Nokea
Before initiating levodopa for a client with Parkinson's disease, Nurse Allen ensures she is well-informed about the medication and its implications. What crucial information should Nurse Allen be aware of regarding levodopa?
- A. Levodopa's absorption can be insufficient if it is administered alongside meals.
- B. Levodopa has the potential to induce side effects such as orthostatic hypotension.
- C. Levodopa can lead to an initial feeling of euphoria, which is then followed by a phase of depression.
- D. Levodopa administration requires consistent monitoring through weekly laboratory tests.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Levodopa absorption is significantly reduced when taken with protein-rich meals, so it should be administered on an empty stomach or with a low-protein snack.
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A 28-year-old female patient has been diagnosed with occipital lobe damage after a car accident. What should the nurse expect the patient to need help with?
- A. Being able to feel heat
- B. Processing visual images
- C. Identifying smells appropriately
- D. Being able to say what she means
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for processing visual images.
A client with rheumatoid arthritis taking hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) should be taught that, because of this drug therapy, he should
- A. expect relief of pain and inflammation within 1-2 weeks
- B. have an eye examination every 4-6 months
- C. take the medication before bedtime
- D. be alert for development of a skin rash
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hydroxychloroquine can cause retinal damage, requiring regular eye exams.
A patient has a severed spinal nerve as a result of trauma. Which statement is true in this situation?
- A. Because there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, no effect results if only one nerve is severed.
- B. The dermatome served by this nerve will no longer experience any sensation.
- C. The adjacent spinal nerves will continue to carry sensations for the dermatome served by the severed nerve.
- D. A severed spinal nerve will only affect motor function of the patient because spinal nerves have no sensory component.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (C): When a spinal nerve is severed, adjacent spinal nerves can compensate and continue to carry sensations for the dermatome served by the severed nerve. This is possible due to the concept of dermatomes overlapping and the redundancy in sensory innervation. Therefore, the patient may still experience sensation in the affected area despite the specific nerve being severed.
Summary of Incorrect Choices:
A: Incorrect. Even if there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, severing one nerve can still have a significant impact on sensory and motor functions depending on the location and severity of the injury.
B: Incorrect. Sensory loss would occur in the dermatome served by the severed nerve, but adjacent nerves can still carry sensations.
D: Incorrect. Spinal nerves have both sensory and motor components, so severing a spinal nerve can affect both sensory and motor functions, not just motor function.
The neuron processes that normally receives incoming stimuli are called:
- A. axons
- B. dendrites
- C. neurolemmas
- D. Schwann cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dendrites are the neuron processes that receive incoming stimuli and transmit them toward the cell body. Axons transmit signals away from the cell body, while neurolemmas, Schwann cells, and satellite cells are supportive structures. Thus, B is the correct answer.
Which of the following neurotransmitters is progressively lost in Parkinson's disease?
- A. somatostatin
- B. dopamine
- C. acetylcholine
- D. endorphin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Parkinson's disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, a region of the brain. This loss leads to the motor symptoms of the disease, such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia.