Author Question: The community health nurse is concerned with the prevalence of new HIV infections in the community ... (Read 78 times)

audie · **on:** Jul 8, 2018

The community health nurse is concerned with the prevalence of new HIV infections in the community and understands the strong correlation between substance use disorders and HIV.

Which interventions should the nurse promote in the community health clinic to best address this problem? (Select all that apply.)
A) 12-step self-help groups
B) Family and couples therapy
C) Opioid substitution treatment
D) Syringe exchange programs
E) Motivational interviewing

Question 2

The nurse works with a client who is struggling with heroin addiction. Which examination should the nurse perform to screen for a comorbidity that is highly associated with substance use disorders?

A) Assessment of blood glucose level
B) Bone marrow aspiration
C) Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain
D) Mental status examination

hramirez205 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 8, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Ans: C, D
Feedback:
Opioid substitution treatment and syringe exchange programs have been effective in lowering the rates of HIV infection among injection drug users in both developed and developing countries. Self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous are effective in assisting people in countries with high rates of alcohol abuse but would not help decrease the rate of HIV infection. Family and couples therapy also would not address the underlying problems among injection drug users that promote the spread of HIV.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: D
Feedback:
There is high comorbidity of substance use disorders with major mental illness. The mental status examination is a valuable tool in identifying signs and symptoms of major mental illness that co-occur with substance use. The mental status examination can alert the nurse to cognitive changes that are the result of chronic substance use and can help differentiate symptoms from other medical conditions, such as dementia or delirium.