Question 1

A nursing instructor has been teaching the clinical students the difference between complementary and alternative therapies. Which statement, if made by a student, would indicate that teaching has been successful?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 2

A patient pregnant with her first child reports that her husband wants her to visit a homeopath for help with her nausea and vomiting. The patient asks what the nurse's opinion of homeopathy is. The best response by the nurse is:

Accepted Answer

This response provides accurate information and reassurance to the patient that homeopathy is a legitimate practice with approved remedies and trained practitioners. It also avoids making unfounded negative statements about homeopathy.

Question 3

The nurse in a rural clinic is talking with some patients about biofeedback. The nurse explains to the patients that biofeedback:

Accepted Answer

The nurse explains that biofeedback is a method to learn control of physiological responses based on the concept that the mind controls the body. This means that using biofeedback, patients can learn to control their bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension, by becoming more aware of how their thoughts and emotions affect these functions. Biofeedback is not considered an alternative or complementary therapy, nor is it a state of great mental and physical relaxation susceptible to suggestion.

Question 4

The nurse who is working with patients using complementary or alternative medicine is aware that the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is responsible for:

Accepted Answer

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is responsible for promoting research on complementary and alternative therapies and disseminating information to consumers. While the center does provide funding for research on new therapies and products, it does not have the authority to ensure safety or endorse products for FDA approval.

Question 5

Based on an understanding of how patients learn about complementary and alternative therapies, the nurse realizes that which of the following patients are most likely to use complementary or alternative therapy?

Accepted Answer

Patients who are more likely to use complementary or alternative therapies often have access to information and resources. A middle-aged woman who travels internationally may be exposed to diverse health practices (B), and a young mother who uses the Internet daily is likely to research and explore various health options (D).

Question 6

The nurse is assessing a patient who reports seeing an acupuncturist on a weekly basis to treat back pain. The nurse understands that acupuncture is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy, meaning it is used alongside conventional medical treatment to provide additional benefits. It is not considered a risk without evidence of efficacy nor a folk remedy, as it is a well-established traditional Chinese medicine practice. Acupuncture is also not considered an alternative therapy, as it is increasingly becoming integrated into mainstream medicine.

Question 7

In caring for pregnant patients, the nurse realizes that information on conventional, complementary, and alternative medicine is:

Accepted Answer

Information on conventional, complementary, and alternative medicine is readily obtainable on the Internet. However, it is important for the nurse to evaluate the credibility and reliability of the sources before providing information to the patient.

Question 8

The nurse counseling a pregnant woman who expresses a desire to take herbal supplements explains that complementary therapies carry risks because of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse counseling a pregnant woman who...

Question 9

The nurse is sitting with a patient in labor who practices meditation. The nurse understands from this that:

Accepted Answer

Meditation involves focusing on the present moment and letting go of distractions or thoughts. The goal is to achieve a calm state of mind and increased self-awareness. Option A assumes that meditation is always associated with religion, which is not necessarily the case. Option C describes visualization, which is another technique but not specifically related to meditation. Option D is similar to the goal of meditation but does not capture the technique or process involved in meditation.

Question 10

The nurse is planning a community education program on the role of complementary and alternative therapies during pregnancy. Which statement should the nurse include? "Alternative and complementary therapies:

Accepted Answer

Complementary and alternative therapies emphasize prevention and wellness. While they may provide relief from symptoms, they are not intended to cure illnesses or diseases. Some therapies may be invasive, but effectiveness varies, and none can guarantee prevention of pregnancy complications.

Question 11

The patient reports to the nurse that she is utilizing ayurvedic medicine. Which statements would the nurse expect this patient to make? "Aryurvedic medicine:

Accepted Answer

Ayurvedic medicine is based on the principles of balancing the body, mind, and spirit to achieve optimal health. This includes incorporating healthy lifestyle practices such as proper diet, exercise, and stress management. Ayurveda seeks to achieve balance and harmony in all aspects of life, including physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The other options (B and D) do not accurately describe the principles of ayurvedic medicine.

Question 12

The nurse is counseling a pregnant woman who intends to see a naturopathic physician. The nurse tells the woman that she can expect education on:

Accepted Answer

Naturopathic physicians commonly focus on educating patients about clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, and lifestyle modification as part of their approach to healthcare. The use of "like to cure like" and the role of yin and yang are concepts more often associated with traditional Chinese medicine, rather than naturopathic medicine.

Question 13

A nursing instructor is teaching a group of student nurses about the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Which statement, if made by a nursing student, would indicate the need for further teaching?

Accepted Answer

The statement that the NCCAM only distributes information to professional caregivers is incorrect. The NCCAM disseminates information to both professionals and the general public, so further teaching may be needed to correct this misconception.

Question 14

The nurse is teaching a community education class on complementary and alternative therapies. To assess learning, the nurse asks, "In traditional Chinese medicine, what is the invisible flow of energy in the body that maintains health and ensures physiologic functioning?" Which answer indicates teaching was successful?

Accepted Answer

In traditional Chinese medicine, the invisible flow of energy in the body that maintains health and ensures physiologic functioning is called "Chi." Meridians are the channels or pathways through which Chi flows. Yin and Yang are the two complementary forces that describe the nature of everything in the universe, including the human body, in traditional Chinese medicine.

Question 15

A pregnant patient tells the nurse that she takes part in complementary and alternative therapies to maintain wellness. Which situation that she describes would the nurse consider a risk?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A pregnant patient tells the nurse that...

Question 16

The nurse is teaching a class to the community on mind-body therapies. A class participant gives an example of a friend with leukemia who was taught by her complementary therapist to concentrate on making antibodies that will fight and kill the cancer cells in the bloodstream. The nurse would describe this technique as:

Accepted Answer

The described technique is an example of guided imagery, which involves using visualization and imagination to promote healing and relaxation.

Question 17

A Hindu patient being admitted to the hospital practices ayurveda. The nurse knows that which piece of information is true about this practice?

Accepted Answer

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India thousands of years ago. It is based on the belief that good health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda emphasizes good health and prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle practices such as yoga, meditation, and massage, as well as the use of herbal remedies and dietary changes. The three elements mentioned in choice C are actually called doshas, and choice D has an incorrect dosha name (should be kapha, not alpha).

Question 18

The nurse is admitting a patient in labor who states that she is a naturopath. The nurse understands that this patient believes:

Accepted Answer

Naturopathy is a holistic system of medicine that emphasizes the body's ability to heal itself. Naturopaths believe that the body is a self-regulating organism that has the ability to maintain health and heal itself when given the proper conditions. Naturopaths also believe that the body is a reflection of the mind and that emotional and spiritual health are essential for physical health.

Question 19

The charge nurse is providing an in-service for the nurses on the obstetrical unit about complementary and alternative medicine as it relates to conventional medicine. Which statement from a nurse indicates an understanding of the topic?

Accepted Answer

This statement correctly identifies the key difference between conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine, which is that the former focuses on treating illness, while the latter emphasizes wellness.

Question 20

The patient who is in her third trimester of pregnancy asks the nurse whether hydrotherapy might help her. The nurse explains that hydrotherapy makes use of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The patient who is in her third...

Quiz 3: Complementary and Alternative Therapies