A nurse is working with a family with an elderly family member who is in the predisgnostic phase of Alzheimer disease. The most important nursing intervention at this time would be to provide:
- A. family consultation to facilitate communication.
- B. information about support groups and counseling.
- C. options directed toward the reduction of caregiver stress.
- D. educational materials that help them understand their situation.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because educating the family about Alzheimer's disease in the predisgnostic phase helps them understand what to expect and how to cope effectively. This empowers them to make informed decisions and provide appropriate care. Option A focuses on communication, which is important but not the most critical intervention at this stage. Option B is helpful but may not address the family's immediate needs. Option C addresses caregiver stress, which is important but may not be the priority in the predisgnostic phase. Therefore, providing educational materials is the most important intervention to support the family during this phase.
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A nurse conducts group therapy on the eating disorders unit. Sessions are scheduled immediately after meals. What is the rationale?
- A. Provide a forum for journaling about foods eaten.
- B. Shift the patients' focus from food to psychotherapy.
- C. Promote processing of anxiety associated with eating.
- D. Focus on weight control mechanisms and food preparation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because scheduling group therapy sessions immediately after meals can help promote processing of anxiety associated with eating. This timing allows patients to address their feelings and thoughts about food in a supportive environment, leading to better understanding and management of their anxieties. Choice A is incorrect because journaling about foods eaten is not the primary purpose of group therapy sessions. Choice B is incorrect as the main focus is on addressing anxiety related to eating disorders, not shifting focus to psychotherapy. Choice D is incorrect as weight control mechanisms and food preparation are not the main objectives of group therapy for eating disorders.
A patient with schizophrenia tells the nurse, 'Everyone must listen to me. I am the redeemer. I will bring peace to the world.' From this the nurse can determine that an appropriate nursing diagnosis is:
- A. Disturbed sensory perception: auditory.
- B. Risk for other-directed violence.
- C. Chronic low self-esteem.
- D. Nonadherence: medication.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step 1: The patient's statement indicates grandiosity and delusions of grandeur, common in schizophrenia.
Step 2: Chronic low self-esteem is a common nursing diagnosis for those with grandiose delusions.
Step 3: The patient's belief of being the redeemer suggests underlying feelings of inadequacy.
Step 4: Addressing self-esteem can help the patient cope with such delusions.
Summary: A is incorrect as there is no mention of auditory hallucinations. B is incorrect as there is no immediate threat of violence. D is incorrect as nonadherence to medication is not evident in the scenario.
A nurse is working with a perpetrator of family violence who has a long history of violent rages when frustrated, with periods of remorse after each outburst. The nurse is most likely to establish the nursing diagnosis of:
- A. Risk for injury related to victim reprisal.
- B. Risk for other-directed violence related to stress.
- C. Ineffective coping related to poor anger management.
- D. Caregiver role strain related to feelings of being overwhelmed.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Ineffective coping related to poor anger management. This nursing diagnosis is appropriate because it addresses the perpetrator's inability to manage their anger effectively, leading to violent outbursts. The perpetrator's history of violent rages and subsequent remorse suggest a pattern of maladaptive coping mechanisms. This diagnosis focuses on the underlying issue of poor anger management, which is essential to address in order to prevent future acts of violence.
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect:
A: Risk for injury related to victim reprisal - This choice places the focus on potential harm to the victim as a result of retaliation, which is not the primary issue in this scenario.
B: Risk for other-directed violence related to stress - While stress may contribute to the perpetrator's behavior, the primary issue lies in their poor anger management rather than just stress.
D: Caregiver role strain related to feelings of being overwhelmed - This choice is not appropriate as it does not address the core issue of poor
A client with a borderline personality disorder tells the nurse, 'My doctor tells me there's something wrong with the hard wiring of my brain, and that's why I'm so impulsive and get so many mood swings. He said he's going to prescribe some medication.' Being aware of current practice guidelines, the nurse will prepare a teaching plan for:
- A. Lithium
- B. Fluoxetine
- C. Lorazepam
- D. Haloperidol
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Fluoxetine. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is primarily treated with psychotherapy, but in some cases, medication is used to manage symptoms like impulsivity and mood swings. Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is commonly used to address mood instability and impulsivity in BPD. SSRIs help regulate serotonin levels in the brain, which can improve mood stability and decrease impulsive behaviors. Lithium (choice A) is used for bipolar disorder, not BPD. Lorazepam (choice C) is a benzodiazepine used for anxiety and not typically recommended for BPD. Haloperidol (choice D) is an antipsychotic used for conditions like schizophrenia and not typically indicated for BPD.
The wife of a patient with schizophrenia is worried about her 17-year-old daughter and asks the nurse what symptoms mark the prodromal stage of schizophrenia. The nurse should respond by listing behaviors such as:
- A. withdrawal, poor concentration, phobic or obsessive behavior, oddities of speech.
- B. auditory hallucinations, ideas of reference, thought insertion, and broadcasting.
- C. stereotyped behavior, echopraxia, echolalia, waxy flexibility, thought-blocking.
- D. looseness of associations, concrete thinking, echolalia, paranoid delusions.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the symptoms listed: withdrawal, poor concentration, phobic or obsessive behavior, and oddities of speech are characteristic of the prodromal stage of schizophrenia. During this phase, individuals may start to exhibit subtle changes in behavior and thinking, which may signal the onset of the disorder.
Choice B includes symptoms of active psychosis, such as auditory hallucinations and delusions, which are not typically seen in the prodromal stage. Choice C describes symptoms of catatonia, which are not specific to the prodromal phase. Choice D includes symptoms of acute psychosis, such as paranoid delusions, which are not typically present during the prodromal stage.
In summary, the correct answer is A because it accurately reflects the early, subtle symptoms that may precede the full onset of schizophrenia, while the other choices describe symptoms that are more indicative of later stages of the disorder.