While Recovering at Home from a Total Laryngectomy, a Patient

question 9

Multiple Choice

While recovering at home from a total laryngectomy, a patient notices an increase in left shoulder weakness. With what should the nurse realize this symptom is consistent?

• A) normal recovery
• B) damage to the spinal accessory nerve
• C) side effect of neck radiation therapy
• D) medication complication

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Definitions:

Maturation

Changes that occur according to one’s genetically determined biological timetable of development.

Learning

A process that induces changes in knowledge, behaviors, or attitudes through experience, practice, or study.

Relatively Permanent

A term often used in psychology to describe changes or effects that endure over time, although not necessarily without the possibility of change.

Classical Conditioning

A conditioning method where the continuous association of two stimuli results in a response initially provoked by the second stimulus becoming evoked by the sole presentation of the first stimulus.