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A novice nurse who will be assessing a patient after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) asks her mentor, “What sort of memory impairment is present after several ECT treatments?” The best response for the mentor would be:
- A. “It’s hard to say. Treatment affects everyone differently.”
- B. “Usually the patient has severe difficulty remembering remote events.”
- C. “Patients have mild difficulty remembering recent events, like what waseaten for breakfast.”
- D. “Both recent and remote memory is affected, producing profound confused, cognitive
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because it accurately reflects the typical memory impairment after ECT treatments. ECT affects both recent and remote memory, leading to profound confusion and cognitive difficulties. This is due to the disruption of neural pathways involved in memory consolidation and retrieval.
Choice A is incorrect as ECT does have predictable effects on memory. Choice B is incorrect because patients typically have more difficulty with recent memory than remote memory. Choice C is also incorrect as patients usually experience more than just mild difficulty remembering recent events; the memory impairment is more severe than just forgetting what was eaten for breakfast.
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A patient diagnosed with major depression has lost 20 pounds in one month, has chronic low self-esteem, and a plan for suicide. The patient has taken an antidepressant medication for 1 week. Which nursing intervention has the highest priority?
- A. Implement suicide precautions.
- B. Offer high-calorie snacks and fluids frequently
- C. Assist the patient to identify three personal strengths.
- D. Observe the patient for therapeutic effects of antidepressant medication.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Implement suicide precautions. This is the highest priority because the patient has a plan for suicide, which poses an immediate risk to their safety. Implementing suicide precautions involves ensuring the patient's environment is safe, removing any potential means of self-harm, and closely monitoring the patient to prevent any suicide attempts.
Choice B is incorrect because offering high-calorie snacks and fluids frequently addresses the physical aspect of weight loss but does not address the immediate safety concern of suicide.
Choice C is incorrect because assisting the patient to identify personal strengths is important for building self-esteem but is not the highest priority when the patient is at risk for suicide.
Choice D is incorrect because observing the patient for therapeutic effects of antidepressant medication is important but not as urgent as ensuring the patient's safety in the case of suicidal ideation.
When a patient asks the nurse, “How can jolting me with an electrical shock possibly do me any good?” the answer most reflective of current biologic theory would be:
- A. “ECT produces a change in brain chemistry that results in improved mood.
- B. “ECT provides you with external punishment so you can stop punishing yourself.”
- C. “ECT interrupts brain impulses that are causing hallucinations and delusions.”
- D. ECT shocks the brain into re-establishing normal electrical patterns.”
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step 1: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for severe depression and other mental health disorders.
Step 2: Current biological theory suggests that ECT produces changes in brain chemistry, specifically neurotransmitters, leading to improved mood.
Step 3: The correct answer (A) aligns with this theory by explaining how ECT impacts brain chemistry to alleviate symptoms.
Step 4: Answer B is incorrect as ECT is not used as punishment but as a therapeutic intervention.
Step 5: Answer C is incorrect as ECT is not primarily used to interrupt brain impulses causing hallucinations and delusions.
Step 6: Answer D is incorrect as ECT does not shock the brain into re-establishing normal electrical patterns but rather affects neurotransmitter levels.
A nurse is using Piaget’s model to assess a child’s developmental stage. Which behaviors would determine that a child is successfully achieving the skills required of the formal operations level of development? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Becomes sad when the family pet dies.
- B. Plans a trip to attend a basketball game.
- C. Identifies two different bowls that hold 1 cup.
- D. Selects the appropriate clothing for a ski trip.
Correct Answer: B, D
Rationale: In Piaget's formal operations stage, children develop abstract thinking, planning abilities, and logical reasoning. Planning a trip and selecting appropriate clothing demonstrate these skills. Becoming sad over the pet's death and identifying objects by capacity are more related to emotional and concrete operational stages.
An 85-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident and depression. The symptom that is unrelated to depression would be?
- A. Crying and refusing to perform task
- B. Answering I forgot to questions
- C. Having positive self-esteem
- D. Neglecting ADLs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Having positive self-esteem. This is unrelated to depression as depression typically involves feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem. A: Crying and refusing tasks, B: Answering "I forgot to" questions, and D: Neglecting ADLs are all commonly associated symptoms of depression such as apathy, memory issues, and lack of motivation for self-care. Therefore, choice C stands out as the symptom unrelated to depression due to its contradiction with the typical manifestations of the condition.
When making a distinction as to whether an elderly patient has confusion related to delirium or another problem, what information would be of particular value?
- A. Evidence of spasticity or flaccidity
- B. The patient’s level of motor activity
- C. Medications the patient has recently taken
- D. Level of preoccupation with somatic symptoms
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Medications the patient has recently taken. This information is crucial because certain medications can cause symptoms of delirium or exacerbate confusion in elderly patients. By reviewing the patient's recent medications, healthcare providers can identify potential drug-induced causes of confusion and adjust the treatment accordingly.
Choice A (Evidence of spasticity or flaccidity) is incorrect because these symptoms are more related to neurological conditions such as stroke or spinal cord injury, not specifically delirium.
Choice B (The patient’s level of motor activity) is not as relevant in distinguishing delirium from other problems as medication history, as motor activity can be influenced by various factors.
Choice D (Level of preoccupation with somatic symptoms) is also less relevant compared to medication history in differentiating delirium, as somatic symptoms may not always directly indicate the underlying cause of confusion in elderly patients.