The nurse is providing postoperative care for an adolescent who had a left leg amputation due to osteosarcoma and is experiencing phantom limb pain.
What non-pharmacological intervention should the nurse provide?
Reassure that this can be a normal post-surgical sensation.
Guide in moving the unaffected limb to override the sensation being experienced.
Explain that the sensations of tingling and pain are not real.
Affirm that a prosthetic with physical therapy will gradually improve the symptoms.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale
While it’s true that phantom limb pain can be a normal post-surgical sensation, simply reassuring the patient doesn’t address the pain they’re experiencing.
Choice B rationale
Guiding in moving the unaffected limb to override the sensation being experienced is not a recommended intervention for phantom limb pain. Phantom limb pain is a complex phenomenon that is not simply overridden by movement of other body parts.
Choice C rationale
Explaining that the sensations of tingling and pain are not real may invalidate the patient’s experience. Phantom limb pain is a real phenomenon experienced by many amputees. It’s not just a sensation; it’s a type of neuropathic pain that can be severe and debilitating.
Choice D rationale
Affirming that a prosthetic with physical therapy will gradually improve the symptoms is the best non-pharmacological intervention among the choices. Physical therapy, including mirror therapy and other desensitization techniques, can help manage phantom limb pain. The use of a prosthetic can help the patient regain function and mobility, which can also improve their overall well-being and potentially reduce the perception of phantom limb pain.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice D rationale
Scheduling frequent rest periods can help manage the fatigue and concentration problems reported by the client. These symptoms are common in clients with CKD and elevated BUN and serum creatinine levels.
Choice A rationale
Administering PRN oxygen may not be necessary unless the client is showing signs of respiratory distress or hypoxia. There is no indication of this in the question.
Choice B rationale
Providing high protein snacks is not recommended for clients with CKD. High protein diets can increase the workload on the kidneys and worsen kidney function.
Choice C rationale
Monitoring glucose levels every 4 hours is not directly related to the client’s reported symptoms or the elevated BUN and serum creatinine levels.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Heparin is an anticoagulant medication that prevents the formation of blood clots. One of the most common and serious side effects of heparin therapy is bleeding. Therefore, it is crucial for the nurse to observe for signs of bleeding, such as bruising, petechiae, hematomas, black tarry stools, hematuria, and changes in mental status. Regular laboratory monitoring of the client’s coagulation status, specifically the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), is also necessary to ensure therapeutic levels of heparin without causing excessive bleeding.
Choice B rationale
While mobilization can help prevent the formation of new clots, it is not the most important intervention for a client who is already on a heparin protocol for DVT. Mobilization can potentially dislodge the existing clot, leading to a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
Choice C rationale
Although it is important to monitor vital signs in all clients, assessing blood pressure and heart rate every 4 hours is not the most important intervention for a client on a heparin protocol.
Changes in blood pressure and heart rate are not specific to heparin therapy and do not provide direct information about the effectiveness or side effects of the medication.
Choice D rationale
Measuring each calf’s girth can help evaluate the progression of edema in the affected leg, but it is not the most important intervention for a client on a heparin protocol. While it can provide information about the local effects of the DVT, it does not address the systemic anticoagulation effects of heparin therapy.
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