A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a patient who is also a hospital employee. Several nurses have called seeking information about the patient.
What should the nurse do in response to these inquiries?

Refer Questions to the nursing supervisor

Transfer calls directly to the patient’s room

Acknowledge that the person is a patient on the unit, but give no specific details about the patient’s condition

Contact the patient’s provider

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Rationale for Choice A:

Refer Questions to the Nursing Supervisor:

While it's essential to involve the nursing supervisor in situations that require their expertise or authority, it's not always necessary for basic inquiries about a patient's presence on the unit.

Disadvantages of referring calls to the nursing supervisor in this scenario:

It could delay the dissemination of essential information to concerned colleagues.

It could increase the workload of the nursing supervisor, potentially diverting their attention from more critical tasks. It could create a perception of a lack of transparency or openness among staff members.

Rationale for Choice B:

Transfer calls directly to the patient’s room:

Transferring calls directly to a patient's room without their consent breaches their privacy and confidentiality. It could also place undue stress on the patient, especially if they are not prepared to receive calls or discuss their health status.

Disadvantages of transferring calls directly to the patient’s room:

It violates the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality. It could disrupt the patient's rest and recovery.

It could place the patient in an uncomfortable position of having to answer questions about their health when they may not feel ready to do so.

Rationale for Choice C:

Acknowledge that the person is a patient on the unit, but give no specific details about the patient’s condition:

This approach strikes a balance between protecting the patient's privacy and providing necessary information to concerned colleagues. It verifies the patient's presence on the unit without disclosing any sensitive details about their health, thus adhering to ethical and legal guidelines.

Advantages of acknowledging the patient’s presence without providing details:

Respects the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality. Aligns with ethical and legal principles of healthcare.

Provides basic information to concerned colleagues without compromising patient information. Helps to establish trust and transparency among staff members.

Rationale for Choice D:

Contact the patient’s provider:

Contacting the patient's provider for every inquiry about the patient's presence is not practical or efficient. It could overburden the provider and delay the relay of information to concerned colleagues.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Recapping needles is a dangerous practice that significantly increases the risk of needlestick injuries.

The act of recapping involves directing the sharp end of the needle towards one's hand, creating a high likelihood of accidental puncture.

Even experienced healthcare professionals are susceptible to needlestick injuries during recapping.

Wastebaskets are not designed for the safe disposal of sharps and can easily be punctured, leading to potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Choice B rationale:

While it is true that needles should not be recapped on ABG specimens, this option does not address the broader issue of safe needle disposal in general.

Focusing solely on ABG specimens could lead to the misconception that recapping is acceptable for other types of needles.

Choice D rationale:

Breaking needles in half is not recommended as a standard practice for needle disposal.

This action can create sharp fragments that are difficult to handle and can still cause injuries.

Sharps disposal containers are designed to safely contain intact needles and should be used as the primary method of disposal.

Choice C rationale:

Placing uncapped needles directly into a puncture-proof container is the safest and most recommended practice for needle disposal.

These containers are specifically designed to prevent needlestick injuries by shielding the sharps from accidental contact. They are typically made of hard plastic or metal and are clearly labeled for biohazard waste.

Using puncture-proof containers consistently for all needle disposal significantly reduces the risk of needlestick injuries among healthcare workers.

A. A patient who is awaiting biopsy results. B. A patient who is anxious. C. A patient who is having difficulty sleeping in the hospital setting. D. It is the same for all patients who have had surgery.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Awaiting biopsy results can certainly cause anxiety and stress, but it doesn't directly impact the physiological mechanisms that modulate pain perception.

While a patient awaiting biopsy results may be more attentive to their bodily sensations, including pain, the anxiety itself is not the primary driver of a lowered pain threshold.

It's important to address the patient's concerns and provide emotional support, but this alone may not be sufficient to manage pain effectively if anxiety is not the primary factor.

Choice B rationale:

Anxiety activates the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the "fight-or-flight" response. This cascade of physiological changes includes:

Increased heart rate and blood pressure Muscle tension

Dilated pupils

Heightened awareness of bodily sensations

These physiological changes can amplify pain signals and lower the pain threshold, meaning that a person who is anxious may perceive pain more intensely than someone who is calm and relaxed.

This is because anxiety can reduce the effectiveness of the body's natural pain-inhibiting mechanisms, such as the release of endorphins and serotonin.

Choice C rationale:

Difficulty sleeping can also contribute to pain, but its effect on pain threshold is less direct than that of anxiety. Sleep deprivation can lead to:

Increased irritability Decreased pain tolerance Impaired cognitive function

These factors can make it more difficult to cope with pain, but they don't directly lower the threshold at which pain signals are perceived.

Choice D rationale:

Pain threshold varies among individuals due to a variety of factors, including: Genetics

Past experiences with pain Psychological factors Cultural beliefs

Coping mechanisms

It is incorrect to assume that all patients who have had surgery will have the same pain threshold.

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A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a patient who is also a hospital employee. Several nurses have called seeking information about the patient.What should the nurse do in response to these inquiries?

Nursing Test Bank

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A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a group of newly licensed nurses about preventing needlestick injuries. Which of the following actions should the nurse recommend?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a patient who is also a hospital employee. Several nurses have called seeking information about the patient.
What should the nurse do in response to these inquiries?