A Patient with Acute Diarrhea of 24 Hours' Duration Calls

question 43

Multiple Choice

A patient with acute diarrhea of 24 hours' duration calls the clinic to ask for directions for care. In talking with the patient, the nurse should

• A) ask the patient to describe the character of the stools and any associated symptoms.
• B) advise the patient to use over-the-counter loperamide (Imodium) to slow gastrointestinal (GI) motility.
• C) inform the patient that laboratory testing of blood and stool specimens will be necessary.
• D) advise the patient to drink clear liquid fluids with electrolytes, such as Gatorade or Pedialyte.

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Definitions:

Incentive

A factor, often external, that motivates or encourages an individual to act in a certain way.

Goal Object

The target or endpoint of an individual's efforts or ambitions.

Partial Reinforcement

A conditioning schedule in which a reward is not provided every time the desired response is exhibited, making the response more resistant to extinction.

Continuous Reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule in which a reward follows every correct response, often used to teach new behaviors.