Author Question: A nurse has attended a pain control workshop and learned about the psychological and physiological ... (Read 112 times)

Hungry! · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A nurse has attended a pain control workshop and learned about the psychological and physiological basis of placebos. What principle should guide the use of placebos in the treatment of pain?

A) Placebos can effectively treat pain while avoiding unpleasant side effects of opioids.
B) Placebos may be used in the treatment of pain in clients who have allergies or addictions.
C) Placebos involve the use or deception and are considered unethical in most circumstances.
D) Placebos should be used if the client provides written consent for their use.

Question 2

A client diagnosed with breast cancer elects to have a procedure in which the breast tissue and nearby lymph nodes are removed, but the muscles of the chest wall are left relatively intact. What is the name of this procedure?

a. lumpectomy c. partial mastectomy
b. modified mastectomy d. radical mastectomy

cadimas · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
Feedback:
Placebos have been shown to have some efficacy in the control of pain. However, because they involve deception they are usually considered unethical. In most circumstances, this fact overrides their possible efficacy. When a client is informed that a pill is a placebo, it loses the essential characteristic of a placebo.

Answer to Question 2

B
The primary treatment modality is surgical removal of the affected portion of breast (lumpectomy) or simple, modified mastectomy (breast tissue, nearby lymph nodes are removed, but the muscles of the chest wall are intact), or radical mastectomy (total removal). Depending on the amount of breast tissue removed, reconstructive breast surgery can be performed at a later time.