Nokea
A patient asks a nurse, 'What are neurotransmitters? My doctor says mine are out of balance.' What is the nurse's best response?
- A. You must feel relieved to know that your problem has a physical basis.
- B. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that pass messages between brain cells.
- C. It is a high-level concept to explain. You should ask the doctor to tell you more.
- D. Neurotransmitters are substances we eat daily that influence memory and mood.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stating that neurotransmitters are chemicals that pass messages between brain cells gives the most accurate information. Neurotransmitters are messengers in the central nervous system. They are released from the axon terminal, diffuse across the synapse, and attach to specialized receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. The incorrect responses do not answer the patient's question, are demeaning, and provide untrue and misleading information.
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A patient hospitalized with a mood disorder has demonstrated aggression, agitation, talkativeness, and irritability. A nurse begins the care plan based on the expectation that the health care provider is most likely to prescribe a medication from what classification?
- A. Anticholinergic
- B. Mood stabilizer
- C. Psychostimulant
- D. Tricyclic antidepressant
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The symptoms describe a manic episode. Mania is effectively treated by the mood stabilizing medication, lithium and selected anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, valproic acid, and lamotrigine. No drugs from the other classifications listed are effective in the treatment of mania.
A patient presents with anxiety, increased heart rate, and fear. The nurse would suspect the presence of a high concentration of which neurotransmitter?
- A. GABA
- B. Histamine
- C. Acetylcholine
- D. Norepinephrine
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Norepinephrine is the neurotransmitter associated with sympathetic nervous system stimulation, preparing the individual for the 'fight-or-flight' response. GABA is a mediator of anxiety level. A high concentration of histamine is associated with an inflammatory response. A high concentration of acetylcholine is associated with parasympathetic nervous system stimulation.
A nurse can anticipate anticholinergic side effects are likely to occur when a patient is prescribed what medication?
- A. Lithium
- B. Buspirone
- C. Risperidone
- D. Fluphenazine
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Fluphenazine, a first-generation antipsychotic medication, exerts muscarinic blockade, resulting in dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and urinary retention. Lithium therapy is more often associated with fluid balance problems, including polydipsia, polyuria, and edema. Risperidone therapy is more often associated with movement disorders, orthostatic hypotension, and sedation. Buspirone is associated with anxiety reduction without major side effects.
A nurse prepares to administer an antipsychotic medication to a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. Additional monitoring of the medication's effects and side effects will be most important if the patient is also diagnosed with which health problem? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Parkinson disease
- B. Graves' disease
- C. Osteoarthritis
- D. Epilepsy
- E. Diabetes
Correct Answer: A,D,E
Rationale: Antipsychotic medications may produce weight gain, which complicates the care of a patient with diabetes, or lowers the seizure threshold (or both), which complicates the care of a patient with epilepsy. Parkinson disease involves changes in transmission of dopamine and acetylcholine; therefore, these drugs also complicate the care of a patient with the disorder. Osteoarthritis and Graves' disease should have no synergistic effect with this medication.
The spouse of a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks, 'Which neurotransmitters are more active when a person has schizophrenia?' The nurse's response will focus on which neurotransmitters? (Select all that apply.)
- A. GABA
- B. Substance P
- C. Histamine
- D. Dopamine
- E. Norepinephrine
Correct Answer: D,E
Rationale: Dopamine plays a role in the integration of thoughts and emotions, and excess dopamine is implicated in the thought disturbances of schizophrenia. Increased activity of norepinephrine also occurs. Substance P is most related to the pain experience. Histamine decrease is associated with depression. Increased GABA is associated with anxiety reduction.