Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has HIV and who has been diagnosed with acute pneumonia. Which situation demonstrates an understanding of the nurse's role in the current focus on management of chronic illness and disability?

1) Teaching the patient to avoid crowds
2) Administering medication for pain relief
3) Assisting with activities of daily living
4) Monitoring vital signs regularly

Answer 1

Teaching a patient with HIV to avoid crowds is an example of the nurse's role in managing chronic illness, aligning with the modern approach to treating HIV as a manageable chronic condition with education on risk reduction.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse caring for a client with HIV and acute pneumonia demonstrates an understanding of the role in the management of chronic illness and disability by teaching the patient to avoid crowds. This action is proactive in preventing opportunistic infections, such as the pneumonia the patient currently has, by minimizing exposure to potential pathogens in crowded environments.

In the context of HIV, which has evolved from being a fatal disease to a chronic condition manageable with antiretroviral therapy, the nurse's role extends beyond just treating symptoms to include patient education on behaviors to reduce the risk of infection and transmission.