A patient diagnosed with Bell's palsy is being cared for on an outpatient basis. During health education, the nurse should promote which of the following actions?
- A. Applying a protective eye shield at night
- B. Chewing on the affected side to prevent unilateral neglect
- C. Avoiding the use of analgesics whenever possible
- D. Avoiding brushing the teeth
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bell's palsy can impair eye closure, risking corneal damage, so a protective eye shield at night is essential. Chewing on the affected side is difficult, analgesics may be needed, and oral hygiene should continue.
You may also like to solve these questions
A male patient presents to the clinic complaining of a headache. The nurse notes that the patient is guarding his neck and tells the nurse that he has stiffness in the neck area. The nurse suspects the patient may have meningitis. What is another well-recognized sign of this infection?
- A. Negative Brudzinski's sign
- B. Positive Kernig's sign
- C. Hyperpatellar reflex
- D. Sluggish pupil reaction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A positive Kernig's sign, where leg extension causes pain due to meningeal irritation, is a classic sign of meningitis. Brudzinski's sign is positive, not negative, and reflexes or pupil reactions are not typical signs.
A patient with possible bacterial meningitis is admitted to the ICU. What assessment finding would the nurse expect for a patient with this diagnosis?
- A. Pain upon ankle dorsiflexion of the foot
- B. Neck flexion produces flexion of knees and hips
- C. Inability to stand with eyes closed and arms extended without swaying
- D. Numbness and tingling in the lower extremities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A positive Brudzinski's sign, where neck flexion causes knee and hip flexion, is a hallmark of bacterial meningitis due to meningeal irritation. Pain on dorsiflexion (Homans' sign) relates to thrombosis, Romberg's sign to balance issues, and numbness to peripheral neuropathy, none of which are typical for meningitis.
The critical care nurse is admitting a patient in myasthenic crisis to the ICU. The nurse should prioritize what nursing action in the immediate care of this patient?
- A. Suctioning secretions
- B. Facilitating ABG analysis
- C. Providing ventilatory assistance
- D. Administering tube feedings
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Myasthenic crisis causes severe muscle weakness, risking respiratory failure, so ventilatory assistance is the priority. Suctioning, ABGs, and feeding are secondary.
A 35-year-old woman is diagnosed with a peripheral neuropathy. When making her plan of care, the nurse knows to include what in patient teaching? Select all that apply.
- A. Inspect the lower extremities for skin breakdown.
- B. Footwear needs to be accurately sized.
- C. Immediate family members should be screened for the disease.
- D. Assistive devices may be needed to reduce the risk of falls.
- E. Dietary modifications are likely necessary.
Correct Answer: A,B,D
Rationale: Peripheral neuropathy requires inspecting for skin breakdown, proper footwear, and assistive devices to prevent falls. It is not genetic, and diet is unrelated.
The nurse caring for a patient diagnosed with Guillain-Barr?© syndrome is planning care with regard to the clinical manifestations associated with this syndrome. The nurse's communication with the patient should reflect the possibility of what sign or symptom of the disease?
- A. Intermittent hearing loss
- B. Tinnitus
- C. Tongue enlargement
- D. Vocal paralysis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Guillain-Barr?© syndrome affects the vagus nerve (X), potentially causing vocal paralysis or dysphagia. Hearing loss, tinnitus, and tongue enlargement are not associated.
Nokea