A patient diagnosed with cancer contacted an attorney about a ...

[dakota nelson]

A patient diagnosed with cancer contacted an attorney about a will and a church to arrange funeral and cemetery arrangements. What do this patient's activities suggest to the nurse?
 
  1. The patient is participating in anticipatory grieving.
  2. The patient feels he is going to die within the month.
  3. The patient's family will not be willing to make funeral arrangements.
  4. The patient wants something to do while waiting for chemotherapy treatments.

Question 2

A patient with cancer is experiencing lower extremity numbness and loss of motor function. What should be done to assist this patient?
 
  function. What should be done to assist this patient?
  1. Assess for spinal cord compression.
  2. Provide intravenous fluids.
  3. Administer oxygen.
  4. Turn and reposition every two hours.

[Chocorrol77]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
Anticipatory grieving is a response to loss that has not yet occurred. The patient with cancer is often confronted with facing death and making preparations for it. This can be a healthy response that allows the patient and family to work through the dying process and achieve growth in the final stage of life. Participating in the activities of a will and funeral arrangements does not mean that the patient feels he is going to die within the month or that the patient's family will not be willing to make funeral arrangements. The patient is not doing these activities while waiting for chemotherapy treatments.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
Spinal cord compression is most commonly associated with pressure from expanding tumors of the breast, lung, or prostate; lymphoma; or metastatic disease. Spinal cord compression constitutes an emergency because of the potential for irreversible paraplegia. Back pain is the initial symptom in almost all cases of spinal cord compression. This may progress to leg pain, numbness, paresthesias, and coldness. Later, bowel and bladder dysfunction occur and, finally, neurologic dysfunction progressing from weakness to paralysis. Treatment often consists of radiation or surgical decompression, but early detection is essential. The patient should be assessed for spinal cord compression and not provided with intravenous fluids, oxygen, or turned and repositioned every two hours.