Nokea
During a clinical assessment of a 68-year-old client who has suffered a head injury, a neurologist suspects that the client has sustained damage to her vagus nerve (CN X). Which assessment finding is most likely to lead the physician to this conclusion?
- A. The client has difficulty swallowing.
- B. The client has loss of gag reflex.
- C. The client has an inability to smell.
- D. The client has impaired eye movement.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Damage to the vagus nerve can result in the loss of the gag reflex, which is a key indicator for the neurologist. Difficulty swallowing (Choice A) is more associated with issues related to the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) and hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). An inability to smell (Choice C) is related to the olfactory nerve (CN I), and impaired eye movement (Choice D) is typically associated with damage to the oculomotor nerve (CN III), trochlear nerve (CN IV), or abducens nerve (CN VI), not the vagus nerve.
You may also like to solve these questions
A female patient is concerned about the side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). What common side effect should the nurse explain?
- A. Weight gain
- B. Hair loss
- C. Increased libido
- D. Decreased energy levels
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Weight gain. Weight gain is a common side effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) due to hormonal changes. Patients should be informed about this possibility as part of their treatment plan. Hair loss (Choice B) is not a common side effect of HRT. Increased libido (Choice C) and decreased energy levels (Choice D) are not typically associated with HRT side effects. Therefore, the nurse should focus on discussing weight gain with the patient.
A 56-year-old woman has been experiencing memory loss and confusion for the past year. The client is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Which finding is most characteristic of this disease?
- A. Neurofibrillary tangles in the brain
- B. Demyelination of neurons in the brain
- C. Accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques
- D. Formation of Lewy bodies
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques are formed from the buildup of beta-amyloid protein fragments between nerve cells. Choice A, neurofibrillary tangles, are a hallmark of another neurodegenerative disease called Alzheimer's disease. Choice B, demyelination of neurons, is more characteristic of diseases like multiple sclerosis. Choice D, formation of Lewy bodies, is associated with Lewy body dementia, not Alzheimer's disease.
A nurse caring for a patient with a diagnosis of lung cancer is aware that the primary risk factor for developing lung cancer is:
- A. Alcohol consumption
- B. Smoking
- C. Poor diet
- D. Environmental exposure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Smoking. Smoking is the primary risk factor for developing lung cancer. Tobacco smoke contains numerous carcinogens that can damage the cells in the lungs, leading to the development of cancer. Alcohol consumption (Choice A), poor diet (Choice C), and environmental exposure (Choice D) can contribute to overall health risks, but they are not the primary risk factors specifically associated with the development of lung cancer.
A school nurse is meeting with a high school student who mentions that she is frustrated with her repeated outbreaks of cold sores. The student states that she tried an over-the-counter topical cream but that it failed to produce an appreciable improvement. The nurse should recognize that this student used what medication?
- A. Ganciclovir
- B. Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
- C. Famciclovir (Famvir)
- D. Docosanol (Abreva)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Docosanol (Abreva). Docosanol is an over-the-counter topical cream commonly used to treat cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus. It works by inhibiting viral fusion to host cell membranes, reducing the spread of the virus. Ganciclovir (Choice A) is an antiviral medication used for the treatment of cytomegalovirus infections. Valacyclovir (Choice B) and Famciclovir (Choice C) are prescription antiviral medications used to treat herpes simplex virus infections but are not typically available over-the-counter like Docosanol.
When caring for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the disease the nurse is dealing with is an example of:
- A. Autoimmunity
- B. Alloimmunity
- C. Homoimmunity
- D. Alleimmunity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When a nurse cares for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the nurse is dealing with an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases like SLE, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Choice A, 'Autoimmunity,' is the correct answer because SLE is an example of the immune system attacking self-antigens, leading to tissue damage and inflammation. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Alloimmunity refers to the immune response against foreign antigens from members of the same species, homoimmunity is not a recognized term in immunology, and alleimmunity is not a valid term in this context.