A patient makes an appointment to see a primary care practitioner for recurrent severe headaches. Which instruction by the nurse will help gather the best additional data before the appointment?
"Try relaxation and warm moist compresses for your headaches and document your response."
"Keep a diary of your headaches, recording symptoms, timing, and headache triggers."
"Call and come in the next time you have a headache so you can be examined."
"Keep track of how many headaches you have before you come in."
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: "Try relaxation and warm moist compresses for your headaches and document your response." is not the best instruction by the nurse to gather additional data before the appointment. It is a suggestion for self-care and pain relief, but it does not provide any information about the cause, type, or severity of the headaches.
Choice B reason: "Keep a diary of your headaches, recording symptoms, timing, and headache triggers." is the best instruction by the nurse to gather additional data before the appointment. It is a useful tool for collecting objective and subjective data about the headaches, such as their frequency, duration, intensity, location, quality, associated symptoms, and precipitating factors. This can help the primary care practitioner to diagnose the type of headache, such as migraine, tension, or cluster, and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Choice C reason: "Call and come in the next time you have a headache so you can be examined." is not the best instruction by the nurse to gather additional data before the appointment. It is a suggestion for urgent care, but it does not provide any information about the history, pattern, or characteristics of the headaches.
Choice D reason: "Keep track of how many headaches you have before you come in." is not the best instruction by the nurse to gather additional data before the appointment. It is a simple measure of the quantity of the headaches, but it does not provide any information about the quality, severity, or triggers of the headaches.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: This is incorrect. After the age of 60, the plasma volume decreases and there is a decreased ability to fight infections. The decrease in plasma volume reduces the blood flow and oxygen delivery to the tissues, which impairs the immune function.
Choice B reason: This is correct. Healthy bone marrow function decreases with aging, which lowers the immune response to infection. The bone marrow produces fewer white blood cells, which are essential for fighting infections. The older adult also has a reduced response to vaccines, which makes them more susceptible to infections.
Choice C reason: This is incorrect. Older adults have an underactive antibody response to vaccines. This means that they do not produce enough antibodies to protect themselves from the pathogens that the vaccine is supposed to prevent.
Choice D reason: This is incorrect. An older person's blood is more prone to clotting, but this does not affect the infection-fighting cells. The infection-fighting cells can still travel through the blood vessels and reach the source of infection. However, the increased risk of clotting can lead to other complications such as stroke or heart attack.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Diabetes mellitus Type 1 is a condition that affects the pancreas and the production of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. It does not directly cause anemia, but it can increase the risk of complications such as infections, ulcers, and nerve damage.
Choice B reason: Peripheral vascular disease is a condition that affects the blood vessels and the circulation of blood to the limbs. It does not directly cause anemia, but it can increase the risk of complications such as clots, wounds, and gangrene.
Choice C reason: Chronic kidney disease is a condition that affects the kidneys and their function of filtering waste and fluids from the blood. It can cause anemia by reducing the production of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells.
Choice D reason: Hypertension is a condition that affects the blood pressure and the force of blood against the artery walls. It does not directly cause anemia, but it can increase the risk of complications such as stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage.
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