A nurse is teaching the staff about a nursing theory that views a person, family, or community developing a normal line of defense. Which theory is the nurse describing?

Choice A reason: While hospice provides pain management, this is not the primary criterion. Many patients receive pain management outside hospice. The defining factor is a prognosis of less than 6 months, making this choice incomplete and less accurate for explaining hospice eligibility.

Choice B reason: Having a terminal illness like cancer is relevant, but not all terminal patients qualify for hospice. The key criterion is a life expectancy of 6 months or less, as determined by a physician. This choice is too broad and lacks specificity, making it incorrect.

Choice C reason: An advance directive is not required for hospice eligibility, though it may guide care decisions. Hospice focuses on prognosis, not legal documentation. This criterion is irrelevant to qualifying for hospice services, making it an incorrect choice for the nurse to share.

Choice D reason: Hospice care is for patients with a prognosis of 6 months or less, as certified by a physician. This criterion, per Medicare and hospice guidelines, defines eligibility for terminal cancer patients, ensuring comprehensive end-of-life care. This is the most accurate information for the nurse to share.

Choice A reason: Narcolepsy causes sudden sleep attacks and cataplexy but does not typically disrupt breathing patterns during sleep. It affects sleep-wake regulation, not airway mechanics. This condition is unlikely to cause ineffective breathing, as it lacks the respiratory obstruction linked to the nursing diagnosis.

Choice B reason: Sleep deprivation results from insufficient sleep, leading to fatigue and cognitive issues, but it does not directly cause ineffective breathing patterns. It may exacerbate other conditions, but without airway obstruction, it is not the primary cause of the respiratory diagnosis, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Insomnia involves difficulty falling or staying asleep, causing fatigue and irritability, but it does not typically affect breathing mechanics. It lacks the airway obstruction or hypoventilation associated with ineffective breathing patterns, making it an unlikely cause for the nursing diagnosis.

Choice D reason: Obstructive sleep apnea causes repeated airway collapse during sleep, leading to hypopnea, apnea, and ineffective breathing patterns. This disrupts oxygenation and ventilation, aligning with the nursing diagnosis. The nurse likely identified symptoms like snoring or pauses in breathing, making this the correct condition to monitor.