Question 1

A patient with trigeminal neuralgia asks if there are any nonpharmacological strategies to treat the pain.What should the nurse suggest to this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   Massage
B)   Apply heat
C)   Apply cold
D)   Acupuncture D

Question 2

A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)is receiving plasmapheresis.What finding should the nurse identify as being a complication of this treatment?

Accepted Answer

A)   Septicemia
B)   Flu-like symptoms
C)   Aseptic meningitis
D)   Acute renal failure A

Question 3

A patient is scheduled for surgery to treat trigeminal neuralgia.For which procedure should the nurse explain that a complication resulting in permanent numbness of the facial area might occur?

Accepted Answer

A)   Plasmapheresis
B)   Percutaneous rhizotomy
C)   Stereotactic radiosurgery
D)   Microvascular decompression B

Question 4

The nurse is reviewing discharge instructions for a patient with myasthenia gravis.What should the nurse emphasize regarding medications?

Accepted Answer

A)   Keep extra doses of medication in the car
B)   Store extra doses of medication in the refrigerator
C)   Take an extra dose of medication before leaving the house
D)   Pack prescribed medications in a suitcase before flying on an airplane

Question 5

A patient with myasthenia gravis has lost 6 kg of weight over the last two months.What should the nurse suggest to improve this patient's nutritional status?

Accepted Answer

A)   Eat three large meals per day
B)   Plan medication doses to occur before meals
C)   Restrict drinking fluids prior to and during meals
D)   Increase the amount of fat and carbohydrates in meals

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient with myasthenia gravis.Which assessment should the nurse complete to determine respiratory functioning?

Accepted Answer

A)   Vital capacity
B)   Pulse oximetry
C)   Auscultate lung sounds
D)   Arterial blood gas analysis

Question 7

A patient is experiencing bilateral symmetrical muscle weakness and sensory changes of both feet and legs.What should the nurse expect to assess that determines the presence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)?

Accepted Answer

A)   Areflexia
B)   Hyporeflexia
C)   Hyperreflexia
D)   Hyperanalgesia

Question 8

The nurse is conducting a physical examination on a female patient experiencing trigeminal neuralgia.What observation indicates that the pain is triggered by hygienic practices?

Accepted Answer

A)   Limited talking
B)   Hair not combed
C)   Wearing tennis shoes
D)   Not wearing makeup

Question 9

The nurse is concerned that a patient is at risk for trigeminal neuralgia.What information in the patient's medical record did the nurse use to make this clinical decision?

Accepted Answer

A)   Has a BMI of 34
B)   Takes birth control pills
C)   History of hypertension
D)   Works as a computer operator

Question 10

The nurse notes that a patient has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia.What should the nurse expect the patient to be experiencing?

Accepted Answer

A)   Pain
B)   Nausea
C)   Sensory deficit
D)   Motor weakness

Question 11

The nurse is reviewing orders written for a patient with trigeminal neuralgia.Which medication should the nurse expect to be prescribed for this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   Cogentin
B)   Compazine
C)   Carbamazepine
D)   Hydrochlorothiazide

Question 12

The nurse is reading the results of a single-fiber electromyography completed on a patient suspected of having myasthenia gravis.Which information would validate this patient's diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

A)   Increased jitter
B)   Nerve compression
C)   Increased antibodies
D)   Decreased muscle response

Question 13

A client is diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.What should the nurse explain about this disease process?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Your nerve endings are worn out."
B)   "Your body does not recognize the neurotransmitter needed for movement."
C)   "Your body does not make enough of the neurotransmitter needed for movement."
D)   "Your nerves have lost their protective covering and impulses cannot reach body areas."

Question 14

A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)loses respiratory function three weeks into the acute phase.When should the nurse expect respiratory function to return in this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   During the plateau phase
B)   Early in the recovery stage
C)   At the end of the plateau stage
D)   At the end of the recovery stage

Question 15

The nurse is planning care for a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).Which intervention will help with neuropathic pain?

Accepted Answer

A)   Administer gabapentin
B)   Turn and reposition every two hours
C)   Apply sequential compression devices
D)   Perform passive range of motion several times a day

Question 16

The nurse notes that a patient's primary complaint is burning pain on the right side of the face.What should the nurse realize this patient is describing?

Accepted Answer

A)   Referred pain
B)   Atypical pain
C)   Vascular compression
D)   Peripheral neuropathy

Question 17

A patient is being prepared for a tensilon test.What should the nurse ensure is available prior to the beginning of this test?

Accepted Answer

A)   Oxygen
B)   Atropine sulfate
C)   Intravenous fluids
D)   Nasogastric suction

Question 18

A patient with myasthenia gravis is experiencing sweating and pallor.After administering edrophonium (Tensilon),which finding suggests the patient is experiencing a cholinergic crisis?

Accepted Answer

A)   Clear vision
B)   Fasciculations
C)   Strong hand grasps
D)   Equal shoulder shrugs

Question 19

The nurse notes that a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)sweats profusely.What should the nurse do about this finding?

Accepted Answer

A)   Place on a cooling blanket
B)   Notify the health-care provider
C)   Monitor body temperature every two hours
D)   Change linen and gown and keep comfortable

Question 20

A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)asks how the illness develops.What should the nurse respond about the pathophysiology of the disorder?

Accepted Answer

A)   "An infection eats away at the nerve endings."
B)   "An infection enters the spinal cord and erodes the nerves at the roots."
C)   "The nerves are killed by infiltration of your body's white blood cells used to fight an infection."
D)   "After an infection your immune system created antibodies that affect the covering of the nerves."

Exam 38: Coordinating Care for Patients With Peripheral Nervous System Disorders

A patient with trigeminal neuralgia asks if there are any nonpharmacological strategies to treat the pain.What should the nurse suggest to this patient?

A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is receiving plasmapheresis.What finding should the nurse identify as being a complication of this treatment?

A patient is scheduled for surgery to treat trigeminal neuralgia.For which procedure should the nurse explain that a complication resulting in permanent numbness of the facial area might occur?

The nurse is reviewing discharge instructions for a patient with myasthenia gravis.What should the nurse emphasize regarding medications?

A patient with myasthenia gravis has lost 6 kg of weight over the last two months.What should the nurse suggest to improve this patient's nutritional status?

The nurse is caring for a patient with myasthenia gravis.Which assessment should the nurse complete to determine respiratory functioning?

A patient is experiencing bilateral symmetrical muscle weakness and sensory changes of both feet and legs.What should the nurse expect to assess that determines the presence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) ?

The nurse is conducting a physical examination on a female patient experiencing trigeminal neuralgia.What observation indicates that the pain is triggered by hygienic practices?

The nurse is concerned that a patient is at risk for trigeminal neuralgia.What information in the patient's medical record did the nurse use to make this clinical decision?

The nurse notes that a patient has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia.What should the nurse expect the patient to be experiencing?

The nurse is reviewing orders written for a patient with trigeminal neuralgia.Which medication should the nurse expect to be prescribed for this patient?

The nurse is reading the results of a single-fiber electromyography completed on a patient suspected of having myasthenia gravis.Which information would validate this patient's diagnosis?

A client is diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.What should the nurse explain about this disease process?

A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) loses respiratory function three weeks into the acute phase.When should the nurse expect respiratory function to return in this patient?

The nurse is planning care for a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) .Which intervention will help with neuropathic pain?

The nurse notes that a patient's primary complaint is burning pain on the right side of the face.What should the nurse realize this patient is describing?

A patient is being prepared for a tensilon test.What should the nurse ensure is available prior to the beginning of this test?

A patient with myasthenia gravis is experiencing sweating and pallor.After administering edrophonium (Tensilon) ,which finding suggests the patient is experiencing a cholinergic crisis?

The nurse notes that a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) sweats profusely.What should the nurse do about this finding?

A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) asks how the illness develops.What should the nurse respond about the pathophysiology of the disorder?