The homecare nurse performs visits to a 74-year-old client with ...

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The homecare nurse performs visits to a 74-year-old client with numerous health problems.
 
  The nurse has noted the presence of an irregular-shaped, growing lesion of irregular color on the client's scalp but the client is resistant to visiting the primary health care provider. Which of the nurse's statements is most accurate? A) Even if this does turn out to be skin cancer, the treatment is usually topical creams and you wouldn't have to undergo surgery.
  B) If this is skin cancer, the sooner you have it diagnosed, the better the chance of a favorable outcome..
  C) Cancerous regions of the skin usually have to be removed, but they are almost never fatal and you won't have any lasting consequences..
  D) Even though this is probably just a minor growth called a keratosis, it should still be checked out by your doctor..

Question 2

A female patient asks about using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms but is concerned about the risks. How can the health care provider best guide the patient decision to begin or forego HRT?
 
  A) The significant increases in the risk of heart disease make HRT a risky treatment that is best avoided..
  B) You won't likely be increasing your risk of heart disease if you begin HRT, but neither will you be preventing..
  C) The overall effectiveness of HRT in alleviating the unwanted changes that following menopause has been disproven..
  D) HRT can best be described as a tradeoff, where menopausal symptoms decrease but there is a significantly increased risk of hip fractures and breast cancer..

[Brummell1998]

Answer to Question 1

B
Feedback:
Early detection of skin cancer improves the prognosis. Treatment of skin cancer is not limited to topical ointments and it would be inaccurate to guarantee a positive outcome. The client's presentation is more indicative of a malignancy than a keratosis.

Answer to Question 2

B
Feedback:
Although women can feel reassured that they are not increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease by using hormones to treat symptoms as they go through menopause, it is not wise to extrapolate from the data that women should take hormones for the prevention of heart disease. HRT is not noted to increase the risk of breast cancer or hip fractures, while the effectiveness at relieving symptoms of low estrogen is significant. The health care provider would be unlikely to categorically rule out HRT as a treatment option, but would more likely weigh the potential risks and benefits with the client.

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Excellent

[elyse44]

TYSM