and wants sleeping pills. In further talking with the patient, the nurse learns that the patient is also drinking valerian tea. The most appropriate nursing action is to:

A) talk to the patient about her usual sleep habits.
B) instruct the patient on the appropriate dose for sleeping pills.
C) inform the doctor that the patient is drinking valerian tea.
D) give written instructions about the effects and side effects of sleeping pills.

Question 8

A Mexican patient is admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain. The nurse learns that the patient has been treated for the same condition by a curandero and wants the curandero to visit and perform rituals. The best response via the interpreter by the nurse is:

A) "I'm sorry, but only immediate family can visit."
B) "It is not safe to have burning of herbs in the hospital."
C) "Trust your doctor; he knows what is best for you."
D) "I will inform the doctor so that they can perhaps confer."

Question 9

A patient asks about the difference between imagery and meditation. The nurse explains that imagery uses a visual stimulus that can decrease stress, whereas meditation:

A) is a relaxation technique used to help with acute illness.
B) involves focusing on a single repetitive stimulus, altering consciousness.
C) is a technique that trains the patient to retrieve memories and induce anesthesia.
D) involves a combination of exercise and controlled breathing.

Question 10

Before integrating humor in the care of an Asian patient, the nurse should:

A) develop jokes about the patient's condition.
B) develop jokes about the doctors and nurses.
C) ask the patient whether jokes are understood.
D) ask the patient's feelings about hearing a joke or funny story.

Question 11

A patient is seen by an alternative medicine practitioner for menopausal symptoms. The most popular and effective herbal remedy that the alternative medicine practitioner would suggest is:

A) valerian.
B) ma huang.
C) black cohosh.
D) echinacea.

Question 12

A patient's blood pressure measures 170/90 mm Hg. There is no history of hypertension, but the patient is very stressed because of career demands. The best complementary therapy that the patient might benefit from is:

A) meditation therapy.
B) meditation and medication.
C) dance therapy.
D) prayer and herbal therapy.

Question 13

A nurse is caring for a patient admitted for electrolyte imbalance who has been practicing Ayurveda, a traditional Hindu system of medicine. The nurse should inform the physician that the patient is practicing this traditional form of medicine, because Ayurveda:

A) uses purgatives as part of the treatment.
B) forbids invasive treatment methods.
C) requires that the shaman and physician confer.
D) uses natural electrical currents in meridian areas.

Question 14

A patient who is a heavy smoker has been told by the physician to stop smoking, but does not want to use a smoking cessation patch. The nurse suggests that the most effective alternative is:

A) meditation.
B) Qi Gong.
C) biofeedback.
D) hypnosis.

Question 15

The nurse is assessing a patient and finds that the patient is taking ephedra for weight control. The finding that is most likely attributable to ephedra is:

A) BP 138/90 mm Hg, pulse rate 95 beats/min.
B) gain of 15 pounds in 4 weeks.
C) excessive diarrhea for the last 3 days.
D) BP 180/98 mm Hg, pulse rate 130 beats/min.

Question 16

An elderly Hispanic male was admitted with a severe headache and is anxious. The patient tells the nurse that he was given the mal de ojo. The culturally competent nurse understands that mal de ojo means that the patient believes that he:

A) has a blockage in the intestine from the influence of Susto.
B) has an opposition in polarities problem because of the effect of empacho.
C) was given the evil eye, which is thought to cause weeping and headache.
D) has had a separation of the soul from the body.

Question 17

The nurse caring for a patient without any religious affiliation who was admitted 2 days ago with a severe gastrointestinal infection encounters the hospital chaplain who wants to pray with the patient. The most appropriate response by the nurse is:

A) "That is a wonderful idea. I am sure that the patient will find comfort in that."
B) "Before you do that, we need to get the patient's permission."
C) "I need to get an order from the doctor."
D) "I don't think the patient wants any religious interventions."

Question 18

An elderly female patient is placed on warfarin sodium (Coumadin) for thrombophlebitis and is seen in the clinic for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the patient complains that her forgetfulness is becoming worse and asks if ginkgo biloba would help. The most appropriate response by the nurse is:

A) "Ginkgo biloba improves memory, and you should have good results."
B) "Ginkgo biloba should not be part of your regimen, and the doctor does not believe in it."
C) "You should take St. John's wort instead, because it works better."
D) "Coumadin and gingko biloba should not be taken together because the herb prolongs bleeding time."

Question 19

A patient is scheduled to have biofeedback therapy for migraine headaches. On arrival to the clinic, the patient appears anxious and fearful and tells the nurse that she does not want electric shocks. The most reassuring response by the nurse is:

A) "Don't worry; this will not hurt a bit."
B) "Didn't the doctor explain this procedure to you?"
C) "There are no electrical shocks involved; the doctor is looking at your body's activity."
D) "You seem too anxious for this procedure. Let's reschedule it at another time."

Question 20

When an asthmatic patient asks the nurse about using aromatherapy oils for decreasing stress, the nurse expresses concern to the patient about:

A) the cost of the aromatherapy.
B) possible allergic reaction to the oils.
C) the oils causing staining of furniture.
D) the oils not being very effective.

Question 21

The alternative practice in which the practitioner journeys to other planes of existence to retrieve information for the healing process is ________.

Question 22

A patient with thrombophlebitis is contemplating being seen by a massage therapist for a deep body massage. The nurse warns that such a therapy may be harmful because:

A) the practitioner will use magnets on the body to relieve pain.
B) the practitioner will use electrical stimulation.
C) there is an increased risk of breaking loose a clot with the massage.
D) massage may cause vasoconstriction.

Question 23

The practitioner of Reiki acts as a conduit for healing energy by directing healing energy to the patient's receptors located in the: (Select all that apply.)

A) arms.
B) forehead.
C) groin.
D) feet.
E) hands.

Question 24

When taking the depressed patient's history, the nurse finds that the patient is taking Prozac and the herbal remedy St. John's wort. The nurse gives this information to the physician immediately because:

A) the patient is still depressed and needs another antidepressant added.
B) Prozac and St. John's wort should not be taken together, because this can cause toxicity.
C) Prozac and St. John's wort are complementary therapies and the doctor should know this.
D) the patient should not be taking herbal remedies, because they have proven to be ineffective.

Question 25

The technique in which the practitioner alters body energy fields by passing his or her hands over the patient to determine where tensions exist is the practice of _________.

Question 26

An alternative type of medical practice that stimulates the patient's natural defenses to alleviate the problem because illness is considered to be specific to the individual is ______________.

Question 27

A branch of traditional Chinese medicine in which very fine needles are used to stimulate certain points on the body along lines called meridians to increase or disperse the flow of energy is known as _____________________.

Question 28

The culturally competent nurse is aware that the American Indian medicine techniques are very significant to the patient. This medical intervention involves: (Select all that apply.)

A) healing ceremonies.
B) rituals performed by highly trained medicine people.
C) burning of sweet grass.
D) purging with minerals.
E) drums to align the patient's heart with Mother Earth.

Question 29

A form of alternative therapy that is used by more than 70% of the world's population for treatment of disorders with botanicals is _________.

Question 30

The nurse's role when patients practice complementary and alternative therapies include: (Select all that apply.)

A) asking whether patients are taking over the counter herbal remedies.
B) questioning the patient extensively regarding why he or she is practicing complementary or alternative therapies.
C) exploring the cost of treatment and how many treatments are required.
D) instructing the patient to inform the health care provider when such therapies are being used.