Five months following treatment for Herpes zoster (shingles), an older adult client tells the home health nurse of continuing to experience pain where the rash occurred. Which action should the nurse implement?
Perform a complete mental status exam.
Determine if the client has had a shingles vaccination.
Teach the client about phantom pain symptoms.
Complete an assessment of the client's pain.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: This is incorrect because performing a complete mental status exam is not a relevant or appropriate action for the nurse to implement. A mental status exam is used to evaluate the client's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning, but it does not address the client's physical pain or its underlying cause.
Choice B reason: This is incorrect because determining if the client has had a shingles vaccination is not a priority or helpful action for the nurse to implement. A shingles vaccination is recommended for people who are 50 years or older to prevent or reduce the severity of shingles, but it does not affect the occurrence or treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, which is a chronic pain condition that can develop after shingles.
Choice C reason: This is incorrect because teaching the client about phantom pain symptoms is not an accurate or useful action for the nurse to implement. Phantom pain is a type of neuropathic pain that occurs when a person feels pain in a body part that has been amputated or removed. However, this is not the case for the client who has pain in the area where the shingles rash occurred.
Choice D reason: This is correct because completing an assessment of the client's pain is the most important action for the nurse to implement. Pain assessment involves collecting information about the location, intensity, quality, duration, frequency, and aggravating or relieving factors of the pain, as well as its impact on the client's daily activities and quality of life. This can help the nurse identify the cause and severity of the pain, as well as plan and evaluate appropriate interventions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A: A headache rated at 0 on 0 to 10 scale is not a specific indicator of the effectiveness of an antihistamine. A headache may be caused by other factors, such as dehydration, stress, or sinus congestion.
Choice B: Oxygen saturation level of 99% is a normal finding and does not reflect the effect of an antihistamine. Oxygen saturation measures the amount of oxygen in the blood and can be affected by respiratory conditions, altitude, or smoking.
Choice C: Ambulating easily without vertigo is a sign that the antihistamine is effective. Vertigo is a common symptom of Ménière's disease, which is a disorder of the inner ear that causes episodes of spinning sensation, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Antihistamines can help reduce the fluid buildup in the inner ear and relieve vertigo.
Choice D: Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg is a normal finding and does not indicate the effect of an antihistamine. Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of the arteries and can be influenced by factors such as heart rate, cardiac output, blood volume, and vascular resistance.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: This is correct because performing a bedside pregnancy test is the intervention that should be implemented immediately by the nurse. This is to confirm or rule out pregnancy and inform the surgical team of any possible risks or complications that may affect the client or the fetus.
Choice B reason: This is incorrect because continuing with surgery as scheduled is not an appropriate intervention without verifying the pregnancy status of the client. Surgery may pose serious threats to both maternal and fetal health, such as bleeding, infection, anesthesia complications, or miscarriage.
Choice C reason: This is incorrect because calculating gestation from last menstrual cycle is not an accurate or reliable method of determining pregnancy. The menstrual cycle can vary widely among women and may be affected by various factors such as stress, illness, or medication.
Choice D reason: This is incorrect because notifying the surgical team to cancel the surgery is not a necessary intervention unless pregnancy is confirmed. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt surgical treatment to prevent rupture, peritonitis, or sepsis.
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