C HAPTER 19: A SSISTING WITH H YGIENE ,
P ERSONAL C ARE , S KIN C ARE , AND THE
P REVENTION OF P RESSURE U LCERS
Williams: deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, 5th
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Providing oral care to a patient who has dentures includes:
a. asking the patient to place his teeth directly in a covered, labeled
container for overnight storage.
b. removing, cleaning, and stori ng the dentures in a labeled container
at bedtime.
c. cleaning the dentures in hot water after each meal to remove debris
and bacteria.
d. using a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the dentures in the
patient’s mouth.
ANS: B
Dentures should be removed and cle aned before they are stored. Hot
water should never be used. Dentures may be cleaned in the patient’s
mouth, but they need to be removed to clean the patient’s palate and
gums, as well as the undersides of the dentures.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 304, Skill 19 -3
OBJ: Clinical Practice #4 TOP: Oral Care KEY:
, Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: basic care and comfort
2. The nurse caring for a patient who is not taking any food or fluids by
mouth because he is unconscious is aware that the patient:
a. does not need mouth care as frequentl y as the patient who is eating
and drinking.
b. should have complete mouth care once a day when the nurse
assesses the condition of his skin and mucous membranes.
c. needs to have his mouth swabbed to moisten and remove secretions
every 4 hours.
d. should have his lips lubricated and his teeth brushed with
mouthwash once a shift.
ANS: C
An unconscious patient needs mouth care about every 4 hours to
prevent drying of secretions, h alitosis, and possible blocking of the
respiratory passage with accumulated dried secretions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 302 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #3 TOP: Oral Care KEY: Nursing
Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX:
Physiologi cal Integrity: basic care and comfort
3. It is most important for the nurse to write specific personal care plan
modifications for the patient who:
a. is 76 years old, alert, oriented, and able to provide his own care.
b. had a hip replacement 2 years ago and uses a cane to ambulate.
c. has an artificial eye and poor vision in the other.
, d. prefers a tub bath to a shower, preferabl y before bedtime.
ANS: C
Special care is necessary for the artificial eye, especiall y because the
patient has poor vision in the remaining e ye.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: p. 310 OBJ:
Theory #6 TOP: Hygiene KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrit y: basic care
and comfort
4. A 20-year-old male patient is admitted after an auto accident. He has
blood and dirt matted in his hair. The nurse should:
a. blot the tangled, bloodied hair and then provide a bed shampoo to
remove the remaining dirt and debris.
b. comb the tangles out with a fine -toothed comb, starting at the scalp
and working down to the ends of t he strands.
c. remove tangles by using alcohol or water on small sections of hair,
holding the hair between the scalp and the area the nurse is brushing
or combing.
d. shampoo the hair as well as possible and leave the tangles alone.
ANS: C
Removing tangles in small sections is more comfortable for the patient.
Trying to shampoo before removing some of the tangles makes the
situation worse.
P ERSONAL C ARE , S KIN C ARE , AND THE
P REVENTION OF P RESSURE U LCERS
Williams: deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, 5th
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Providing oral care to a patient who has dentures includes:
a. asking the patient to place his teeth directly in a covered, labeled
container for overnight storage.
b. removing, cleaning, and stori ng the dentures in a labeled container
at bedtime.
c. cleaning the dentures in hot water after each meal to remove debris
and bacteria.
d. using a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the dentures in the
patient’s mouth.
ANS: B
Dentures should be removed and cle aned before they are stored. Hot
water should never be used. Dentures may be cleaned in the patient’s
mouth, but they need to be removed to clean the patient’s palate and
gums, as well as the undersides of the dentures.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 304, Skill 19 -3
OBJ: Clinical Practice #4 TOP: Oral Care KEY:
, Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: basic care and comfort
2. The nurse caring for a patient who is not taking any food or fluids by
mouth because he is unconscious is aware that the patient:
a. does not need mouth care as frequentl y as the patient who is eating
and drinking.
b. should have complete mouth care once a day when the nurse
assesses the condition of his skin and mucous membranes.
c. needs to have his mouth swabbed to moisten and remove secretions
every 4 hours.
d. should have his lips lubricated and his teeth brushed with
mouthwash once a shift.
ANS: C
An unconscious patient needs mouth care about every 4 hours to
prevent drying of secretions, h alitosis, and possible blocking of the
respiratory passage with accumulated dried secretions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 302 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #3 TOP: Oral Care KEY: Nursing
Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX:
Physiologi cal Integrity: basic care and comfort
3. It is most important for the nurse to write specific personal care plan
modifications for the patient who:
a. is 76 years old, alert, oriented, and able to provide his own care.
b. had a hip replacement 2 years ago and uses a cane to ambulate.
c. has an artificial eye and poor vision in the other.
, d. prefers a tub bath to a shower, preferabl y before bedtime.
ANS: C
Special care is necessary for the artificial eye, especiall y because the
patient has poor vision in the remaining e ye.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: p. 310 OBJ:
Theory #6 TOP: Hygiene KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrit y: basic care
and comfort
4. A 20-year-old male patient is admitted after an auto accident. He has
blood and dirt matted in his hair. The nurse should:
a. blot the tangled, bloodied hair and then provide a bed shampoo to
remove the remaining dirt and debris.
b. comb the tangles out with a fine -toothed comb, starting at the scalp
and working down to the ends of t he strands.
c. remove tangles by using alcohol or water on small sections of hair,
holding the hair between the scalp and the area the nurse is brushing
or combing.
d. shampoo the hair as well as possible and leave the tangles alone.
ANS: C
Removing tangles in small sections is more comfortable for the patient.
Trying to shampoo before removing some of the tangles makes the
situation worse.
