Author Question: The patient confides in the nurse that she is drawn to complementary and alternative medicine ... (Read 57 times)

bobypop · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The patient confides in the nurse that she is drawn to complementary and alternative medicine because it promotes the whole person. The patient would like spirituality and prayer included in her plan of care.

What is the best response by the nurse?
1. We will include spirituality in your plan. Would you like to say a prayer?
2. I think your spiritual concerns are best left up to you and your minister.
3. What exactly do you mean by spirituality and prayer?
4. We usually do not pray with patients; is there something you are worried about?

Question 2

A nurse administering medications to a variety of patients on a medical-surgical floor recognizes that which patients may need additional education about medication adherence?

1. Fifty-year-old recently remarried male taking antihypertensive medication
2. Thirty-four-year-old female with family history of blood clots taking an estrogen oral contraceptive
3. Sixty-eight-year-old male recently started on antidepressants known to cause gynecomastia
4. Twenty-eight-year-old female started on acne medication known to cause male-patterned hair growth
5. Seventy-eight-year-old male taking estrogen as therapy for prostate cancer

katieost · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale: Complementary and alternative medicine tends to include the whole person more than traditional medicine does. The nurse should offer to pray with the patient if the patient requests this. Refusing to acknowledge the patient's spiritual concerns, and referring her to her minister, does not treat the whole person. Asking the patient to clarify what she means by spirituality and prayer could be appropriate, but is not the best answer. Telling the patient that the nurse does not usually pray with patients will discourage her from discussing spirituality.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1,2,4
Rationale 1: Antihypertensive medications can cause impotence. This patient will need additional education about this possible side effect.
Rationale 2: Estrogen can cause an increased risk for thrombolytic events, especially in patients who have a positive family history.
Rationale 3: Men at this age usually already have some degree of enlargement of breast tissue due to decreasing testosterone and would not necessarily need additional education to prevent medication nonadherence.
Rationale 4: Some acne medications cause increased hair growth in a male pattern, such as on the face. While controlling acne is a goal, the patient may not want the extra hair growth.
Rationale 5: Although estrogen therapy can result in breast enlargement, men at this age usually already have some degree of breast enlargement due to decreased testosterone levels.