Answer to Question 1
ANS: C
When providing oral hygiene to an unconscious patient, the nurse needs to protect him or her from choking and aspiration. Have two nurses provide care. One nurse does the actual cleaning, and the other caregiver removes secretions with suction equipment. The nurse can delegate nursing assistive personnel to participate. Some agencies use equipment that combines a mouth swab with the suction device. This device can be used safely by one nurse to provide oral care. Commercially made foam swabs are ineffective in removing plaque. Do not use lemon-glycerin sponges because they dry mucous membranes and erode tooth enamel. While cleansing the oral cavity, use a small oral airway or a padded tongue blade to hold the mouth open. Never use your fingers to hold the patient's mouth open. A human bite contains multiple pathogenic microorganisms.
Answer to Question 2
ANS: D
Foot ulceration is the most common single precursor to lower extremity amputations among persons with diabetes. Plantar warts are due to the papillomavirus, not to a fungus. Palpation of the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses indicates that adequate blood flow is reaching peripheral tissues. Neuropathy is a degeneration of the peripheral nerves usually due to poor control of blood glucose levels; it is not a direct result of poor foot care.
PET scan of the brain in a patient with Alzheimer’s disease.
Patient teaching: abdominal assessment
The correct beginning position for the patient’s feet and crutches (tripod position).
Amyloid plaques (stained blue) in the brain of a deceased patient who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Structures of other important isoprenoids