Deck 27: Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Question 1

A client is very anxious before an invasive procedure. What CAM therapy would be most helpful to assist in decreasing anxiety?

A) Meditation
B) Chinese medicine
C) Acupuncture
D) Herbs

Answer 1

Meditation

Question 2

Why is it important to obtain information from a client related to the use of herbal supplements during a nursing assessment?

A) Some herbs or supplements may interact with a client's prescribed medications.
B) Nurses have special knowledge related to the use of herbs and supplements.
C) Some herbs or supplements require a special diet.
D) The herb or supplement may need to be acquired from another country.

Answer 2

Some herbs or supplements may interact with a client's prescribed medications.

Question 3

A young mother experiences nausea and diarrhea when stressed. What mind-body messenger is believed to be responsible for these responses?

A) Reproductive hormones
B) White blood cells
C) Neuropeptides
D) Pancreatic insulin

Answer 3

Neuropeptides

Question 4

A nurse who is a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner is providing home care to a client who also uses traditional Chinese medicine for health care. What specific assessments would the nurse make?

A) Tongue and pulses
B) Abdominal muscles and respirations
C) Muscle tone and cranial nerves
D) Vision and hearing

Question 5

A client with rheumatoid arthritis complains of soreness in his joints. Which of the following homeopathic remedies might the nurse recommend for this client?

A) Arnica
B) Calendula
C) Nux vomica
D) Ignatia

Question 6

A nurse is practicing imagery to relieve stress. What might accompany the imagery to even further promote relaxation?

A) Bright lighting
B) Bodywork techniques
C) Talking on the phone
D) Listening to music

Question 7

A trained nurse uses the technique of "Rolfing" to break up tension in client body structures. What type of CAT is being used by this nurse?

A) Therapeutic Touch
B) Therapeutic massage
C) Acupuncture
D) Healing touch

Question 8

Which essential oil can be used during aromatherapy to treat nausea?

A) Lavender
B) Garlic
C) Parsley
D) Peppermint

Question 9

A client inquires about the use of herbal therapy. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate?

A) "All herbs are equal in purity, so purchase the cheapest brand."
B) "Herbs can have side effects and can interact with prescription medications."
C) "Be sure to pay attention to the packaging's therapeutic and prevention information."
D) "It is best if you select a licensed herbalist as a practitioner."

Question 10

A client interested in acupuncture asks a nurse, "Just exactly what does it do?" What would the nurse explain?

A) "Acupuncture is based on a philosophy of laying on of hands."
B) "I don't think it does anything, so I don't know anything about it."
C) "It uses a manual process of adjusting the spine."
D) "It changes the flow of energy and helps healing."

Question 11

What is the ultimate goal of increasing the parasympathetic system influence on the body through relaxation or meditation?

A) Stimulate improved gastrointestinal function
B) Increase cardiac output and blood pressure
C) Facilitate respiratory function and cough
D) Reduce the effects of stress on the body

Question 12

A nurse practitioner uses integrative care in his practice. What does this mean?

A) He uses allopathic medicine to treat all clients.
B) He uses both allopathic medicine and CAT.
C) The nurse uses CAT, a physician-prescribed medication.
D) The nurse provides care for clients of all age groups.

Question 13

Which of the following considerations should a nurse prioritize surrounding the use of herbs and supplements by a client?

A) Potential interactions with drugs
B) The client's cultural background and beliefs
C) The client's previous use of herbal supplements
D) Pharmacological alternatives to herbs and supplements

Question 14

A nurse is using a technique that involves the five senses to visualize recovering from an upcoming surgical procedure. What type of technique is the nurse teaching the client to use?

A) Guided imagery
B) Yoga
C) Prayer
D) Aromatherapy

Question 15

A nurse practices holistic client care. Which of the following is a guiding principle of this practice?

A) Holism is focused on reductionism.
B) All living organisms exist independently.
C) The body is the sum of its parts.
D) The body is a unified, dynamic whole.

Question 16

A nurse uses Therapeutic Touch to decrease a postoperative client's nausea. Which of the following is a principle of this CAT modality?

A) A human being is a closed energy system.
B) A human being is bilaterally asymmetric.
C) Illness is an imbalance in a person's energy field.
D) Humans do not have the ability to transform.

Question 17

What philosophy underlies the use of CAT?

A) The mind, body, and spirit function as a unified whole.
B) The mind and the body are separate and distinct.
C) Parts of an organism rarely interact or change.
D) Traditional medicine is most effective for chronic illnesses.

Question 18

A nurse is teaching a client about the proper use of herbs and supplements. Which statement should be included?

A) "Look on the Internet for the products you want to try."
B) "The federal government regulates supplements."
C) "It doesn't matter how much you take."
D) "The product may take a longer time to be effective."

Question 19

A Native American client informs the nurse that she practices shamanism. The nurse is aware that shamanism is best described as which of the following?

A) Use of general healing techniques that involve plants, herbs, animals, ritual, ceremony, and purification by a medicine man or woman
B) A system of postures, exercises, breathing techniques, and visualization that regulate balance
C) The placement of thin, short, sterile needles at centers of nerve and vascular tissue along a meridian
D) Adjustment of the spine to accomplish proper alignment and to release pressure on a nerve

Question 20

A nurse is conducting a health history and asks the client about use of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) to treat her chronic headaches. What response would require further questions?

A) "I practice meditation."
B) "I use relaxation to help me go to sleep."
C) "Each week, I have a total body massage."
D) "I take herbs to treat my headaches."

Question 21

The imbalance of which of the following can by the result of stress, lifestyle, and improper diet?

A) Doshas
B) Qi
C) Chakras
D) Aura

Question 22

The nurse caring for a Native American client plans care understanding that one belief of Native American healing practices is which of the following?

A) Modern life facilitates healing agents.
B) Healing takes time.
C) Balancing yin and yang is important.
D) Energy flows through meridians throughout the body.

Question 23

A woman age 35 years with a chronic disorder tells her nurse that she would be interested in finding out about complementary therapies that are available. What would be the nurse's best response to this client?

A) "It is best to stick with allopathic medicine.
B) Complementary therapies are not available for your condition.
C) Complementary therapies are not covered by your insurance plan.
D) Complementary therapies are being used as an 'answer' to the problem of chronic illness.

Question 24

The client is postoperative. The nurse is practicing healing touch with the client. Which of the following would the nurse evaluate as an expected outcome of healing touch?

A) The wound is not approximated three days following surgery.
B) The client reports pain as a "6" on a 0 to 10 pain scale.
C) The client states that his anxiety following surgery has decreased.
D) The client's temperature has remained at or below 100.4ºF

Question 25

There are four primary scientific principles for therapeutic touch. Which of the following is not one of these principles?

A) A human being is bilaterally symmetrical.
B) A human being is an open energy system.
C) Distractions of modern life interfere with healing agents.
D) Illness is an imbalance in an individual's energy field.

Question 26

A client informs a nurse practitioner that she takes the herb St. John's wort for symptoms of depression. The nurse recognizes herbal therapy as belonging to which complementary and alternative therapy (CAT) domain?

A) Biologically based practices
B) Energy medicine
C) Mind-body medicine
D) Manipulative practices

Question 27

The nurse is slightly overweight and decides to take a holistic approach to losing weight. The nurse does which of the following? Select all that apply.

A) Eliminates cola drinks
B) Decreases refined sugar
C) Avoids foods with preservatives
D) Adopts a vegatarian diet
E) Substitutes aspartame for sugar

Question 28

A nurse is teaching a client about holistic approaches to food choices. Which of the following would the nurse recommend?

A) Consume more dairy products.
B) Use artificial sweeteners instead of sugar.
C) Drink diet sodas instead of regular sodas.
D) Reduce refined sugar intake.

Question 29

Which of the following complementary and alternative therapies is based on the "Law of Minimal Dose"?

A) Homeopathy
B) Traditional Chinese
C) qi Gong
D) Ayurveda

Question 30

A client is taking ginkgo to improve her memory. In the education plan regarding this herb, the nurse should include which of the following?

A) It may raise blood pressure.
B) Avoid this herb if allergic to plants.
C) There is a possible sensitivity to light.
D) Use caution if taking aspirin.

Question 31

Which of the following is considered a holistic approach to food choices?

A) The carbonation in soft drinks is beneficial to health.
B) Vegetarian diets should be avoided because they limit options.
C) Avoid eating foods with preservatives.
D) Increase intake of natural sugar.

Question 32

Which of the following is a theory and philosophy that focuses on connections and interactions between parts of the whole?

A) Complementary therapies
B) Allopathic medicine
C) Integrative care
D) Holism

Question 33

The nurse is providing information about warfarin (Coumadin) to a client who takes herbal products. The nurse states, "Some herbs interfere with the effectiveness of warfarin. Do you take ...

A) echinacea?"
B) goldenseal?"
C) ginkgo biloba?"
D) tumeric?"

Question 34

Which of the following populations are more inclined to use CAT? Select all that apply.

A) Women
B) Adults aged 20 to 30
C) People living in the east
D) Former smokers
E) Adults who are poor

Question 35

Which of the following would be the least consistent as a reason for the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?

A) Increasing numbers of acute conditions
B) Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine
C) Difficulty meeting rising health care costs
D) Growth of culturally diverse groups