QUESTION Comparison and Contrast of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants Physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs) comprise the primary care provider team, working together to deliver healthcare services. While overlap exists, key differences emerge in their education, roles, environment, and career outlook. Education and Training Primary care physicians complete medical school after undergraduate studies, involving 4 years to earn an MD plus […]

QUESTION Questions to prepare: What are the key elements in a performing a complete neurological assessment? What assessment findings are considered early and late signs of increased ICP? Your patient starts complaining of difficulty breathing. You perform a focused assessment and check their vital signs: BP 160/72, HR 108, RR 35, and SpO2 91%. You have placed the patient on oxygen with no improvement. You […]

QUESTION A mother and grandmother of a 2-month-old are in the clinic for a well child checkup. When the infant begins to cry, the mother picks up the baby. The grandmother fusses and says, “you’re spoiling that baby!” Which information should the nurse provide that offers the most therapeutic response? ANSWER The Importance of Responsive Parenting: Addressing Concerns About “Spoiling” a Baby Introduction Parenting advice, […]

QUESTION At seven weeks postpartum, Barbara Ann calls the lactation consultant to report another flare-up of mastitis. Her health care provider prescribes a 10-day course of dicloxacillin. Barbara Ann is still treating her nipples with nystatin ointment. At eight weeks postpartum her mastitis resolved; her nipple pain is still present, but improving. Barbara Ann is nursing the infant on one side only per feeding and […]

QUESTION Nu 665D A 73-year-old G2P2 presents to your office with complaints of “extreme” external vulvar itching. This has been going on for two months, and nothing seems to help it. She reports the itching is so severe that she scratches until she notices some slight bleeding on the outside skin. On occasion she uses Desitin, which has provided very little relief. Her last gyn […]

QUESTION A 40-year-old male has returned to the US after working in a missionary health clinic in a malaria-endemic area. He was admitted to the hospital with fever, chills, and severe unrelieved headache. A diagnosis of acute malaria was made. Chloroquine was ordered, and the patient discharged. One week later, he returned to the emergency room with worsening symptoms and signs of confusion. The patient […]

QUESTION A patient has not been feeling well for the past few days. He has told his provider that approximately 2 months ago, he and his friend had body piercings and that the area around the piercing still doesn’t look right. He complains of nausea, vomiting, a fever, and he appears slightly jaundiced. His provider is concerned that the patient may have: ANSWER Infection or […]

QUESTION The LPN/LVN is assisting with the care of a lesbian couple who are expecting their first child. Which professional action would be appropriate by the LPN/LVN when providing care to this couple? ANSWER Providing Inclusive Care to Expectant Lesbian Couples: A Nursing Perspective Introduction In the modern healthcare landscape, providing culturally sensitive and inclusive care is not just an ethical obligation but also a […]

QUESTION A patient who is pregnant with her second child is preparing to select a health care provider to deliver this pregnancy. Medical history includes pre-existing hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which health care provider would the LPN/LVN recognize as the best primary health care provider for this patient? ANSWER Choosing the Best Primary Health Care Provider for a High-Risk Pregnancy Introduction Selecting the […]

QUESTION Collect and analyze accurate, factual, and relevant patient data from health history by considering the considering the concepts of health assessment and nursing process. ANSWER Patient Data Collection and Analysis in Health Assessment and the Nursing Process Introduction Health assessment is the foundation of nursing practice, serving as the initial step in the nursing process. It involves the systematic collection of patient data to […]