Public Health Nursing Practice Quiz

A locked area is the safest place to store prescription as well as over the counter medications to prevent accidental ingestion by children.

As soon as contact with the patient is made, planning and teaching should begin so the patient is prepared to provide self-care in the home.

Long-term care is a need that falls within the category of tertiary health care services. Tertiary care refers to specialized medical care that is provided by specialists and hospitals for individuals with complex or severe health conditions. Long-term care involves the ongoing assistance and support provided to individuals who have chronic illnesses, disabilities, or other conditions that require extended periods of care and support. This type of care includes services such as nursing care, rehabilitation, and assistance with daily activities.

Tepid baths allow heat to be removed from the body. Aspirin use is avoided because of the risk of Reye syndrome. The child should wear only light cloth­ing to allow heat to escape. Antibiotics are not prescribed because this is a viral infection, not a bacterial infection.

Meals on Wheels is a community resource that provides nutritious meals to individuals who are unable to cook for themselves, such as the widowed client receiving chemotherapy. This service is especially beneficial for individuals who may not have the energy or ability to prepare meals while undergoing treatment. Meals on Wheels delivers meals directly to the client's home, ensuring they have access to proper nutrition without the need to cook.

Pertussis is most infectious early in the course of the disease, so it is not necessary for the client to self-isolate following discharge from the hospital. Coughing bouts may still be triggered by irritants, so these should be avoided. Frequent hand hygiene is a generally helpful mea­sure that should also be continued after discharge. Increased fluid intake is a generally helpful measure that should also be continued in the home setting.

A. To be eligible for hospice services, an
individual must be diagnosed as having
less than 6 months to live. It is a service to
support patients and their families through
the process of dying.
D. Hospice is not a setting but a movement.
It provides supportive, palliative services
that focus on managing pain, treatment
of symptoms and helping patients
maintain their quality of life so they can
live the remainder of their lives to the
fullest.

The priority for this client is to learn and begin to perform testicular self-exam on a monthly basis. A yearly exam is insufficient in time frame, and a healthcare provider does not need to perform the screening. A high fiber diet is a general health measure but is not specific to testicular cancer. Encouraging the client to verbalize fears is generally a helpful strategy but does not target the client's immediate need for information about detecting testicular cancer.

Anthrax is caused by a bacterium and is
therefore amenable to treatment with antibiotics. Antivirals
and immune globulin play no role in treating this disease.
Inhaled anthrax leads to respiratory symptoms, not cuta­neous anthrax.

In the home setting, patients tend to have fewer health care providers' orders and therefore nurses work more independently. In addition, the roles of the nurse in community-based practice today are expanding dramatically. In 1991, the American Nurses Association published Nursing's Agenda for Health Care Reform, which made recommendations for health care reform. The major predictions influencing nurse accountability included: nurses will become community leaders; community nursing centers will expand and focus on preventing disease and promoting health; and the center of health care will shift to the home setting. Nurses already work independently in such programs as community outreach, nursing centers, and nurse-sponsored wellness and health promotion programs, and independent practice. These roles require the nurse to utilize nursing theory and skills that are in the scope of the legal definition of nursing practice and do not require dependence on a primary health care provider's orders.

The patient is always the center of the health care team in every setting and is the most important member of the team.

The hospital environment rarely requires modification because it is designed to provide for the safety needs of the patients. However, in the home setting a home hazard assessment must be implemented to identify potential problems with walkways, stairways, floors, furniture, bathrooms, kitchens, electrical and fire protection, toxic substances, communication devices, and issues associated with medications and asepsis. Although the nurse may not be able to change a patient's living space and lifestyle, recommendations can be made that will minimize or eliminate risks,

Case management by the nurse in the home care setting includes determining whether a patient is ready for discharge or requires a continuation of services. The nurse must document objectively the status of the patient to convince those making the decision (e.g., primary health care provider, insurer, agency manager) that the patient requires a continuation of services. Nursing documentation supports the decision.

Tertiary health care focuses on providing specialized medical care, rehabilitation, and support to individuals dealing with complex health crises or chronic conditions. In this context, interventions like providing emotional support to family members after a relative's death (option A), teaching a patient how to use a wheelchair after a stroke (option B), and changing a dressing after surgery (option E) align with tertiary care principles. These actions address the comprehensive needs of individuals facing significant health challenges, encompassing both physical and emotional aspects of care to promote recovery and enhance quality of life.

C. Encouraging regular dental checkups is a secondary health care service that is associated with early detection of disease and prompt intervention.
D. Monthly self-breast exams are associated with secondary health care services because they are concerned with detection of breast cancer.

health care professional who have prescriptive licenses must order home care nursing services. An order from a provider with a prescriptive license is required if a home care agency is to receive reimbursement from third-party sources (e.g., government, medical insurance plans). Orders written by these professional direct the medical plan of care.

This is the most efficient initial approach to meeting the identified needs of the members of the community. The use of currently available resources is more efficient than the other options presented.

Caregiver role strain experienced by a
family member is a serious concern of
home care nurses. Caregivers often fail to
address their own health needs because of
the extraordinary burden of the caregiver
role, which can jeopardize their own
health and well-being. Caregivers should
be encouraged to delegate responsibilities
to other family members, to get adequate
sleep, rest and nutritional intake, to seek
assistance from agencies that provide
respite services, to take time for leisure
activities and a vacation, and to join a
caregiver support group.

Because of the shorter length of hospital stays, patients are being discharged before all teaching and counseling are completed. However, in the home-care setting, patients are provided with appropriate care until they are able to care for themselves.