Nokea
A depressed patient is to have his first electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) session tomorrow morning. Which intervention would routinely be implemented in preparing the patient for treatment?
- A. Explaining that 20 or more treatments will be needed
- B. Advising the patient that memory loss is usually transient
- C. Preparing the patient to be restrained during the procedure
- D. Educating the patient about how ECT will end his depression
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Advising the patient that memory loss is usually transient. This is because memory loss is a common side effect of ECT, but it is typically temporary and resolves after treatment. It is important to prepare the patient for potential memory issues to reduce anxiety and manage expectations. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because explaining the number of treatments needed, preparing for restraint, or suggesting ECT will end depression are not standard interventions in preparing a patient for ECT.
You may also like to solve these questions
When a patient with paranoid schizophrenia has a recurrence of positive symptoms after stopping his antipsychotic medication because of its postural hypotension (orthostasis) side effect, he is readmitted to the mental health unit. What measure should the nurse suggest to help the patient address this side effect?
- A. Ask the doctor to prescribe an anticholinergic drug like trihexyphenidyl (Artane).
- B. Chew sugarless gum or use sugarless hard candy to moisten your mouth.
- C. Increase the amount of sleep you get, and try to take frequent rest breaks.
- D. Wear elastic support hose, drink adequate fluids, and change position slowly.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because orthostatic hypotension is a common side effect of antipsychotic medications. Elastic support hose can help improve venous return, adequate fluids can prevent dehydration which worsens hypotension, and changing position slowly can prevent sudden drops in blood pressure. This measure directly addresses the side effect.
A: Anticholinergic drugs can worsen orthostatic hypotension.
B: Chewing gum or using candy does not address the physiological issue of orthostatic hypotension.
C: Increasing sleep and rest breaks may help overall well-being but does not directly address orthostatic hypotension.
A patient has not come out of her room for breakfast. The nurse finds the patient moving restlessly about her room in a disorganized manner. The patient is talking to herself, and her verbal responses to the nurse are nonsensical and suggest disorientation. The nurse notices that the patient's skin is hot and dry, and her pupils are somewhat dilated. All these symptoms are significant departures from the patient's recent presentation. The patient is likely experiencing _____, and the nurse should _____.
- A. anticholinergic toxicity"¦check vital signs and prepare to use a cooling blanket stat
- B. relapse of her psychosis"¦administer PRN antipsychotic drugs and notify her physician
- C. neuroleptic malignant syndrome"¦contact her physician for a transfer to intensive care
- D. agranulocytosis"¦hold her antipsychotic and draw blood for a complete blood count
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: anticholinergic toxicity. The patient is displaying symptoms such as restlessness, disorganized behavior, nonsensical verbal responses, disorientation, hot and dry skin, and dilated pupils, which are indicative of anticholinergic toxicity.
Step-by-step rationale:
1. Restlessness and disorganized behavior are common symptoms of anticholinergic toxicity.
2. Nonsensical verbal responses and disorientation are also typical signs of anticholinergic toxicity.
3. Hot and dry skin can be caused by decreased sweating due to anticholinergic effects.
4. Dilated pupils are a classic sign of anticholinergic toxicity.
5. Checking vital signs and preparing to use a cooling blanket is the appropriate immediate action to manage anticholinergic toxicity.
Summary of other choices:
- B: Relapse of psychosis does not explain the physical symptoms like dilated pupils and hot/dry skin.
- C: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome presents with
You are a nurse meeting for the first time with a stage 3 Alzheimer's patient who is newly referred to your home health agency. Which assessment data about the patient and caregiver(s) would be most important to acquire during your first visit to the family's home?
- A. Is the house design such that patient access to exits and stairways can be restricted?
- B. Does the family understand that the disease is likely to prove fatal within 3 to 5 years?
- C. What resources is the patient's family able to access in their particular community?
- D. What activities or memories are most comforting and calming for the patient?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step 1: Ensuring patient safety is the top priority in caring for a stage 3 Alzheimer's patient in a home setting.
Step 2: Restricting access to exits and stairways is crucial to prevent the patient from wandering or falling.
Step 3: This assessment data is essential for implementing safety measures and preventing potential harm to the patient.
Step 4: Choices B, C, and D, while important, do not directly address the immediate safety concerns of the patient.
A patient was admitted in a semistuporous catatonic state. Family states that the patient has neither left the apartment nor attended to personal hygiene for several weeks. The patient's last 48 hours have been spent lying in bed, mute and motionless. The nursing diagnosis that should be considered the priority is:
- A. self-care deficit.
- B. situational low self-esteem.
- C. disturbed thought processes.
- D. impaired verbal communication.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: self-care deficit. This nursing diagnosis should be considered the priority because the patient is unable to attend to personal hygiene and has been lying in bed motionless and mute for 48 hours, indicating a significant impairment in self-care abilities. This is a critical issue that needs immediate attention to prevent further deterioration in the patient's physical and mental health.
Choice B: situational low self-esteem is not the priority as the patient's current state is more indicative of physical neglect rather than a self-esteem issue.
Choice C: disturbed thought processes may be a contributing factor to the patient's presentation, but the priority at this moment is addressing the self-care deficit to ensure the patient's safety and well-being.
Choice D: impaired verbal communication, while important, is not the priority in this scenario as the patient's inability to communicate verbally is secondary to the urgent need for assistance with self-care.
When planning nursing care for a client with a dependent personality disorder, the nurse recognizes which of the following as characteristic behavior for someone with this disorder? The client:
- A. Perceives his or her behavior to be embarrassing
- B. Believes he or she cannot function without help of others
- C. Exaggerates the potential dangers of ordinary situations
- D. Demands excessive attention from others
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because individuals with dependent personality disorder typically believe they cannot function without the help of others. This is a key characteristic of the disorder as they rely heavily on others for decision-making and day-to-day tasks. This behavior stems from an intense fear of separation and abandonment.
Choice A (perceiving behavior as embarrassing) is incorrect as it is more aligned with social anxiety disorder rather than dependent personality disorder. Choice C (exaggerating dangers) is incorrect as it is more characteristic of individuals with anxiety disorders. Choice D (demanding excessive attention) is incorrect as it is more typical of individuals with histrionic personality disorder.