A client with cancer has anorexia and mucositis, and is losing ...

[pane00]

A client with cancer has anorexia and mucositis, and is losing weight. The client's family members continually bring favorite foods to the client and are distressed when the client won't eat them. What action by the nurse is best?
 
  a. Explain the pathophysiologic reasons behind the client not eating.
  b. Help the family show other ways to demonstrate love and caring.
  c. Suggest foods and liquids the client might be willing to try to eat.
  d. Tell the family the client isn't able to eat now no matter what they bring.

Question 2

A nurse working with clients who experience alopecia knows that which is the best method of helping clients manage the psychosocial impact of this problem?
 
  a. Assisting the client to pre-plan for this event
  b. Reassuring the client that alopecia is temporary
  c. Teaching the client ways to protect the scalp
  d. Telling the client that there are worse side effects

[parshano]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Families often become distressed when their loved ones won't eat. Providing food is a universal sign of caring, and to some people the refusal to eat signifies worsening of the condition. The best option for the nurse is to help the family find other ways to demonstrate caring and love, because with treatment-related anorexia and mucositis, the client is not likely to eat anything right now. Explaining the rationale for the problem is a good idea but does not suggest to the family anything that they can do for the client. Simply telling the family the client is not able to eat does not give them useful information and is dismissive of their concerns.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Alopecia does not occur for all clients who have cancer, but when it does, it can be devastating. The best action by the nurse is to teach the client about the possibility and to give the client multiple choices for preparing for this event. Not all clients will have the same reaction, but some possible actions the client can take are buying a wig ahead of time, buying attractive hats and scarves, and having a hairdresser modify a wig to look like the client's own hair. Teaching about scalp protection is important but does not address the psychosocial impact. Reassuring the client that hair loss is temporary and telling him or her that there are worse side effects are both patronizing and do not give the client tools to manage this condition.