A nurse at a mental health clinic is caring for four clients. The nurse should recognize that which of the following clients is using dissociation as a defense mechanism?

Choice A rationale:

While providing end-of-life education is important, it is not a specific requirement under the Patient Self-Determination Act. The act primarily focuses on ensuring that patients' wishes regarding medical treatment and interventions are respected through advance directives.

Choice B rationale:

Documenting in the client's medical record if the client has advance directives is a requirement under the Patient Self-Determination Act. This documentation ensures that healthcare providers are aware of the patient's preferences regarding medical treatment, especially in end-of-life situations. Advance directives may include living wills or durable power of attorney for healthcare, allowing patients to express their choices regarding medical interventions and appointing someone to make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so.

Choice C rationale:

Providing the client with a list of eligible individuals who can serve as a health care proxy is not a requirement under the Patient Self-Determination Act. While it can be helpful, the act primarily emphasizes documenting and respecting the patient's existing advance directives.

Choice D rationale:

Ensuring the client has an attorney for assistance with end-of-life documents is not a requirement under the Patient Self-Determination Act. While legal advice can be beneficial, the act primarily focuses on healthcare providers' responsibilities in documenting and respecting patients' advance directives.

a. Improves muscle strength.

Explanation:

Neostigmine is a medication used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). It belongs to a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. Neostigmine works by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmiter involved in muscle contraction. In MG, there is a decrease in the amount of acetylcholine available at the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue.

By inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, neostigmine helps to increase the concentration of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. This, in turn, improves muscle strength and can alleviate the symptoms of weakness and fatigue associated with MG.

Option b, destroying the antibodies that cause MG, is not accurate. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of antibodies that interfere with neuromuscular transmission.

Neostigmine does not directly target or eliminate these antibodies.

Option c, enhancing immune system function, is not accurate either. Neostigmine primarily acts on the neuromuscular junction to improve muscle strength and does not have a direct effect on immune system function.

Option d, preventing excessive coughing, is not the primary action of neostigmine. While increased muscle strength may indirectly improve respiratory function and reduce coughing in individuals with myasthenia gravis, it is not the primary indication or action of neostigmine.

Therefore, the most accurate information to include in teaching about neostigmine for a client with myasthenia gravis is that it improves muscle strength.