Nokea
A patient who takes lithium phones the nurse at the clinic to say, "I've had diarrhea for 4 days. I feel weak and unsteady when I walk. My usual hand tremor has gotten worse. What should I do?" Which instruction by the nurse is appropriate?
- A. Have someone bring you to the clinic immediately.
- B. Restrict food and fluids for 24 hours and stay in bed.
- C. Drink a large glass of water with 1 teaspoon of salt added.
- D. Take antidiarrheal medication hourly until the diarrhea subsides.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Have someone bring you to the clinic immediately. The patient is experiencing symptoms of lithium toxicity, including diarrhea, weakness, unsteadiness, and worsening hand tremor. These symptoms indicate a potential lithium overdose, which can be life-threatening. Bringing the patient to the clinic immediately is crucial for assessment, monitoring, and intervention.
Choice B is incorrect because restricting food and fluids can worsen dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Choice C is incorrect as adding salt to water can exacerbate electrolyte abnormalities in lithium toxicity. Choice D is incorrect as taking antidiarrheal medication can further worsen the symptoms and delay appropriate medical treatment.
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A researcher seeking an organic basis for schizophrenia would be well-advised to investigate the role of
- A. amphetamines and amphetamine receptors
- B. adrenaline and noradrenaline
- C. histamine and antihistamine
- D. dopamine and dopamine receptors
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dopamine dysregulation, particularly via receptors, is a primary organic focus in schizophrenia research.
A 75-year-old patient comes to the clinic reporting frequent headaches. As the nurse begins the interaction, which action is most important?
- A. Complete a neurological assessment
- B. Determine whether the patient can hear as the nurse speaks
- C. Suggest that the patient lie down in a darkened room for a few minutes
- D. Administer medication to relieve the patient's pain before continuing the assessment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct Answer: B. Determine whether the patient can hear as the nurse speaks.
Rationale:
1. Hearing assessment is crucial to ensure patient understanding and communication.
2. Hearing loss may affect compliance with treatment and safety.
3. Identifying hearing deficits early can prevent misunderstandings and improve patient outcomes.
Summary:
- A: While a neurological assessment may be necessary, addressing hearing first is more immediate.
- C: Suggesting rest may help with headache management, but addressing hearing is more critical.
- D: Administering medication is premature without assessing hearing first.
A person diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI) living in the community was punched, pushed to the ground, and robbed of 7 during the day on a public street. Which statements about violence and serious mental illness in general are accurate? Select one tha does not apply.
- A. Persons with SMI are more likely to be violent
- B. SMI persons experience higher rates of sexual assault and victimization than others
- C. Impaired judgment and social skills can provoke hostile or assaultive behavior
- D. Lower incomes force SMI persons to live in high-crime areas, increasing risk
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Mentally ill persons are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators of criminal acts. They are often victims of criminal behavior, including sexual crimes, at a higher rate than others. When a mentally ill person commits a crime, it is usually nonviolent. Mental illnesses interfere with employment and are associated with poverty, limiting SMI persons to living in inexpensive areas that also tend to be higher-crime areas. SMI persons may inadvertently provoke others because of poor judgment or socially inappropriate behavior, or they may be victimized because they are perceived as passive, less likely to resist, and less likely to be believed as witnesses.
Joey is a 5-year-old who is causing his parents a lot of concern. His mother reports that he bounces off the walls all the time and cant focus on any one thing for very long. He is impulsive and has recently ran right out into the street in front of the familys home. His teacher has told his parents that he has done similar things at school. The nurse understands that:
- A. Joey shows all the signs of having ADHD and should probably be placed on Ritalin as soon as possible
- B. Joey is just an active, healthy child who needs to be disciplined more effectively
- C. Joey could be autistic, and additional testing will have to be done to confirm the diagnosis
- D. Joey shows signs of having ADHD, but is too young for that diagnosis to be made definitively now
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Definitive diagnosis of ADHD should not be made before age 7 because developmentally the child has a shorter attention span.
A client, age 70, was brought into the Emergency Department by family members who reported a fall. During the assessment, the nurse became suspicious that the client had suffered physical abuse. The client denied that she had been abused. Her denial is most likely based on her:
- A. Fear of retaliation.
- B. Emotional response to the situation.
- C. Cognitive impairment.
- D. None of the above.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Emotional response to the situation. The client's denial is likely due to emotional factors such as shame, embarrassment, or fear of causing trouble for family members. This emotional response can lead the client to deny abuse even when it has occurred. Choice A is incorrect because fear of retaliation may be a factor, but emotional response is more likely. Choice C is incorrect as cognitive impairment would affect the client's ability to understand and respond to the situation, not necessarily lead to denial. Choice D is incorrect as the client's denial is influenced by emotional factors.