Author Question: An older male adult who has tinnitus complains to the nurse that it is very annoying. Which should ... (Read 58 times)

joblessjake · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

An older male adult who has tinnitus complains to the nurse that it is very annoying. Which should the nurse implement to alleviate the stress he is experiencing from tinnitus?

a. Irrigate bilateral Eustachian tubes.
b. Assess for modifiable risk factors.
c. Propose a hearing aid and a masker.
d. Use white noise to override tinnitus.

Question 2

An older adult who recently had surgery complains of pain at the level of 3 out of 10 and constipation during the postoperative primary care visit. Which intervention should the nurse implement to first facilitate elimination?

a. Encourage the use of a laxative. c. Promote fiber in the diet.
b. Review the medica-tion list. d. Suggest added fluid intake.

bpool94 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B

Feedback
A Incorrect. The nurse irrigates the external auditory canal for impacted cerumen to decrease the risk of tinnitus.
B Correct. The nurse assesses the patient for risk factors potentially contributing to tinnitus that can be altered such as smoking cigarettes, consuming caffeine, drinking alcohol, experiencing fatigue, and taking medications that carry a high risk of causing tinnitus. Removing these potential offenders can help to give the patient a sense of control as well as provide potential relief from tinnitus.
C Incorrect. Although these devices have the potential to alleviate tinnitus, intro-ducing them can also serve as a potential source of additional stress depending on the financial and functional status of the individual.
D Incorrect. Although white noise has the potential to alleviate tinnitus, it can be ineffective or serve as a potential source of additional stress.

Answer to Question 2

B
The nurse begins by reviewing the medication list to find substances that are likely to cause con-stipation such as opioid analgesics and antidepressants, among others. If the patient is taking an opioid analgesic and because the patient rates the pain as 3 out of 10, then a change in pain me-dication can help relieve constipation. The use of a laxative can be contraindicated and is the therapy of last resort for constipation caused by factors other than opioid analgesics. Promoting fiber in the diet is a reasonable intervention but can be made unnecessary by omitting the opioid analgesic. Increasing fluid intake is a reasonable nursing intervention for older adults with and without constipation, but it can be unnecessary for this older adult.