Chapter 10: Bathing and Personal Hygiene

Chapter 10: Bathing and Personal Hygiene

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. The patient has been hospitalized for several weeks and is very depressed. She doesn’t want to bathe or brush her teeth. What approach should the nurse take to best meet the needs of this patient?

a.	Collaborate for a psychiatric consultation.
b.	Instruct the patient on the benefits of hygiene.
c.	Have family bring grooming products to the patient.
d.	Encourage the patient to assist with personal hygiene.

 

 

ANS:  D

Encouraging the patient to participate in personal hygiene is the best approach. Bathing promotes relaxation with the feeling of being clean, in addition to enhancing one’s appearance and sense of well-being. The patient also benefits from the physical activity, which helps to regain endurance, muscle strength, and range of motion lost during a prolonged illness. Because the patient is recovering from a lengthy illness and experiencing justifiable feelings, it is premature to obtain a psychiatric consultation. Explaining reasons for bathing and teeth brushing does not address the immediate needs of the patient (i.e., being clean). Having the patient help with hygiene is more focused on the immediate needs of a depressed patient. Often the physiological effects of prolonged hospitalization, such as depression, cause lack of attention to physical needs. Bringing grooming products to the patient can reinforce feelings of inadequacy and poor self-image, inducing the patient to think that her personal appearance is offensive.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analyze                REF:   Page 243| Page 245

OBJ:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity      TOP:   Nursing Process: Implementation

 

2. The patient is able to sit in the chair while the bed is being made. What nursing process step should the nurse implement for bed making?

a.	Keep the bed in the low position.
b.	Pull the blanket up to the head of the bed.
c.	Instruct the patient to hold the side rail.
d.	Delegate the task to nursing assistive personnel (NAP).

 

 

ANS:  D

The nurse delegates making an unoccupied bed to the NAP because the assistants are specifically trained in bed making and because the patient is stable enough to sit in a chair while the bed is made. This frees the nurse to perform tasks requiring skills specific to registered nurses.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehend          REF:   Page 267

OBJ:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity      TOP:   Nursing Process: Implementation

 

3. The patient is in pain and doesn’t want the head of the bed raised. Which method should the nurse use to change the patient’s bed linens?

a.	Ask the patient to raise the lower body to remove the soiled linen.
b.	Keep the top sheets over the patient and slowly roll him or her to each side.
c.	Keep the patient on the left side and get extra help to remove soiled linens quickly.
d.	Fanfold the top linen to the bottom of the bed and replace with clean linen.

 

 

ANS:  B

Because the patient is in pain and can’t get out of the bed, the nurse makes the bed using the occupied bed technique. To maintain patient comfort and privacy, the nurse keeps the patient covered while rolling from side to side slowly to prevent dizziness while exchanging the soiled and clean linens. The soiled linens are folded toward the center of the bed and tucked under the patient; then the fresh linens are applied. When the first side is completed, the patient is gently rolled over the ridge of linens in the center so the other side may be accessed. The soiled linens are then removed, and the fresh linens are smoothed over and tucked in.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply                   REF:   Page 263

OBJ:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity      TOP:   Nursing Process: Implementation

 

4. A male patient states that his back is itching. What should the nurse do initially to relieve the patient’s discomfort?

a.	Administer an anti-itch cream.
b.	Assess the patient’s skin condition.
c.	Remind the patient to shift positions.
d.	State that hospital sheets are scratchy.

 

 

ANS:  B

The nurse addresses the patient’s itchy back by inspecting and assessing the patient’s back for hives, a rash, or redness; the nurse uses the data to formulate a plan of care to relieve the itching. The nurse does not have complete patient data to justify administering an anti-itch cream or recommend shifting positions until the assessment is completed. Hospital sheets should not be scratchy or stiff since this would increase the risk of skin irritation and breakdown.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply                   REF:   Page 245| Page 252

OBJ:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity      TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment