A Patient Fearful of Anesthesia Asks the Nurse to Make

question 14

Multiple Choice

A patient fearful of anesthesia asks the nurse to make sure that she wakes up after surgery just so she can see her family one more time if she is going to die. What should the nurse do to support this patient?

• A) Attempt to reduce the patient's fears and discuss these fears with the surgical team.
• B) Tell the patient that no one is going to let her die.
• C) Explain that everyone who undergoes anesthesia thinks they won't wake up.
• D) Tell the patient there is no guarantee that she won't die during the procedure.

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Definitions:

Cranial Nerve

These are the twelve nerves that emerge directly from the brain (as opposed to the spinal column) and are responsible for a variety of functions including sensory information and muscle control.

Symmetric

Having parts that match each other in size, shape, and position; being the same on both sides of a dividing line.

Trigeminal Nerve

The fifth cranial nerve responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as biting and chewing.

Sharp and Dull Stimulation

A method used in neurologic examination to assess sensory function by comparing responses to sharp (e.g., pinprick) versus dull stimuli.