Deck 11: Experiencing Health Illness

Question 1

Dunn believes that an individual's state of health should be evaluated in the context of the person's environment.This approach illustrates that:

A) An unhealthy physical environment, characterized by poor living conditions, always has a negative effect on an individual's health
B) Adequate income, food, and shelter create a healthful environment and always improve physical health status
C) Physical environment, family, and social support may help or hinder the health status of an individual
D) The environment that should always be assessed is the client's immediate surroundings; extended boundaries do not apply in an ill state

Answer 1

Physical environment, family, and social support may help or hinder the health status of an individual

Question 2

Many health providers define illness as pathology; however,people experience,rather than define,illness.How do most people experience illness?

A) "Feeling lousy," a true sense of not being all right
B) A change in the way they feel or a disruption in their typical life
C) Something to be dreaded and avoided if at all possible
D) An experience that offers the potential for learning and spiritual growth

Answer 2

A change in the way they feel or a disruption in their typical life

Question 3

To establish a trusting relationship with a client,the nurse will focus on:

A) Providing solutions to the patient
B) Completing procedures and administering medication
C) Taking time to get to know the patient
D) The present, not the past

Answer 3

Taking time to get to know the patient

Question 4

A client with a history of schizophrenia is diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.What is probably the most significant barrier this patient faces?

A) Chronic urinary incontinence
B) Stigma associated with mental illness
C) Risk for recurring infections
D) Auditory hallucinations ("hearing things")

Question 5

A client has been hospitalized for 6 weeks.All of the following interventions are good ones,but which intervention is specifically focused on helping the patient cope with the emotional responses to prolonged hospitalization?

A) Providing skin care every shift to prevent skin breakdown
B) Encouraging the patient to get up in a chair to eat meals
C) Assisting the patient to ambulate in the hallway for several minutes each day
D) Designating a corner of the patient's room to display personal mementos

Question 6

When preparing a room to receive a newly admitted patient,which of the following should the nursing assistive personnel (NAP)do?

A) Mop the floor with an approved disinfecting solution.
B) Fold the top bed linens back to "open" the bed
C) Hook up the suction machine and check to see that it is working
D) Position the bed in its lowest position

Question 7

Which of the following is particularly valuable in helping a patient with a terminal illness maintain a sense of self?

A) Family relationships
B) Spirituality
C) Nutrition
D) Sleep and rest

Question 8

Living in a healthy family is an important dimension of wellness.Which of the following most accurately describes a characteristic of healthy families?

A) A family in which individual members live a health-promoting lifestyle
B) A family that responds to its members' needs only during serious illness
C) A family that sometimes avoids or withholds the truth for fear of hurting someone's feelings
D) A family that understands that a family member is powerless when experiencing severe illness

Question 9

A 36-year-old mother of three small children has had nausea,vomiting,and extreme fatigue for the past 2 days.She calls her mother and tells her she is ill and asks whether her mother can care for the children.Which stage of illness behavior is she experiencing? Choose all that apply.

A) Sick-role behavior
B) Dependence on others
C) Seeking professional care
D) Experiencing symptoms

Question 10

The client is a 76-year-old man who is experiencing chronic illness.He has a genetic-linked anemia.He says he does not eat a balanced diet,as he prefers sweets to meat and vegetables.Which of the following dimensions of health can the nurse most likely influence by teaching and counseling him?

A) Age-related changes
B) Genetic anemia
C) Eating habits
D) Gender-related issues

Question 11

Which of the following helps the body release growth hormone (growth hormone assists in tissue regeneration,synthesis of bone,and formation of red blood cells)?

A) A healthy diet
B) Physical activity
C) Restful sleep
D) Comfortable room temperature

Question 12

The nursing student is caring for a group of patients on the medical-surgical unit who need to be ambulated during the day.She tells the primary nurse,"Some of my patients feel so 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?" What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

A) "All patients are supposed to be out of bed today so do the best you can with them."
B) "This is not uncommon. Sometimes you have to push some patients more than others."
C) "All patients may respond to illness differently. Explain to them that they must be out of bed today.
D) "Get the patients out of bed who want to get up, and help the others to ambulate later in the day."

Question 13

Using the concept of the wellness-illness continuum,a nursing care plan for a chronically ill patient would outline steps to:

A) Educate the patient about every possible complication associated with the specific illness
B) Encourage positive health characteristics within the limits of the specific illness
C) Limit all activities because of the progressive deterioration associated with all chronic illnesses
D) Recommend activity beyond the scope of tolerance to prevent early deterioration

Question 14

When transferring a patient from a hospital to a long-term care facility,which of the following is most helpful in facilitating the patient's planning and emotional adjustment?

A) Notify the patient and family as much in advance of the transfer as possible
B) Send a complete copy of the patient's medical records to the new facility
C) Carefully coordinate the transfer with the long-term facility to keep it smooth
D) Help arrange for transportation and accompany the patient to the transport vehicle

Question 15

An 80-year-old man arrives in the emergency department after suffering a severe heart attack.His condition is deteriorating and the physician informs the wife,also an older adult,that they do not expect him to live.The wife begins to cry uncontrollably and tells the nurse,"We have been married for 60 years.What am I going to do?" What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

A) "You had a good life together. You just need to understand that death is part of life too."
B) "I understand how you feel but he did live to 80 years old. That's a good long life."
C) "I will get a social worker to see you for some help you may need at home."
D) "I understand that this is an incredible and unexpected loss for you."

Question 16

A 76-year-old patient is admitted with an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).The doctor tells the patient that an angioplasty is necessary.The patient agrees and signs the informed consent.This patient is experiencing which stage of illness behavior?

A) Sick-role behavior
B) Seeking professional care
C) Experiencing symptoms
D) Dependence on others

Question 17

Some people readily become ill when under stress.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.How can you apply this knowledge to your nursing care?

A) You cannot use this information at all. People are innately hardy or not. This is something that you must merely recognize.
B) You should encourage all people to develop some level of hardiness to help them get through difficult physical and emotional times.
C) You should assess for your own level of hardiness: If you are hardy, you will be a better nurse; if you are not, you can learn more about hardiness.
D) You can assess for hardiness in patients; you can encourage hardy patients to learn about their illness as a means for them to be more comfortable.

Question 18

A client's risk of breast cancer is dramatically increased because both her sister and her mother have had breast cancer.Which of the multidimensional aspects of health does this scenario illustrate?

A) Personal relationships
B) Biological factors
C) Lifestyle choices
D) Environmental factors

Question 19

What type of loss is most common among patients who are hospitalized for complex health conditions?

A) Privacy
B) Dignity
C) Functional
D) Identity

Question 20

A 62-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital with hypertension.Which question by the nurse is most important when performing the initial assessment interview?

A) "What medications do you take at home?"
B) "Do you have any environmental, food, or drug allergies?"
C) "Do you have an advance directive?"
D) "What is the greatest concern you are dealing with today?"

Question 21

Which of the following is most reflective of a life change for managing chronic illness?

A) Beginning self-injection of insulin for diabetes
B) Taking an antibiotic for a streptococcus throat infection
C) Going to the gym for an exercise program
D) Taking a pain medication after a tooth extraction

Question 22

The nursing student is working with a primary nurse on the oncology unit.She says to the nurse,"How can I best help my patients' and to make their hospital stay a better experience?" What is the most appropriate response for the nurse to make? Select all that apply.

A) "This takes time. Once you have your nursing license, it will become clear to you."
B) "Find your best approach to patient care and then use this approach with every patient.
C) "One of the very best ways is to listen to your patient and be attentive."
D) "It is good to think about your own strengths and weaknesses and how you cope with illness."

Question 23

Which of the following situations can lead to family caregiver's feeling(s)of "burnout"? Select all that apply.

A) Caring for an infant growing his first tooth
B) Caring for a teenager with schizophrenia
C) Caring for child with a broken leg
D) Caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's disease.

Question 24

Which of the following best describes "meaningful work"? Select all that apply.

A) Volunteering in the children's ward at the local hospital
B) Starting a garden club in your community
C) Reaching your desired salary after 10 years of employment
D) Playing an instrument in a rock-and-roll band

Question 25

The nurse is caring for a patient in his home.After several visits and review of the plan of care,the nurse notices the patient will not follow the diet and exercise regimen.What is the most appropriate action by the nurse?

A) Discharge the patient from home care because he is not following the medical regimen
B) Continue to teach and reinforce the importance of the diet and exercise regimen
C) Notify the primary care provider of the patient's refusal to follow the diet and exercise regimen
D) Identify why the patient is not following the plan and revise the plan in collaboration with the patient

Question 26

The nurse is admitting a 70-year-old Hispanic female to the medical floor.Upon her arrival,the nurse notices that the woman speaks very little English and does not appear to understand what the nurse is asking.What is the most appropriate action by the nurse?

A) Contact a family member and defer the admission assessment until someone arrives
B) Use hand gesturing and facial expressions to communicate with the patient
C) See whether another staff member who speaks Spanish is available to help translate
D) Activate the hospital's translating system and obtain a translator, if available

Question 27

The nurse is admitting a patient with heart disease to the cardiac unit.When answering questions related to his health history,the patient's responses are lengthy and time consuming.What is the most important action by the nurse?

A) Recognize the patient may be lonely and just wants to talk to someone
B) Set a time limit and inform the patient of your time frame to complete the assessment
C) Anticipate the patient answers and quickly go on to the next question
D) Be attentive, focus on what the patient has to say, and respond accordingly

Question 28

Having someone physically present during times of illness removes the sense of aloneness during the illness.

Question 29

Patients may fail to comply with a proposed healthcare regimen and therefore are perceived to be noncompliant.Identify common reason(s)a patient may be noncompliant with a plan of care? Select all that apply.

A) There is no available support system in place to assist with compliance.
B) The patient does not understand the plan.
C) The plan of care is inconvenient.
D) The patient is stubborn by nature.

Question 30

A 30-year-old male patient who has been experiencing joint pain for several months is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.He tells the nurse,"This can't be happening to me.I don't understand this." Which statement below best describes the nurse's primary understanding of the patient statements?

A) The patient is too young to cope with this diagnosis.
B) The patient is in the illness stage of denial.
C) Developmental stage influences a person's ability to cope with stressors.
D) The patient will not be able to accept his ongoing illness.

Question 31

Health is defined as the absence of illness related to mind,body,and spirit.