A client's wife has just learned that her husband is terminally ill. She is sitting in the corner of the client's room crying, and says to the nurse, "I feel as if I'm already so alone." Which action should the nurse take first?
Offer reassurance that she is not alone.
Explain that alternative treatment options may be helpful.
Encourage the wife to share her feelings.
Remind her that her husband may still live a long time.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Offering reassurance that she is not alone is not the best action to take first. It may sound dismissive of her feelings and make her feel more isolated.
Choice B reason: Explaining that alternative treatment options may be helpful is not the best action to take first. It may give false hope or imply that the wife is not accepting the reality of her husband's condition.
Choice C reason: Encouraging the wife to share her feelings is the best action to take first. It shows empathy and respect for her emotional state. It also allows the nurse to assess her coping skills and provide appropriate support.
Choice D reason: Reminding her that her husband may still live a long time is not the best action to take first. It may contradict the medical prognosis and make the wife feel more confused and anxious.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Completing an adverse occurrence/incident report is not the most important action to implement. It may be necessary to document the incident later, but it does not address the immediate safety issue of the client.
Choice B reason: Demonstrating proper securing of the restraints is the best action to implement. It corrects the mistake made by the UAP and ensures that the client is not at risk of injury or entrapment. It also educates the UAP on the correct technique and policy for applying restraints.
Choice C reason: Ensuring that the restraints are not too tight is a relevant action to implement, but not the most important one. It is part of the ongoing assessment and care of the client who is restrained, but it does not correct the improper securing of the restraints to the bedside rails.
Choice D reason: Initiating the facility's restraint flow sheet is a required action to implement, but not the most important one. It is part of the documentation and evaluation of the client who is restrained, but it does not address the immediate safety issue of the client.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: This is the most important intervention because a high serum potassium level can cause cardiac dysrhythmias, which can be life-threatening. The nurse should monitor the client's heart rate and rhythm closely and report any changes or abnormalities to the healthcare provider.
Choice B reason: This is not the most important intervention because the color and amount of urine are not directly related to the serum potassium level. The nurse should assess the client's renal function and fluid balance, but these are not the priority assessments.
Choice C reason: This is also not the most important intervention because the muscle strength is not the most sensitive indicator of the serum potassium level. The nurse should evaluate the client's neuromuscular status and watch for signs of weakness or paralysis, but these are not the priority assessments.
Choice D reason: This is another incorrect intervention because the deep tendon reflexes are not the most reliable indicator of the serum potassium level. The nurse should check the client's reflexes and note any hyperreflexia or hyporeflexia, but these are not the priority assessments.
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