Patient Data

Exhibits

Which intervention should the nurse prioritize for this client?

Choice A rationale

Administering pain medication as prescribed is the priority intervention for a client receiving hospice care with significant pain and discomfort. Effective pain management is essential to ensure the client’s comfort and quality of life. Pain relief is a primary goal in hospice care, and regular administration of pain medication helps manage symptoms and improve the client’s overall well-being.

Choice B rationale

Providing emotional support to the family is important in hospice care, as families often need assistance coping with the emotional challenges of caring for a loved one with a terminal illness. However, the priority intervention is to manage the client’s pain and discomfort effectively.

Choice C rationale

Assisting with daily activities is necessary for clients with limited mobility, but it is not the primary intervention. Ensuring the client’s comfort and pain relief takes precedence, as it directly impacts their quality of life.

Choice D rationale

Monitoring vital signs regularly is part of the overall care plan, but it is not the priority intervention. The focus should be on managing the client’s pain and discomfort to provide the best possible quality of life in hospice care.

Choice A rationale

Wearing gloves to dispose of the needle and syringe is a good practice to prevent needlestick injuries and contamination. However, it does not directly indicate an understanding of standard precautions, which emphasize hand hygiene as a primary measure.

Choice B rationale

Removing the needle before discarding used syringes is not recommended as it increases the risk of needlestick injuries. Standard precautions emphasize the safe disposal of sharps in puncture-resistant containers without manipulating the needle.

Choice C rationale

Donning a face mask before administering medication is not a standard precaution for handling syringes and needles. Standard precautions focus more on hand hygiene and the use of gloves when there is a risk of exposure to blood or body fluids.

Choice D rationale

Washing hands before handling the needle and syringe is a fundamental aspect of standard precautions. Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the transmission of infections and is a clear indication of understanding standard precautions.