A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin. What would be the nurse’s best response to this information?
Are you allergic to any other drugs?
How often have you received penicillin?
Describe what happens to you when you take penicillin
I’ll write your allergy on your chart so you won’t receive any penicillin
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Asking about other drug allergies is relevant but secondary to understanding the penicillin allergy’s nature. Without clarifying the reaction’s severity (e.g., anaphylaxis vs. rash), the nurse cannot fully assess the risk, making this a less immediate response.
Choice B reason: Asking about the frequency of penicillin use does not address the nature or severity of the allergic reaction. This information is irrelevant to managing the allergy and ensuring patient safety, making it an inappropriate initial response.
Choice C reason: Asking the patient to describe their reaction to penicillin clarifies the type and severity of the allergy (e.g., rash, anaphylaxis). This informs safe medication administration and prevents adverse reactions, making it the most critical and appropriate response.
Choice D reason: Documenting the allergy is necessary but premature without understanding the reaction’s specifics. Assuming the allergy without verification could lead to incomplete charting or mismanagement, making this a less priority response compared to gathering details.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Saying “That must be terrible” and suggesting a pinched nerve is dismissive and assumes a cause without assessment. Exploring the pain’s impact gathers critical data, so this is incorrect for an appropriate response.
Choice B reason: Asking about family reactions shifts focus from the patient’s experience and is less relevant initially. Assessing how the pain affects daily activities provides functional insight, so this is not the best response for pain assessment.
Choice C reason: Sharing personal experience can seem empathetic, but it this risks bias and doesn’t assess the patient’s pain. Asking about daily activity impact is more patient-centered, so this is incorrect for professional response.
Choice D reason: Asking how pain affects daily activities encourages the patient to describe the pain’s severity and impact, aiding assessment and planning. This open-ended, patient-focused response is therapeutic, making it the correct choice for the nurse’s reply.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Frequency refers to frequent urination, not difficulty starting the stream. Hesitancy describes the specific symptom of delayed urine flow, often in prostate issues, so this is incorrect for documentation.
Choice B reason: Urgency is the sudden need to urinate, not trouble initiating the stream. Hesitancy captures the patient patient’s symptom of starting urination, making this incorrect for the term used.
Choice C reason: Spray is not a medical term for urinary symptoms; it’s irrelevant to starting difficulty. Hesitancy is the precise term for this issue, so this is incorrect for documentation purposes.
Choice D reason: Hesitancy is the term used for difficulty initiating the urine stream, often due to obstruction like benign prostatic hyperplasia. This matches the patient’s symptom, making it the correct term for documentation.
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