A nurse is caring for a client with sickle cell anemia. The client asks, "Why am I in so much pain?" What is an appropriate response from the nurse to make to this client?
"You are not taking deep breaths, and that is causing your pain."
"Your red blood cells are not the correct shape, and that causes blood flow to become blocked."
"You have a genetic disorder, and the mutated gene causes increased pain."
"You are anemic, and the lack of hemoglobin causes pain."
The Correct Answer is B
A. While deep breathing can help alleviate pain, it is not the primary cause of pain in sickle cell anemia; this response could minimize the client's experience.
B. Sickle cell anemia causes red blood cells to become rigid and shaped like a sickle, which can obstruct blood flow and lead to vaso-occlusive crises, resulting in pain.
C. Although sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder, simply stating that the mutated gene causes increased pain is too vague and does not explain the pain mechanism adequately.
D. While anemia can contribute to fatigue and some discomfort, the pain in sickle cell anemia is primarily due to the sickling of red blood cells and subsequent blockage of blood flow, rather than just the lack of hemoglobin.
Free Nursing Test Bank
- Free Pharmacology Quiz 1
- Free Medical-Surgical Quiz 2
- Free Fundamentals Quiz 3
- Free Maternal-Newborn Quiz 4
- Free Anatomy and Physiology Quiz 5
- Free Obstetrics and Pediatrics Quiz 6
- Free Fluid and Electrolytes Quiz 7
- Free Community Health Quiz 8
- Free Promoting Health across the Lifespan Quiz 9
- Free Multidimensional Care Quiz 10
View Related questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Candidiasis, commonly known as thrush, is characterized by white lesions on the tongue and is a common opportunistic infection in clients with AIDS due to their compromised immune system.
B. Xerostomia refers to dry mouth and does not cause white lesions; it can occur in various conditions but is not an opportunistic infection.
C. Halitosis is bad breath and does not correlate with white lesions on the tongue; it can result from various causes but is not an infection.
D. Gingivitis involves inflammation of the gums and may present with red, swollen gums but does not typically cause white lesions on the tongue.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. A quantitative RNA assay is used to measure the amount of HIV RNA in the blood and is not used for confirmatory diagnosis after a positive ELISA.
B. The Western blot analysis is the standard confirmatory test for HIV following a positive ELISA result, as it specifically detects the presence of antibodies to HIV proteins.
C. A viral load test assesses the level of virus in the blood but does not confirm the diagnosis of HIV.
D. The CD4+ T-cell count is used to assess immune function in individuals with HIV but is not a confirmatory test for the diagnosis of the virus.