Exam 18: Disorders of Thought, Emotion, and Memory

A 22-year-old female college student is shocked to receive a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. What are the etiology and most likely treatment for her health problem?

A toddler is displaying signs and symptoms of weakness and muscle atrophy. The pediatric neurologist suspects it may be a lower motor neuron disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The patient's family asks how he got this. The nurse will respond

After being thrown off the back of a bull, the bull rider can move his arms but has loss of motor function in the lumbar and sacral segments of the spinal cord. This is usually referred to as

Several months ago, a 20-year-old male suffered a spinal cord injury brought about by a snowboard trick gone wrong. The lasting effects of his injury include a flaccid bowel and bladder and the inability to obtain an erection. While sensation has been completely preserved in his legs and feet, his motor function is significantly impaired. What type of incomplete spinal cord injury has the man most likely experienced?

If the nurse suspects a spinal cord injury, the patient has developed autonomic dysreflexia. Which of the following assessments would confirm this complication? Select all that apply.

Which of the following individuals is likely to have the best prognosis for recovery from his or her insult to the peripheral nervous system? An adult

The geriatrician providing care for a 74-year-old man with diagnosis of Parkinson disease has recently changed the client's medication regimen. What is the most likely focus of the pharmacologic treatment of the man's health problem?

The nurse should anticipate she will need to teach the newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patient how to give injections if he is prescribed which medication to modify the course of the disease by reducing exacerbations?

The parents of a 3-year-old boy have brought him to a pediatrician for assessment of the boy's late ambulation and frequent falls. Subsequent muscle biopsy has confirmed a diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Which of the following teaching points should the physician include when explaining the child's diagnosis to his parents?

A 41-year-old woman was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 7 years ago and is sharing her story with members of an MS support group, many of whom have been diagnosed recently. Which of the following aspects of her health problem should the woman warn others to expect at some point in the progression of the disease? Select all that apply.

During a flu shot clinic, one of the questions the student nurse asks relates to whether the patient has had Guillain-Barré syndrome in his medical history. The patient asks, "What is that?" How should the nursing student reply?

A 47-year-old woman was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 3 years ago and has experienced a progressive onset and severity of complications. She has been admitted to a palliative care unit due to her poor prognosis? What assessments and interventions should the nursing staff of the unit prioritize in their care?

A nurse working in a busy orthopedic clinic is asked to perform the Tinel sign on a patient having problems in his hand/wrist. In order to test Tinel sign, the nurse should give the patient which of the following directions?

The unique clinical presentation of a 3-month-old infant in the emergency department leads the care team to suspect botulism. Which of the following assessment questions posed to the parents is likely to be most useful in the differential diagnosis?

A middle-aged woman is brought to the emergency room after a minor auto accident. Her gait is staggering and unsteady; her speech is slurred; and she displays slight nystagmus. The police officer who brought her in says she has not been drinking. Her blood pressure is very high. which of the following health problems most likely underlies her present state?

A 70-year-old male has been diagnosed with a stroke that resulted in an infarct to his cerebellum. Which of the following clinical findings would be most closely associated with cerebellar insult?

A clinician is conducting an assessment of a male client suspected of having a disorder of motor function. Which of the following assessment findings would suggest a possible upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion?

A 60-year-old male office worker presents to a clinic complaining of new onset of lower back pain that has been worsening over the last 6 weeks. The nurse knows which of the following components of his physical assessment and history is most indicative of a serious pathological process (like aortic aneurysm or cancer)?

During a late night study session, a pathophysiology student reaches out to turn the page of her textbook. Which of the following components of her nervous system contains the highest level of control of her arm and hand action?

A patient is asked to stand with feet together, eyes open, and hands by the sides. Then the patient is asked to close his eyes while the nurse observes for a full minute. What assessment is the nurse performing?