Question 1

The client asks the nurse about different herbal therapies that may promote physical endurance and reduce stress.Based on the client's request,the nurse provides information on:
A) Ginseng
B) Ginger
C) Echinacea
D) Chamomile

Accepted Answer

Ginseng is believed to have an effect of increased physical endurance,balancing of the body,and increasing resistance to stress.Ginger is known for its effect as an antiemetic.Echinacea is known for stimulation of the immune system and as an antiinflammatory and antibacterial agent.Chamomile is believed to have an antiinflammatory,antispasmodic,and antiinfective effect.

Question 2

A client at the clinic informs the nurse during an examination that he has been taking chaparral as an anticancer agent.The client asks if there is any reason why this remedy should not be taken.The nurse responds accurately when telling the client that chaparral:
A) Should not be taken with coffee or other caffeinated beverages
B) May induce veno-occlusive disease
C) Contains a carcinogenic substance
D) Is associated with liver toxicity

Accepted Answer

Chaparral is an herb used for an anticancer effect.It has no proven efficacy and may induce severe liver toxicity.There are no contraindications for taking chaparral with coffee or other caffeinated beverages.Ephedra should be avoided with the consumption of caffeine.Chaparral does not induce veno-occlusive disease.However,comfrey may do so.Chaparral is not known to contain a carcinogenic substance.Sassafras and calamus may contain a carcinogenic substance.

Question 3

A client diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes shares with the nurse that he has been using meditation to deal with the chronic pain he experiences from an old back injury.Which of the following questions shows the best understanding of the effects of meditation on the client's systemic functions?
A) "How many times a day do you meditate?"
B) "Have you monitored your blood pressure lately?"
C) "Have you had any improvement with your pain?"
D) "Are you currently taking blood pressure medication?"

Accepted Answer

Meditation may increase the effects of certain drugs.For example,monitor individuals taking antihypertensive medications or thyroid-regulating,antidepressant,or antianxiety medications.Prolonged practice of meditation techniques sometimes leads to the reduced need for certain medications such as antihypertensive medications.Whatever the case,monitor individuals learning meditation closely for physiological changes with respect to their medications.Adjustment of the medication is sometimes necessary.While the remaining options are not inappropriate,they do not assess the primary issue regarding medication.

Question 4

Which of the following statements,made by a client experiencing anxiety who practices relaxation techniques regularly,requires follow-up by the nurse?
A) "I want to share this with my sister;her life is stressful,too."
B) "Relaxation gives me a sense of being in control of my anxiety."
C) "Relaxation helps me feel less physically tense so my blood pressure is lower."
D) "If I practice relaxation techniques often enough,I won't need my antianxiety medication anymore."

Accepted Answer

Complementary therapies are those therapies used in addition to conventional treatment recommended by the person's health care provider.They do not replace the prescribed treatment plan.

Question 5

In selecting an appropriate alternative therapy,the nurse knows that the client who has Raynaud's disease with intermittent peripheral ischemia may benefit the most from:
A) Relaxation therapy
B) Imagery
C) Biofeedback
D) Acupuncture

Accepted Answer

Biofeedback techniques are used to assist individuals in learning how to control specific autonomic nervous system responses.With Raynaud's disease,clients experience intermittent vasospastic attacks of small arteries and arterioles of the hands (most commonly)and/or the feet.Biofeedback can be used to control this autonomic response.Relaxation therapy is not the best selection of an alternative therapy for the client with Raynaud's disease.Imagery has not been proven to help the client with Raynaud's disease.Acupuncture is not the best selection of an alternative therapy for the client with Raynaud's disease.Acupuncture is more frequently used to treat pain.

Question 6

Which of the following clients is most likely to experience the best response from a complementary therapy?
A) A 5-year-old receiving a painful injection
B) A 35-year-old having a diagnostic spinal tap
C) A 55-year-old being catheterized post surgery
D) A 15-year-old being casted for a wrist fracture

Accepted Answer

While most complementary therapies are successful to some degree with most age groups,most complementary therapies successfully reduced discomfort among children.

Question 7

The client asks "Is there anything else we can do to help control my pain?" The nurse's most informed suggestion concerning complementary therapies is:
A) "Massage therapy may help you;it certainly helped me."
B) "Most complementary therapies will help decrease your pain."
C) "Have you ever thought about seeing a chiropractor? Manipulation often helps decrease pain."
D) "Acupressure uses appropriately applied pressure to specific body points,thus decreasing pain."

Accepted Answer

Acupressure is a therapeutic technique of applying digital pressure in a specified way on designated points on the body to relieve pain,produce analgesia,or regulate a body function.The remaining options make assumptions concerning the origin of the pain and may suggest inappropriate therapies.It is also inappropriate to include such a personal comment as to refer to one's own pain.

Question 8

A nurse needs to be alert to possible negative responses to biobehavioral therapies.Clients who have reacted negatively have most often experienced:
A) Aggressive behaviors
B) Delusions
C) Insomnia
D) Loss-of-control sensations

Accepted Answer

A person who has a strong fear of losing control,or who has experienced sensations of loss of control,may perceive meditation as a form of mind control and thus may be resistant to learning the technique.Some clients may uncover repressed emotions or feelings they cannot cope with during relaxation and/or biofeedback sessions.A benefit of most biobehavioral therapies,such as meditation,is that it lowers irritability.Aggression is an unlikely response.Delusions are not a result of biobehavioral therapies.Many biobehavioral therapies,such as meditation,reduce insomnia.

Question 9

Research currently identifies which of the following as the primary reason nurses do not use complementary therapies?
A) Workloads prevent routine implementation
B) Client reluctance to participate appropriately
C) General bias regarding effects of the therapies
D) Lack of education regarding their appropriate uses

Accepted Answer

Nurses' lack of education about how to apply complementary techniques seems to be a barrier to their use of effective nonpharmacological interventions.

Question 10

A practitioner or client who uses traditional Chinese medicine bases the therapy on the primary concept of:
A) Yin/yang
B) Meridians
C) Six evil senses
D) Acupoints

Accepted Answer

The most important concept of Chinese medicine is the concept of yin and yang,which represent opposing,yet complementary phenomena that exist in a state of dynamic equilibrium.When there is an imbalance in these two-paired opposites,then it is thought that disease occurs.Meridians are the channels of energy that run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface.It is not the primary concept of traditional Chinese medicine.The six evil senses are external causes of disease according to traditional Chinese medicine.They are wind,cold,fire,damp,summer heat,and dryness.This is not the primary concept on which traditional Chinese medicine is based.Acupoints are certain points on the body where special needles are inserted to modify the perception of pain,normalize physiological functions,or treat or prevent disease.Acupuncture is just one healing modality used in traditional Chinese medicine.It is not the primary concept on which traditional Chinese medicine is based.

Question 11

During the admission history,the client informs the nurse that she follows a macrobiotic diet.The nurse knows that the client's diet includes:
A) Increased meats and other proteins
B) A 30%/40%/30% protein/carbohydrate/fat ratio
C) Increased intake of vitamin C and beta-carotene
D) Whole grains,vegetables,and fish

Accepted Answer

A macrobiotic diet is predominantly a vegan diet (no animal products except fish).Emphasis is placed on whole cereal grains,vegetables,and unprocessed foods.A macrobiotic diet does not include meats,only fish and plant proteins.The "Zone" is a dietary program that requires eating protein,carbohydrate,and fat in a 30%/40%/30% ratio.Orthomolecular medicine (megavitamin)diet includes an increased intake of vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Question 12

A client is dealing with chronic pain.The nurse suggests implementation of relaxation techniques.The nurse's most informed response to the client's question "How is relaxing going to help my pain?" would be:
A) "What have you got to lose? It could certainly help."
B) "It will increase the effectiveness of the pain medication you're taking."
C) "Relaxing has been very helpful for people,especially those in severe pain."
D) "Relaxing your muscles is a better way for your body to respond to the pain."

Accepted Answer

Complementary therapies teach individuals ways in which to change their behavior to alter physical responses to stress and improve symptoms such as muscle tension,gastrointestinal discomfort,pain,or sleep disturbances.While one of the options appears too flippant an answer,the remaining options may be true but do not address the question as thoroughly.

Question 13

In selecting an appropriate alternative therapy,the nurse knows that the client who may benefit the most from the passive type of relaxation is one who is experiencing:
A) Hypertension
B) Terminal cancer
C) Work-related stress
D) Dysfunctional grieving

Accepted Answer

Passive relaxation is useful for persons for whom the effort and energy expenditure of active muscle contraction lead to discomfort or exhaustion,such as the person with terminal cancer.Relaxation has been shown to contribute significantly to cancer palliative care.The person with hypertension would not require the passive type of relaxation.The person with work-related stress would not require the passive type of relaxation.The client experiencing dysfunctional grieving would not require the passive type of relaxation.Therapeutic touch has been found effective in improving the mood in bereaved adults.

Question 14

The nurse's most informed response to the client's question "What is a complementary therapy?" would be:
A) "Relaxation is an example of a complementary therapy."
B) "It is any intervention that increases your ability to cope with illness."
C) "Massage therapy is complementary to muscle relaxant medications."
D) "They are therapies that are used in addition to what your PCP orders."

Accepted Answer

Complementary therapies are those therapies used in addition to conventional treatment recommended by the person's health care provider.The remaining options,while providing examples,do not thoroughly define the term for the client.

Question 15

The nurse recognizes that which one of the following statements is correct concerning complementary and alternative medicine?
A) One third to one half of the U.S.population uses one or more forms of alternative therapy.
B) Insurance coverage is available at the same amount as for traditional medicine.
C) Use of alternative therapies is still not incorporated into medical journals.
D) Use of alternative therapies is primarily by those who are less educated or in a lower socioeconomic group.

Accepted Answer

Between one third and one half of the population in the United States uses one or more forms of complementary or alternative medicine.Insurance coverage of complementary and alternative medicine is increasing,but it is not available at the same amount as for traditional medicine.The interest in complementary and alternative medicine is evident in the increased number of articles about it in respected medical journals and the development of several journals that specifically focus on complementary and alternative medicine.Typically those who use alternative therapies are professional,well-educated,and from a higher socioeconomic standing.

Question 16

The nurse is aware of the positive responses that may be obtained with the use of alternative therapies.A benefit that the client can gain from relaxation therapy is a decrease in:
A) Receptivity
B) Peripheral skin temperature
C) Oxygen consumption
D) Alpha brain activity

Accepted Answer

The relaxation response is characterized by decreased heart and respiratory rates,decreased blood pressure,decreased oxygen consumption,and increased alpha brain activity and peripheral skin temperature.A cognitive benefit of relaxation therapy is increased receptivity (i.e. ,the ability to tolerate and accept experiences that may be uncertain,unfamiliar,or paradoxical).Relaxation therapy increases peripheral skin temperature,not decreases it.Relaxation therapy increases alpha brain activity,not decreases it.

Question 17

The nurse is preparing to assist the client with meditation and breathing.In preparing to implement this therapy,the first step is to:
A) Position the client
B) Provide a warm environment
C) Have the client close his/her eyes
D) Note areas of tension or pain

Accepted Answer

The first step in assisting a client with meditation and breathing is to position the client comfortably.A quiet space is required,not necessarily a warm environment.The first step is not to have the client close his or her eyes,but to get the client in a comfortable position in a quiet environment.Furthermore,the client does not have to close his or her eyes to meditate and breathe.The first step is to assist the client into a comfortable position,not to note areas of tension or pain.

Question 18

The nurse is preparing a presentation on alternative therapies for a community group.The nurse should identify that herbal therapies are:
A) Approved by the Food and Drug Administration,under the Food,Drug,and Cosmetic Act
B) Sold as medicines in most stores because they lack major side effects
C) Allowed to be packaged as dietary supplements if they are without health claims
D) Consistent in their standards for concentrations of major ingredients and additives

Accepted Answer

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act passed in 1994 allows herbs to be sold as dietary supplements if there are no health claims written on their labels.Herbal medicines have not undergone the same rigorous testing as pharmaceuticals have;therefore the majority have not received approval for use as drugs.Many herbal medicines are sold as foods or food supplements in health food stores and through private companies because they do not have FDA approval to be sold as a drug.When herbal medicines are developed,concentrations of the active ingredients have been found to vary considerably.Not all companies follow strict quality control and manufacturing guidelines,which set standards for acceptable levels of pesticides,residual solvents,bacterial levels,and heavy metals.

Question 19

In selecting alternative therapies,the nurse recognizes that therapeutic touch may be most effective with a:
A) Premature infant
B) Headache sufferer
C) Pregnant woman
D) Psychiatric client

Accepted Answer

Studies have found that therapeutic touch is effective in reducing headache pain.Clients such as premature infants,who are sensitive to energy repatterning,may need to avoid therapeutic touch.Clients such as pregnant women,who are sensitive to energy repatterning,may need to avoid therapeutic touch.Persons who are sensitive to human interaction and touch (e.g. ,those who have been physically abused or have psychiatric disorders)may misinterpret the intent of the treatment and may feel threatened and anxious by the treatment.

Question 20

The client has a history of gastrointestinal problems and has used herbal remedies in the past.The nurse expects that this client will be taking:
A) Chamomile
B) St.John's wort
C) Echinacea
D) Ginkgo biloba

Accepted Answer

Chamomile is used for inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tracts,and for gastrointestinal spasms.It may also be used to treat infections and inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.St.John's wort is used to treat mild to moderate depression and viral infections,and to aid wound healing.Echinacea is used to treat upper respiratory tract infections and allergic rhinitis,and to aid wound healing.Ginkgo biloba has been used for many health conditions including Alzheimer's disease,dementia,eye disease,heart disease,poor circulation,varicose veins,anxiety,and age-related diseases.

Quiz 36: Complementary and Alternative Therapies

The client asks the nurse about different herbal therapies that may promote physical endurance and reduce stress.Based on the client's request,the nurse provides information on:

A client at the clinic informs the nurse during an examination that he has been taking chaparral as an anticancer agent.The client asks if there is any reason why this remedy should not be taken.The nurse responds accurately when telling the client that chaparral:

Which of the following statements,made by a client experiencing anxiety who practices relaxation techniques regularly,requires follow-up by the nurse?

In selecting an appropriate alternative therapy,the nurse knows that the client who has Raynaud's disease with intermittent peripheral ischemia may benefit the most from:

Which of the following clients is most likely to experience the best response from a complementary therapy?

The client asks "Is there anything else we can do to help control my pain?" The nurse's most informed suggestion concerning complementary therapies is:

A nurse needs to be alert to possible negative responses to biobehavioral therapies.Clients who have reacted negatively have most often experienced:

Research currently identifies which of the following as the primary reason nurses do not use complementary therapies?

A practitioner or client who uses traditional Chinese medicine bases the therapy on the primary concept of:

During the admission history,the client informs the nurse that she follows a macrobiotic diet.The nurse knows that the client's diet includes:

A client is dealing with chronic pain.The nurse suggests implementation of relaxation techniques.The nurse's most informed response to the client's question "How is relaxing going to help my pain?" would be:

In selecting an appropriate alternative therapy,the nurse knows that the client who may benefit the most from the passive type of relaxation is one who is experiencing:

The nurse's most informed response to the client's question "What is a complementary therapy?" would be:

The nurse recognizes that which one of the following statements is correct concerning complementary and alternative medicine?

The nurse is aware of the positive responses that may be obtained with the use of alternative therapies.A benefit that the client can gain from relaxation therapy is a decrease in:

The nurse is preparing to assist the client with meditation and breathing.In preparing to implement this therapy,the first step is to:

The nurse is preparing a presentation on alternative therapies for a community group.The nurse should identify that herbal therapies are:

In selecting alternative therapies,the nurse recognizes that therapeutic touch may be most effective with a:

The client has a history of gastrointestinal problems and has used herbal remedies in the past.The nurse expects that this client will be taking: