A terminally ill patient is experiencing constipation secondary to pain medication. Which is the best method for the nurse to improve the patient's constipation problem?
Contact the health care provider to discontinue pain medication.
Massage the patient's abdomen.
Use a laxative.
Administer enemas twice daily for 7 days.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Discontinuing pain medication may not be appropriate, as it can lead to inadequate pain management for the patient. Pain management is crucial for terminally ill patients.
B. While abdominal massage may help relieve mild constipation, it is not a reliable primary intervention for more severe constipation caused by medication.
C. Laxatives are commonly prescribed for constipation related to pain medication and are an effective method to promote bowel movements, making this the best choice.
D. Administering enemas twice daily can be excessive and may cause discomfort or lead to dependency, making this option less favorable than using laxatives.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. A Yankauer suction tip catheter is used for suctioning secretions and does not assess cardiac function or afterload.
B. A blood pressure cuff is essential for measuring blood pressure, which can indicate increased afterload through elevated systemic vascular resistance.
C. An oxygen cannula is used for delivering supplemental oxygen and does not provide information about cardiac afterload.
D. A pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation, which is not directly related to assessing cardiac afterload.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Compassion fatigue is characterized by burnout and secondary traumatic stress, which result from prolonged exposure to caring for patients in distress and trauma, leading to emotional exhaustion.
B. Lateral violence and intrapersonal conflict involve hostile behavior and internal personal issues, which do not define compassion fatigue.
C. While physical and mental exhaustion can occur with compassion fatigue, they are not the defining aspects without the context of prolonged trauma exposure.
D. Short-term grief and a single stressor do not capture the chronic nature of compassion fatigue, which builds over repeated exposure to others' suffering.