Author Question: The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with cancer. The family of the patient asks the nurse ... (Read 116 times)

nmorano1 · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with cancer. The family of the patient asks the nurse for information. What should the nurse do?

a. Refer family members to the physician because it is his/her role to prescribe.
b. Inform them that few options are available.
c. Tell them to take their family member to an NCI cancer center.
d. Offer information about the different resources available.

Question 2

One purpose of using standard formal nursing diagnoses in practice is to

a. Form a language that can be encoded only by nurses.
b. Distinguish the nurse's role from the physician's role.
c. Allow for the communication of patient needs to assistive personnel.
d. Help nurses focus on the scope of medical practice.

janeli · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
The nurse's role is to tell patients and families about the different resources available so they can make informed choices. The physician is a resource, but the nurse can educate as well. NCI-designated cancer centers offer the most comprehensive and up-to-date clinical care, but are only one of many options. The nurse can refer family members to the NCI website, where a current list of NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers is provided.

Answer to Question 2

B
The standard formal nursing diagnosis serves several purposes. A nursing diagnosis provides the precise definition that gives all members of the health care team a common language for understanding the patient's needs. Nursing diagnoses allow nurses to communicate what they do among themselves, with other health care professionals, and the public. Nursing diagnoses distinguish the nurse's role from that of the physician, and help nurses focus on the scope of nursing practice while fostering the development of nursing knowledge.