An employee presents to an occupational health nurse with concerns that their hearing is worse on one side. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first to address the employee's concern?
Conduct a physical examination.
Irrigate the ear to remove any obstruction.
Advise the client on the use of ear plugs.
Refer the client to an audiologist.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Reason:
Conducting a physical examination is the first step in addressing the employee's concern about hearing loss. This examination allows the nurse to assess the ear for any visible issues, such as earwax buildup, infection, or structural abnormalities. A thorough physical examination can help identify the cause of the hearing loss and determine the appropriate next steps. It is essential to rule out any immediate and easily treatable conditions before proceeding with more specialized interventions.
Choice B Reason:
Irrigating the ear to remove any obstruction, such as earwax, can be an effective treatment for hearing loss caused by cerumen impaction. However, this should only be done after a physical examination confirms that earwax is the cause of the hearing loss. Irrigation without proper assessment can potentially cause harm, especially if there is an underlying infection or perforation of the eardrum.
Choice C Reason:
Advising the client on the use of ear plugs is a preventive measure to protect hearing, particularly in noisy environments. However, this advice does not address the immediate concern of unilateral hearing loss. Ear plugs are more relevant for preventing further hearing damage rather than diagnosing or treating existing hearing issues.
Choice D Reason:
Referring the client to an audiologist is an important step if the initial physical examination does not reveal the cause of the hearing loss or if the hearing loss persists despite initial treatment. Audiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating hearing disorders and can perform comprehensive hearing tests. However, this referral should come after the nurse has conducted a preliminary assessment to rule out any obvious and treatable causes.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: "I will not know if I am going to be in the intervention or control group."
This statement indicates a misunderstanding of the nature of a cross-sectional study. Cross-sectional studies involve observing a specific population at a single point in time to gather data on various variables. There are no intervention or control groups in such studies, as they do not involve experimental manipulation or longitudinal follow-up.
Choice B reason: "The study will last for 10 years. You will contact me annually for an interview and blood work."
This statement describes a longitudinal study, not a cross-sectional study. Longitudinal studies involve repeated observations of the same variables over an extended period. Cross-sectional studies, on the other hand, collect data at one specific point in time, making this statement incorrect.
Choice C reason: "You'll need to find other participants like me but who do not have this disease."
This statement suggests a case-control study design, where participants with a specific condition (cases) are compared to those without the condition (controls). Cross-sectional studies do not require such comparisons; they simply collect data from a population at a single point in time to analyze the prevalence of certain characteristics or conditions.
Choice D reason: "The survey will take an hour to complete and then I'll be done."
This statement accurately reflects the nature of a cross-sectional study. These studies typically involve a one-time data collection process, such as a survey or interview, to gather information on various variables. Once the survey is completed, the participant's involvement in the study is finished, making this the correct understanding of a cross-sectional study.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A: Nominal Group Planning is Best Used in Situations Where the Final Decision is Made by the Nurse Leading the Team
This statement is incorrect. Nominal group planning, also known as the nominal group technique (NGT), is designed to facilitate group decision-making and ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to contribute their ideas. It is not intended for situations where a single individual, such as the nurse leading the team, makes the final decision. Instead, NGT aims to gather diverse perspectives and reach a collective agreement on priorities.
Choice B: Nominal Group Planning is Used for Group Exploration to Allow for the Exchange of Dialogue and Opinions by the Stakeholders
This statement is correct. Nominal group planning is a structured method for group brainstorming that encourages contributions from everyone and facilitates quick agreement on the relative importance of issues, problems, or solutions. It allows for the exchange of dialogue and opinions among stakeholders, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the decision-making process.
Choice C: Nominal Group Planning Involves Group Consensus Before Prioritizing Data
While nominal group planning does involve group discussion and the sharing of ideas, it does not necessarily require full consensus before prioritizing data. Instead, it uses a voting system to rank the ideas based on their importance. This method ensures that the most critical issues are identified and prioritized, even if there is not complete agreement among all participants.
Choice D: Nominal Group Planning is Authoritarian with the Key Stakeholder Dictating Prioritization of Community Data
This statement is incorrect. Nominal group planning is not an authoritarian process. It is designed to be democratic and inclusive, allowing all group members to participate equally in the decision-making process. The key stakeholder does not dictate the prioritization of community data; instead, the group collectively determines the priorities through discussion and voting.
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