The nurse is caring for a gentleman who has dry skin. When the ...

[KimWrice]

The nurse is caring for a gentleman who has dry skin. When the following interventions are compared, which would be most appropriate for this patient?
 
  a. Limiting the frequency of bathing
  b. Using a fat-free soap for washing
  c. Using warm water and moisturizers
  d. Bathing with hot water to increase blood flow

Question 2

The nurse is preparing oral medications for administration. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?
 
  a. Using a cutting device to cut scored tablets
  b. Unwrapping all of the medications to be given and placing them together in a cup
  c. Crushing capsules and enteric-coated medication for easier swallowing
  d. Holding the medication cup at eye level to pour a liquid dosage

[beccamahon]

Answer to Question 1

C
Effective treatment for dry skin does not include limiting the frequency of bathing but lies in bathing with warm, not hot, water and using moisturizers. Superfatted soap (e.g., Dove) should be used for cleansing. The body should be rinsed well of all soap, because residue left can cause irritation and breakdown. Moisture should be added to the air through the use of a humidifier. Fluid intake should be increased when the skin is dry.

Answer to Question 2

A
If you have to break a medication to administer half the dosage, use a clean, gloved hand to break the tablet or cut it with a cutting device. Tablets that are to be broken in half must be pre-scored by a manufactured line that transverses the center of the tablet. Tablets that are not pre-scored cannot be broken into equal halves, and the result will be an inaccurate dose. Using a cutting device results in a more even split of the tablet. Wrappers maintain the cleanliness of medications and identify drug name and dose. Not all drugs can be crushed (e.g., capsules, enteric-coated, long-acting/slow-release drugs). The coating of these drugs protects the stomach from irritation or protects the drug from destruction by stomach acids. Liquid medications poured from a stock bottle should be poured into a medication cup that is placed at eye level on a flat surface.