Question 1

What is the importance of the nurse asking about the patient's use of alternative therapies when obtaining a health history?

Accepted Answer

Some alternative therapies may have serious side effects. As a rule, complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies are not curative or healing as is allopathic medicine. Some complementary therapies are covered by insurance, but alternative remedies are not.

Question 2

During a follow-up visit with a patient recently started on Coumadin, the home health nurse is concerned after seeing an herbal remedy that enhances the effect of anticoagulants by the patient's bedside. What is this herbal remedy?

Accepted Answer

Asian ginseng may enhance the effect of Coumadin.

Question 3

The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from a hip replacement and is providing education regarding exercises in physical therapy. What type of therapy should the nurse call these exercises?

Accepted Answer

Complementary therapies are used in addition to conventional therapies.

Question 4

What is a therapeutic treatment that joins the mind and body and increases muscle tone and flexibility?

Accepted Answer

Yoga therapy is the joining of the mind, body, and spirit to enrich the quality of one's life. Yoga also increases muscle tone and flexibility.

Question 5

Herbs have not been approved for use as drugs. How are herbs allowed to be sold?

Accepted Answer

Herbs are sold as food supplements.

Question 6

Confusion and misinformation relative to herbal medicine can make patients reluctant to disclose their herbal use to health care providers. What should be the nurse's approach?

Accepted Answer

A nonjudgmental open attitude will encourage the patient to share information about the use of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine).

Question 7

The nurse describes a therapy that can produce a state of decreased cognitive, physiological, and/or behavioral arousal. To what alternative therapy is the nurse referring?

Accepted Answer

Relaxation is the state of general decreased cognitive, physiological, and/or behavior arousal.

Question 8

What should the nurse instruct a patient who takes tincture of rosemary to do several times a day?

Accepted Answer

Rosemary can cause photosensitivity.

Question 9

The nurse is educating a patient with phlebitis of the left leg. What alternative therapy should this patient avoid until the condition is resolved?

Accepted Answer

Therapeutic massage is contraindicated in conditions such as thrombosis, phlebitis, and infective skin diseases.

Question 10

The nurse is educating a patient regarding reflexology. Information includes that reflexology is a therapy based on the theory that the entire body can be reached by applying pressure to specific areas. Where is pressure mainly applied?

Accepted Answer

In reflexology it is thought that the entire body can be reached by applying pressure to specific areas on the feet.

Question 11

The nurse is obtaining health history information on a new patient at a physician's office and he or she records a barbiturate medication on the current list. What herb should the nurse ask if the patient is taking?

Accepted Answer

Valerian enhances the effect of barbiturates.

Question 12

What is the goal of herbal therapy?

Accepted Answer

The goal of herbal therapy is to restore balance.

Question 13

What will placing an herb in alcohol or vinegar make?

Accepted Answer

Tinctures are made by placing the herb in alcohol or vinegar.

Question 14

An older adult patient tells the home health nurse, "My doctor hasn't helped my arthritis at all. I am using the chiropractor now." What change has the patient made?

Accepted Answer

Alternative therapies may become the primary treatment modality; for instance, the patient switching from traditional (allopathic) medicine to chiropractic (alternative).

Question 15

What is the responsibility of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)?

Accepted Answer

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine was established to facilitate the evaluation of alternative medical treatment.

Question 16

What is true regarding manufacturers of herbal remedy products?

Accepted Answer

Herbal remedy manufacturers are not required by law to demonstrate the safety of their products.

Question 17

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that uses fine needles placed in acupoints. What is the believed purpose of these acupoints?

Accepted Answer

Acupuncture therapy uses needles placed in acupoints to open meridians to release qi (life force).

Question 18

What type of alternative therapy is the nurse practicing when using essential oils to provide inhalation treatments?

Accepted Answer

Aromatherapy uses pure essential oils to provide health benefits.

Question 19

Which term describes using the conscious mind to create situations that evoke physical changes in the body?

Accepted Answer

Imagery uses the conscious mind to create images that evoke physical changes in the body.

Question 20

What type of therapy is thought to increase circulation to the affected area, promote healing, and stimulate acupuncture points?

Accepted Answer

Magnets are thought to increase circulation to affected areas, promote healing, and stimulate acupuncture points.

Quiz 17: Complementary and Alternative Therapies