Author Question: A competent older adult client has a living will that expresses the client's desire to avoid ... (Read 114 times)

silviawilliams41 · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A competent older adult client has a living will that expresses the client's desire to avoid resuscitation and heroic life support measures. The family members are not supportive of this directive and plan to contest the living will. Which nursing action

A) Place the document on the chart.
B) Contact the Social Services department.
C) Explain to the client that the conflict could invalidate the document.
D) Notify the hospital attorney.

Question 2

The student nurse is questioning the instructor about the different types of chemotherapeutic agents used to treat cancer. Which statement by the instructor best explains why lung cancers are less sensitive to antineoplastic agents than other types of can

A) Lung cancer cells have a low growth fraction, so they are less sensitive to antineoplastic agents.
B) Lung cancer cells grow in a high-oxygen environment, so they are not very sensitive to antineoplastic agents.
C) Lung cancer cells have been growing for a long time before detection, so they are less sensitive to antineoplastic agents.
D) Lung cancer cells have a very erratic cell cycle, so they are not very sensitive to antineoplastic agents.

SomethingSomething · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: A

The client is competent. The wishes of the client must take priority. The document should first be placed on the chart and the physician notified. If there are concerns about the authenticity of the document, the Social Services department or the unit supervisor will need to be contacted. There is no need to notify the hospital attorney at this time. A lack of support by the family, or a plan to contest, does not invalidate the document legally.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: A

Growth fraction is a ratio of the number of replicating cells to the number of resting cells. Antineoplastic drugs are much more toxic to tissues and tumors with high growth fractions. Breast and lung cancers have low growth fractions. Lung cancer cells may grow for a long time before detection, but this is not the primary reason they are less susceptible to antineoplastic agents. A high-oxygen environment is not the reason why lung cancer cells are less sensitive to antineoplastic agents. Lung cancer cells do not have a very erratic cell cycle.