A terminally ill patient is experiencing a great deal of dyspnea and noisy, "rattling" rapid respirations. The nurse administers morphine in a very small liquid or intramuscular dose. The purpose of this is to:
decrease pain caused by dyspnea.
dry up secretions that are causing rattling.
decrease respiratory rate and relieve dyspnea.
hasten death by stopping respirations.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Administering morphine can help decrease pain associated with dyspnea, but the primary goal in this scenario is to address the dyspnea itself rather than pain specifically.
B. While morphine can help dry up secretions to some extent, its primary action in this context is to alleviate dyspnea by reducing respiratory effort and rate.
C. Morphine is commonly used in palliative care to relieve dyspnea by depressing the respiratory center in the brain, leading to a decrease in respiratory rate and effort. This helps alleviate the sensation of breathlessness and discomfort associated with dyspnea.
D. Administering morphine in small doses for dyspnea relief is not intended to hasten death but rather to provide comfort and relief from distressing symptoms at the end of life. The goal is to improve quality of life rather than hastening death.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is E
Explanation
A. Anger: Anger involves feelings of frustration, resentment, or hostility towards the situation or others. The statement does not express anger but rather a refusal to accept the possibility of a serious illness.
B. Depression: Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. While the statement may reflect concern, it does not indicate depressive symptoms.
C. Acceptance: Acceptance is characterized by coming to terms with one's impending death or loss. The statement does not indicate acceptance of the possibility of having cancer.
D. Bargaining: Bargaining involves attempting to negotiate or make deals to change the outcome of a situation. The statement does not suggest bargaining behavior.
E. Denial: Denial is the initial stage where individuals refuse to accept the reality of their situation. The statement "I've had stomach problems for years. I don't have cancer." suggests a refusal to accept the possibility of having cancer despite ongoing health issues. Therefore, it correlates with denial.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Informing his primary care provider of his desires: While it's important for the primary care provider to be aware of the patient's wishes, simply informing the provider may not ensure that these desires are respected in the event of a medical crisis. The primary care provider may not be immediately available during an emergency situation.
B. Filing an advance directive with the health care facility: This is the correct response. Advance directives allow individuals to specify their healthcare preferences in advance, including decisions about life-sustaining treatments such as resuscitation, ventilation, and artificial nutrition and hydration. Filing an advance directive ensures that the patient's wishes are documented and legally binding, providing guidance to healthcare providers in the event that the patient becomes unable to communicate or make decisions.
C. Including these desires in his will: While a will can address matters related to the distribution of assets and property after death, it typically does not cover healthcare decisions or preferences regarding end-of-life care. Healthcare preferences should be documented in an advance directive or similar legal document specifically designed for healthcare decisions.
D. Signing a do-not-resuscitate/do-not-intubate (DNR/DNI) request: While a DNR/DNI request specifies the patient's wishes regarding resuscitation and intubation, it may not cover other aspects of end-of-life care such as the use of IV fluids or feeding tubes. An advance directive provides a more comprehensive framework for expressing end-of-life care preferences beyond just resuscitation and intubation.
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