Deck 36: Coordinating Care for Patients With Brain Disorders

Question 1

A patient with Parkinson's disease is prescribed carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet).Which clinical manifestation should the nurse expect to be most affected with this medication?

A) Tremors
B) Mood instability
C) Impaired balance
D) Behavioral changes

Answer 1

Tremors

Question 2

The nurse suspects that a patient is experiencing Parkinson's disease.What did the nurse assess to make this clinical determination?

A) Photophobia
B) Nuchal rigidity
C) Slow movements
D) Elevated body temperature

Answer 2

Slow movements

Question 3

The nurse is reviewing medical orders written for a patient with encephalitis.Which medication should the nurse expect to be prescribed as a priority for this patient?

A) Antiviral
B) Antibiotic
C) Antiemetic
D) Antiseizure

Answer 3

Antiviral

Question 4

It is believed that a patient's migraine headaches are caused by vascular constriction.Which medication should the nurse expect to be prescribed for this patient?

A) Citalopram (Celexa)
B) Imipramine (Tofranil)
C) Amlodipine (Norvasc)
D) Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

Question 5

The nurse is planning discharge instructions for a patient recovering from surgery to debulk a brain tumor.Why should self-monitoring of capillary blood glucose level be a part of this teaching?

A) Taking steroid medication
B) Manipulation of cerebral tissue
C) Interruption of glucose regulation in the brain
D) Alteration in oral intake from chemotherapy

Question 6

The nurse is preparing medications for a client with encephalitis.Which medication should the nurse question before administering?

A) Furosemide (Lasix)
B) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
C) Docusate sodium (Colace)
D) Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

Question 7

The nurse is concerned that a patient's Alzheimer's disease is progressing.What finding did the nurse use to confirm this suspicion?

A) Inability to recall the word for "car"
B) Misplacement of health insurance cards
C) Unable to find sweater in the waiting room
D) Leaving the practitioner's office without taking prescriptions

Question 8

The nurse is planning care for a patient with meningitis.What teaching material should be prepared to explain the prescribed treatment for this disorder?

A) Fluid restriction
B) Low-fat,low-calorie diet
C) Over-the-counter analgesics
D) Long-term antibiotic therapy

Question 9

The nurse suspects that a patient with photophobia is experiencing encephalitis.What observation of the patient's behavior caused the nurse to make this clinical decision?

A) Closed the eyes
B) Covered the ears with both hands
C) Placed both hands in coat pockets
D) Rubbed the thighs with both hands

Question 10

The nurse is admitting a patient experiencing photophobia and nuchal rigidity.For which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare this patient?

A) Lumbar puncture
B) Evoked potentials
C) CT scan with contrast
D) Electroencephalogram

Question 11

The health-care professional is identifying the best course of treatment for a patient with a brain tumor.What should be considered when selecting chemotherapeutic agents for this patient?

A) Cause mild neutropenia
B) Cross the blood-brain barrier
C) Restrict weight loss and hair loss
D) Limit the development of mucositis

Question 12

A patient returns to the community clinic after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.What should the nurse expect to see documented in the patient's medical record to support this diagnosis?

A) Rigidity with ambulation
B) Unremarkable electroencephalogram
C) Results of serum potassium and calcium levels
D) Integrity of cerebral vessels after a cerebral angiogram

Question 13

During a home visit the nurse considers physical therapy for a patient recovering from encephalitis.What would be the best explanation for this referral?

A) Rehabilitation from hemiparesis
B) Deconditioning from extended bedrest
C) Improve use of limbs because of paresthesias
D) Improve balance because of cerebellum dysfunction

Question 14

A patient has been experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure for five minutes.What should the nurse do first?

A) Assess carotid pulse
B) Prepare to insert an airway
C) Provide rescue breathing
D) Insert an intravenous access line

Question 15

The nurse is preparing material for a community health fair.What should the nurse identify as being the most common cause of headache pain in adults?

A) Mixed
B) Cluster
C) Tension
D) Migraine

Question 16

The nurse interrupts unlicensed assistive personnel who is assisting a patient with Parkinson's disease with breakfast.Which observation caused the nurse to immediately intervene?

A) Patient sitting out of bed in a chair
B) Head of the bed raised to 30 degrees
C) Thickener added to liquid menu items
D) Oral suction catheter equipment turned on

Question 17

A patient with a seizure disorder asks the purpose of staying awake all night prior to having an electroencephalogram in the morning.What should the nurse explain to this patient?

A) "You will be expected to sleep during the test."
B) "Most people with seizure disorders receive too much sleep."
C) "This is the only way to prove that you really have a seizure disorder."
D) "Sleep deprivation can cause a seizure,which will be helpful during the test."

Question 18

During morning care a patient with a seizure disorder asks why the room has suddenly turned green.What should the nurse do?

A) Ask the patient to explain
B) Prepare for a seizure to begin
C) Turn on the overhead room lights
D) Document visual hallucinations present

Question 19

A patient with meningitis is prescribed a cooling blanket.What should the nurse explain as being the purpose of this device?

A) Relieves pain
B) Increases cerebral venous outflow
C) Decreases oxygen demand in the brain
D) Reduces the transmission of the infection

Question 20

A patient is diagnosed with a continuous headache syndrome.What treatment should the nurse expect to be prescribed for this patient?

A) Antibiotics
B) Diuretic therapy
C) Intravenous fluids
D) Sodium restriction

Question 21

During a home visit the nurse is concerned that the patient with Alzheimer's disease is deteriorating.What patient observation caused the nurse to have this concern?

A) Sitting in a chair watching a television program
B) Staying away from the door leading to the back yard
C) No recognition of bowel incontinence during the visit
D) Eating cheese and crackers placed on a table near the living room chair

Question 22

A patient is suspected of having Alzheimer's disease.What diagnostic testing should the nurse expect to provide a presumptive diagnosis of this disorder?

A) Echocardiogram
B) Cerebral angiogram
C) Serum medication levels
D) History and physical examination