A 39 y.o. homemaker sees her physician after she falls twice for seemingly no reason. Diagnostic tests are done, and she is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Which of the ff. explanations will help her understand her disease?
- A. “You have a build-up of myelin in your nervous system, causing congestion and muscle weakness.”
- B. “You are missing a neurotransmitter that is important to muscle contraction.”
- C. “The receptor sites on your muscles are damaged, so they can’t contract correctly.”
- D. “The insulation on your nerve cells is damaged, which slows the impulses to the muscles.”
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step 1: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by damage to the myelin sheath, not a build-up of myelin.
Step 2: MS affects the nerves, not neurotransmitters related to muscle contraction (eliminates choice B).
Step 3: MS does not damage receptor sites on muscles but affects nerve signal transmission (eliminates choice C).
Step 4: The correct answer, D, explains that MS damages the insulation on nerve cells (myelin sheath), leading to slower nerve impulses to the muscles, causing weakness and coordination issues.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is using critical thinking skills during the first phase of the nursing process. Which action indicates the nurse is in the first phase?
- A. Completes a comprehensive database
- B. Identifies pertinent nursing diagnoses
- C. Intervenes based on priorities of patient care
- D. Determines whether outcomes have been achieved
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because during the first phase of the nursing process (assessment), the nurse gathers a comprehensive database of information about the patient's health status. This includes collecting subjective and objective data to form a baseline for further decision-making. Identifying nursing diagnoses (B) occurs in the second phase (diagnosis), intervening based on priorities of patient care (C) is part of the third phase (planning), and determining outcomes (D) is done in the final phase (evaluation). Therefore, completing a comprehensive database is the most appropriate action in the first phase.
The best way to tell whether or not a patient is breathing, is for the nurse to watch the movement of the:
- A. Extremities
- B. Head
- C. Eyeball
- D. Chest and nostrils A1 PASSERS TRAINING, RESEARCH, REVIEW & DEVELOPMENT COMPANY MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING SET L
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, "Chest and nostrils." This is because observing the movement of the chest and nostrils is the most reliable way to determine if a patient is breathing. The chest rises and falls with each breath, and the nostrils may flare or move as air is inhaled and exhaled. Monitoring these areas provides a direct indication of respiratory effort. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not directly reflect the act of breathing. Extremities, head, and eyeball movements are not reliable indicators of breathing function.
The lowest fasting plasma glucose level suggestive of a diagnosis of diabetes is:
- A. 90mg/dl
- B. 126mg/dl
- C. 115mg/dl
- D. 180mg/dl
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B (126mg/dl) because a fasting plasma glucose level ≥126mg/dl is diagnostic of diabetes. The diagnostic criteria for diabetes include a fasting plasma glucose level ≥126mg/dl on two separate occasions. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not meet the diagnostic threshold for diabetes. A (90mg/dl) is within the normal range, C (115mg/dl) is elevated but not diagnostic, and D (180mg/dl) is too high but not necessary for diagnosis. It's crucial to understand the specific diagnostic criteria to accurately identify diabetes.
Which of the following intravenous solutions is hypotonic?
- A. Normal saline
- B. Ringer’s lactate
- C. 0.45% saline
- D. 5% dextrose in normal saline A1 PASSERS TRAINING, RESEARCH, REVIEW & DEVELOPMENT COMPANY MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING SET F
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: 0.45% saline. This solution is hypotonic because it has a lower osmolarity compared to the intracellular fluid. It contains fewer solutes than the cells, causing water to move into the cells by osmosis, potentially causing them to swell.
Normal saline (A) and Ringer's lactate (B) are isotonic solutions, meaning they have a similar osmolarity to the intracellular fluid and do not cause significant water shifts.
5% dextrose in normal saline (D) is a hypertonic solution, containing more solutes than the cells, leading to water movement out of the cells.
A client who has been taking prednisone to treat lupus erythematosus has discontinued the medication because of lack of funds to buy the drug. When the nurse becomes aware of the situation, which assessment is most important for the nurse to make first?
- A. breath sounds
- B. blood pressure
- C. capillary refill
- D. butterfly rash
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for choice B being correct:
1. Blood pressure is vital in this scenario due to prednisone discontinuation.
2. Abruptly stopping prednisone can lead to adrenal insufficiency.
3. Adrenal insufficiency can cause hypotension, a life-threatening condition.
4. Monitoring blood pressure can help detect and manage potential complications.
Summary of other choices:
A: Breath sounds – Important but not the priority in this specific situation.
C: Capillary refill – Useful for assessing circulation but not urgent in this context.
D: Butterfly rash – A characteristic of lupus, but not a critical concern in this scenario.