A community health nurse provides care for numerous older adult clients. Which client would the nurse identify as demonstrating a deficit in knowledge, experience, and skills that could potentially compromise health?
A 79-year-old woman who has dysphagia following her recent stroke
An 80-year-old man, newly diagnosed with diabetes, who shows an inability to manipulate glucometer and test strips
An 89-year-old man who has recently lost the ability to climb stairs due to an exacerbation of his heart failure
A 78-year-old woman who states that she lost all hope since her spouse's death 5 months prior and no longer wants to stay active
The Correct Answer is B
A. A 79-year-old woman who has dysphagia following her recent stroke:
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, following a stroke is a serious condition that requires careful management to prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia or malnutrition. While dysphagia presents challenges, it may not necessarily indicate a deficit in knowledge, experience, or skills on the part of the client. Dysphagia management typically involves interventions by healthcare professionals rather than self-management by the client.
B. An 80-year-old man, newly diagnosed with diabetes, who shows an inability to manipulate glucometer and test strips:
This scenario suggests a deficit in knowledge and skills related to managing diabetes, a chronic condition that requires ongoing monitoring of blood glucose levels. Proper use of a glucometer and test strips is essential for self-management of diabetes. The client's inability to manipulate these devices indicates a potential gap in understanding or ability to perform necessary self-care tasks, which could compromise his health if left unaddressed.
C. An 89-year-old man who has recently lost the ability to climb stairs due to an exacerbation of his heart failure:
Losing the ability to climb stairs due to heart failure exacerbation is a significant functional decline rather than a deficit in knowledge, experience, or skills. While it may impact the client's mobility and quality of life, it doesn't necessarily indicate a lack of understanding or skills that could compromise health. The focus for this client would be on managing the exacerbation of heart failure and potentially regaining functional abilities through rehabilitation or other interventions.
D. A 78-year-old woman who states that she lost all hope since her spouse's death 5 months prior and no longer wants to stay active:
This scenario suggests emotional distress and loss of motivation following the death of the client's spouse rather than a deficit in knowledge, experience, or skills related to health management. While emotional well-being is important for overall health, addressing this issue would involve psychosocial support and interventions rather than focusing solely on deficits in knowledge or skills.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Fidelity:
Fidelity refers to the ethical principle of faithfulness, loyalty, and honoring commitments in the nurse-patient relationship. It involves keeping promises, maintaining confidentiality, and advocating for the patient's best interests. While fidelity is important in building trust and rapport with patients, it is not directly relevant to the colleague's caution about the potential harm of administering morphine in this scenario.
B. Nonmaleficence:
Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that emphasizes the duty to do no harm to the patient. It involves avoiding actions that could cause harm or exacerbate the patient's condition. In this scenario, the colleague's caution about the potential risk of respiratory depression and harm from administering morphine aligns with the principle of nonmaleficence, as it prioritizes the safety and well-being of the client by warning against the potential harms of the intervention.
C. Justice:
Justice refers to the ethical principle of fairness and equitable distribution of resources and treatment. It involves ensuring that all individuals receive fair and equal treatment and that healthcare resources are allocated fairly. While justice is an important ethical principle in healthcare, it is not directly relevant to the colleague's caution about the potential respiratory depression from administering morphine in this scenario.
D. Beneficence:
Beneficence is the ethical principle that emphasizes the duty to do good and promote the well-being of the patient. It involves taking actions to benefit the patient and enhance their welfare. While administering morphine to relieve the client's pain would align with the principle of beneficence by aiming to alleviate suffering and improve comfort, the colleague's caution highlights the potential harm that could result from the intervention, thus focusing more on the principle of nonmaleficence.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Whomever the client appointed will make medical decisions.
This choice reflects the principle of autonomy and respects the client's wishes as expressed in their living will. If the client has appointed a healthcare proxy or surrogate decision-maker in their living will, that individual would be authorized to make medical decisions, including providing consent for surgery, on behalf of the client. This option emphasizes the importance of honoring the client's preferences and autonomy in healthcare decision-making.
B. The client will always give consent to any procedure.
This choice is not accurate, particularly in situations where the client lacks decision-making capacity due to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. If the client is unable to provide informed consent, the responsibility for decision-making may shift to a designated healthcare proxy or surrogate decision-maker as outlined in the client's living will. While the client's preferences and values should be considered, their ability to provide consent may be compromised by their medical condition.
C. The family will provide consent.
While family members may be involved in discussions about the client's care and may provide input, the ultimate responsibility for providing consent for medical procedures typically rests with the individual designated as the healthcare proxy or surrogate decision-maker in the client's living will. If the living will specifies a healthcare proxy, their role supersedes that of the family in decision-making regarding medical treatment.
D. A court-appointed conservator will be consulted.
In some cases where there is no living will or designated healthcare proxy, and the family is unable to reach a consensus on medical decisions, a court-appointed conservator may become involved to make decisions on behalf of the client. However, the involvement of a conservator is typically a last resort and may not be necessary if there is a living will specifying a healthcare proxy or surrogate decision-maker. The involvement of a conservator would be determined through legal proceedings and may not be the primary course of action in situations where the client's wishes are clearly outlined in a living will.
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