The physician has just informed a patient that they have breast cancer and will require a mastectomy. The nurse finds that the patient is crying.
Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

“This must be very difficult for you. I am here if you want to talk.”.

“Can you tell me why you are so upset?”

“I am sure everything will be alright. There is no need to cry.”.

“You will recover.”.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A rationale

When a patient is informed about a serious diagnosis like breast cancer and the need for a mastectomy, it is common for them to experience a range of emotions, including sadness, fear, and anxiety. As a nurse, providing emotional support and creating a safe space for the patient to express their feelings is crucial. Offering to be there for the patient if they want to talk acknowledges their emotional distress and provides comfort.

Choice B rationale

Asking the patient why they are upset may come across as insensitive or dismissive. The patient has just received a life-changing diagnosis, and their emotional reaction is completely normal and expected. It’s important to provide support and empathy rather than questioning their feelings.

Choice C rationale

Telling the patient that everything will be alright and there is no need to cry may seem comforting, but it can actually invalidate the patient’s feelings. It’s important to acknowledge the patient’s emotions and allow them to express their feelings without judgment.

Choice D rationale

Telling the patient that they will recover may be seen as providing false reassurance. While it’s important to maintain hope, it’s also crucial to be honest and realistic with the patient about their diagnosis and treatment.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The correct answer is Choice A. After a below-the-knee amputation (BKA), pain management is crucial. Administering morphine 2-4 mg IV prn for pain is an appropriate physician’s order to implement. Pain can be severe after amputation, and effective pain management can improve patient comfort, reduce anxiety, and aid in recovery. Applying a figure of 8 pressure dressing starting day two post-operatively (Choice B) is not typically done after a BKA7. The operative dressing and splint should be maintained, and the wound should be kept clean, dry, and intact. Administering antibiotics as prescribed (Choice C) is important, but it is not the first action to take. Pain management is the priority immediately after surgery. Applying ice to the stump for 60-90 minutes (Choice D) is not typically done after a BKA7. The operative dressing and splint should be maintained, and the wound should be kept clean, dry, and intact.

A. Infectious agent and reservoir. B. Mode of transmission and portal of entry. C. Susceptible host and infectious agent. D. Portal of exit and mode of transmission.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale

The infectious agent is the pathogen that causes the disease, and the reservoir is where the infectious agent lives and multiplies. Hand washing does not directly intervene between these two links.

Choice B rationale

The mode of transmission is how the infectious agent travels to other people and places, and the portal of entry is the route by which an infectious agent enters a new host. Hand washing does not directly intervene between these two links.

Choice C rationale

The susceptible host is a person who is vulnerable to the disease, and the infectious agent is the pathogen that causes the disease. Hand washing does not directly intervene between these two links.

Choice D rationale

The portal of exit is the route by which an infectious agent escapes or leaves the reservoir, and the mode of transmission is how the infectious agent travels to other people and places. Hand washing directly intervenes between these two links by removing the infectious agent from the hands (portal of exit) and preventing its transmission to other people or surfaces.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

The physician has just informed a patient that they have breast cancer and will require a mastectomy. The nurse finds that the patient is crying. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Choice A rationale

Choice B rationale

Choice C rationale

Choice D rationale

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client with diabetes has returned from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after a below-the-knee amputation (BKA) of the left leg. Which physician’s order should the nurse implement?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse is teaching a patient to wash their hands after using the bathroom as an attempt to break the chain of infection. Between which two links in the chain of infection does this action intervene?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Choice B rationale

Choice C rationale

Choice D rationale

The nurse teaches a diabetic patient how to perform foot care. Which action by the patient would indicate that they can correctly perform foot care?

A patient with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) consumes 15 TUMS antacid tablets daily. What risk does the nurse understand this patient is facing?

Which prescribed medication for the client recovering from a traumatic amputation does the nurse correlate to the treatment of phantom limb pain?

A patient has returned to the unit following a peripheral artery angiogram with a stent insertion. Four hours post-procedure, the nurse can no longer palpate the dorsalis pedis pulse and the foot is cold and dusky. What should be the nurse’s immediate action?

A nurse is caring for a client with a heart murmur due to mitral valve disease. Where would the nurse hear the murmur the loudest?

A client is receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. What information should the nurse include in the teaching about this medication?

The physician has just informed a patient that they have breast cancer and will require a mastectomy. The nurse finds that the patient is crying. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

The physician has just informed a patient that they have breast cancer and will require a mastectomy. The nurse finds that the patient is crying.
Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?