A nurse working with an after-school program is concerned about ...

[NClaborn]

A nurse working with an after-school program is concerned about the lack of health literacy in the students' parents. What action would best address this need?
 
  A.
  Conduct a monthly health-related seminar for parents.
  B.
  Investigate grants or other funding for a computer bank.
  C.
  Invite parents to healthy cooking demonstrations.
  D.
  Provide brochures on a variety of health problems.

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a patient near the end of life whose wishes regarding care are not known. The two sons disagreed with the two daughters about future medical plans for the patient during a recent family conference,
 
  and now the sons and daughters are not talking to one another. What action by the nurse would be best to help resolve this dilemma?
 
  A.
  Call the facility's ethics committee and request a formal consultation.
  B.
  Have social work coordinate another family meeting to discuss the issue.
  C.
  Meet with the sons and daughters separately to discuss their wishes.
  D.
  Request that the physician tell the family what is in the patient's best interests.

[covalentbond]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The disparity between people who have access to technology and those who do not is directly related to health literacy and knowledge. The amount of information doubles every 6 years, so it is not possible to keep track of all the latest health news by accessing brochures, books, or periodicals. Having access to computers would greatly increase health literacy. The other options are certainly helpful, but would not be as far-reaching as providing access to online material.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Ethical principles in health care are often in conflict, and it takes a skilled person to negotiate and mediate these situations. Ethics committees exist in most health-care facilities that are experienced in confronting these difficult situations. The best response would be for the nurse to request a consultation from the ethics committee. Another family meeting may not work, as the family already disagrees and tensions are high. The other options may be helpful, but are not as vital as a formal ethics committee consultation. Meeting privately with the sons and daughters might give the nurse some insight into their positions, but would not be as effective as utilizing the expertise on the committee. The physician should not decide what is in the patient's best interests, as this is paternalistic and violates the principle of autonomy.

[NClaborn]

Excellent

[ghepp]

TYSM