Exam (elaborations)
Chapter 18. Applying Heat and Cold
- Course
- Fundamentals of Nursing Care
- Institution
- Allegany College Of Maryland Somerset Campus
Chapter 18. Applying Heat and Cold
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Chapter 18. Applying Heat and ColdMultiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. A patient has orders for a heating pad to be placed on the lower back. A nurse teaches the patient that
to prevent rebound phenomenon, the heating pad is to be removed after
1. The swelling has decreased.
2. 25 to 30 minutes.
3. The discomfort has resolved.
4. 2 to 3 hours.
2. Following a nurse’s explanation of why a warm pack should be applied to an infected hang nail, a patient
demonstrates understanding by stating:
1. “Heat to the area causes the blood vessels to constrict, concentrating the white blood cells
needed to fight infection.”
2. “If I apply moist heat to the area, it will decrease the metabolism of the germs that
are trying to multiply.”
3. “Applying heat will decrease the blood flow and as a result will increase my body’s
ability to fight infection.”
4. “My body’s ability to fight off infection will be enhanced by allowing more white
blood cells to get to the wound.”
3. Before applying a warm pack to reduce a patient’s discomfort from back spasms, a nurse will
1. Warm the towel in the microwave.
2. Check peripheral pulses for a baseline.
3. Assess the skin for edema and color.
4. Prepare the warm pack using sterile technique.
4. A nurse correctly explains to a patient with a sprained wrist that cold therapy will relieve pain better
than would heat by stating:
1. “Cold therapy decreases swelling and pressure on nearby nerves, which helps
decrease pain.”
2. “Heat therapy decreases swelling by constricting vessels and nerves, which can increase
discomfort.”
3. “Heat therapy decreases pain by increasing oxygen and nutrients to the injured area.”
4. “Cold therapy increases the inflammatory process, which speeds healing and
decreases discomfort.”
5. A nurse applies a cooling blanket to a patient with a temperature of 10E.4°F. The nurse would
recognize which of the following as an indication of therapeutic effectiveness?
1. The patient begins to shiver.
2. The blood pressure and pulse increase.
3. The temperature slowly falls to 100°F.
4. The level of consciousness decreases.
6. An elderly patient with hip pain tells a nurse that continuous heat has been the most effective means of
relieving pain. After confirming that the patient has an order for heat therapy, the nurse correctly selects
which method for the patient?
1. Hot-water bottle
2. Warming blanket
, 3. Heating pad
4. Aquathermia K-pad
7. While bathing a patient, a nurse finds that the patient’s previous IV site is tender and the vein feels hard
upon palpation, indicating inflammation. The nurse should apply
1. A cold pack using a glove filled with ice.
2. A warm compress using a washcloth dipped in hot water.
3. Heat by submerging the arm in a basin of very warm water.
4. A refreezable chemical cold pack.
8. A patient suffering from back spasms has an order for continued heat therapy at home and indicates to a
nurse that he will use his heating pad. The nurse correctly advises the patient to
1. Never use any setting above medium.
2. Use the highest setting for maximum comfort.
3. Apply heat for 1 hour every 3 hours.
4. Not use heat because cold therapy is more effective at stopping spasms.
9. A nurse is aware that a patient is at increased risk for falling due to orthostatic hypotension. This
risk contravenes the use of which method of heat therapy?
1. Warming blanket
2. Aquathermia pad
3. A sitz bath
4. Warm soaks
10. A nurse assesses a patient’s skin after an ice bag has been applied. Which of the following findings would
indicate that the ice bag is too cold?
1. Pink, cool skin
2. Warm, red skin
3. Cool, scaly skin
4. Pale, mottled skin
11. A nurse is satisfied that the mother of a 2-year-old with a history of febrile seizures understands how to
effectively decrease body temperature when the mother states:
1. “I will put my child in a lukewarm bath, making sure the temperature of the water is
somewhere between 105°F and 110°F.”
2. “When his temperature reaches 10B.5°F, I will carefully place ice bags in the armpits
and groin.”
3. “If his fever spikes, I will bring him to the emergency department because he will
most likely need to be lavaged with cold water.”
4. “If I put ice bags around his body, his temperature will not get high enough to
cause seizures.”
12. A nurse suspects that the ice bag on a patient’s left foot is too cold because the patient is complaining of
1. Feeling chilled.
2. Increased swelling.
3. A burning sensation.
4. Feeling confused.
13. A nurse will verify that a 33-year-old patient’s heat application is set at to prevent the threat of tissue
injury.
1. 85°F
2. 90°F
3. 100°F
, 4. 105°F
14. A nurse expects that a patient diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in her right lower leg will most
likely have an order for which method of heat application?
1. Aquathermia pad
2. Sitz bath
3. Hot-water bottle
4. Warming blanket
15. A patient comes to urgent care with a swollen, painful ankle. While the patient is waiting to be seen by the
physician, a nurse could appropriately
1. Apply a cold pack to the ankle to reduce pain and edema.
2. Apply a hot pack to the ankle to improve mobility and promote healing.
3. Confirm that there are standing orders to apply ice to recent, localized joint injuries.
4. Confirm that there are standing orders to apply heat to recent, localized injuries
involving edema.
16. A patient with congestive heart failure (CHF) presents to the emergency department with muscle spasms in
the lower back. Which of the following would not be an appropriate application of heat?
1. Forced-air warming blanket
2. Commercial heat pack
3. Hot compress
4. Heat therapy can never be used safely in a patient with CHF.
17. A physician has ordered an aquathermia pad to treat a patient’s deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower legs.
Before applying heat therapy, a nurse should assess the patient for
1. Apical pulse.
2. Respiration.
3. Anorexia.
4. Cognitive level of function and orientation.
18. A nurse is preparing to administer a sponge bath to reduce fever in a patient. Which of the following is the
most appropriate action to take?
1. Lower the temperature of the room to aid in reducing the patient’s body temperature.
2. Place ice in a bowl of water so that it is cold enough to have the desired effect.
3. Assess the patient’s temperature to have a baseline.
4. Plan to provide care to other patients after applying moist cloths to this patient’s axilla
and groin.
19. A physician has ordered a sitz bath for a patient. The nurse understands that it is important to check the
patient’s chart
1. To see whether the patient has had a tub or whirlpool bath before and prefers
that treatment.
2. To see whether the patient has had a sitz bath before and what the response was.
3. To see whether the patient has an active infection that would contraindicate the sitz bath.
4. To see whether the patient is mobile, in which case a tub or whirlpool bath is preferable
to a sitz bath.
20. When applying cold therapy, a nurse correctly understands that
1. Ice or another source of cold should be placed directly on the patient’s skin.
2. Cold therapy works best when alternated with heat therapy.
3. A thin cloth barrier should be placed between the source of cold and the patient’s skin.
4. The treatment should be applied for about 45 minutes.
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