Author Question: An older patient is hospitalized for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ... (Read 67 times)

lb_gilbert · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

An older patient is hospitalized for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), for which the patient is on chronic steroid use

The patient also has a fresh dog bite on the arm, which is not reddened, swollen, and only slightly tender. The patient is afebrile, but the nurse finds the patient confused and agitated. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Place the patient on fall precautions.
b. Put a bed alarm on the patient's bed.
c. Call the rapid response team.
d. Perform a sepsis screening exam.

Question 2

A patient has many sexual partners but does not use condoms. What action by the nurse is best?

a. Ask the patient what he or she knows about HIV.
b. Assess the patient for barriers to using condoms.
c. Give the patient statistics on HIV in older adults.
d. Tell the patient safer sex practices should be used.

Viet Thy · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
Older adults have an age-related decrease in immune function, plus this patient is on medication that diminished immune responsiveness. With the fresh wound, the nurse would be concerned about sepsis. The patient may be septic without showing local or systemic signs of infection other than confusion. Fall precautions and bed alarms may be necessary. The rapid response team is not needed.

Answer to Question 2

B
The nurse should assess for barriers to implementing safer sexual practices. Simply giving the information does not help the patient implement it. Telling the patient what to do does not re-spect the patient's autonomy.