Nokea
The partner of a patient with Parkinson's disease (PD) is upset and asks the nurse why he is no longer able to read the affectionate notes that the patient writes for him. Which of the following information is the basis for the nurse's response?
- A. Characteristic slow speech makes it difficult for the patient with PD to put his or her thoughts on paper.
- B. Cogwheel rigidity makes it hard for the patient to hold a pen.
- C. Micrographia is common in patients with PD.
- D. Depression often seen in PD leads to denying affectionate feelings.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is that the nurse's response will be based upon the fact that micrographia is handwriting deterioration and often occurs in patients with Parkinson's disease. PD patients have characteristic slow speech but that does not cause illegible writing. Cogwheel rigidity makes it difficult to walk and balance. Although depression is common in PD, this does not directly lead to denying affectionate feelings.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is caring for a patient with epilepsy. Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse expect?
- A. Increased blood glucose
- B. Decreased BUN
- C. Increased creatinine
- D. Decreased liver function tests
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The blood work results of a patient with epilepsy would show an increased creatinine level. The other results that would be expected are a decreased blood glucose level, increased BUN, and increased liver function tests.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a history of cluster headache who awakens during the night with a severe stabbing headache. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Start the prescribed PRN oxygen at 8 L/minute.
- B. Put a moist hot pack on the patient's neck.
- C. Give the prescribed PRN acetaminophen.
- D. Notify the patient's health care provider immediately.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Acute treatment for cluster headache is administration of 100% oxygen at 8-12 L/min for 15 minutes. If the patient obtains relief with the oxygen, there is no immediate need to notify the health care provider. Cluster headaches last only 60-90 minutes, so oral pain medications have minimal effect. Hot packs are helpful for tension headaches but are not as likely to reduce pain associated with a cluster headache.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is diagnosed with early Huntington's disease (HD). Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching plan for the patient, partner, and children?
- A. Use of levodopa-carbidopa to help reduce HD symptoms
- B. Need to take prophylactic antibiotics to decrease the risk for pneumonia.
- C. Lifestyle changes such as increased exercise that delay disease progression.
- D. Availability of genetic testing to determine the HD risk for the patient's children.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Genetic testing is available to determine whether an asymptomatic individual has the HD gene. The patient and family should be informed of the benefits and problems associated with genetic testing. Sinemet will increase symptoms of HD given that HD involves an increase in dopamine. Antibiotic therapy will not reduce the risk for aspiration. There are no effective treatments or lifestyle changes that delay the progression of symptoms in HD.
Which action will the nurse take when evaluating a patient who is taking phenytoin for adverse effects of the medication?
- A. Inspect the oral mucosa.
- B. Listen to the lung sounds.
- C. Auscultate the bowel tones.
- D. Check pupil reaction to light.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia, but does not affect bowel tones, lung sounds, or pupil reaction to light.
The nurse assesses a patient in the health clinic who has symptoms of a stooped posture, shuffling gait, and pill rolling-type tremor. Which of the following prescriptions would the nurse anticipate?
- A. Oral corticosteroids
- B. Antiparkinsonian drugs
- C. Electroencephalogram (EEG) testing
- D. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The diagnosis of Parkinson's is made when two of the three characteristic signs of tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia are present. The confirmation of the diagnosis is made on the basis of improvement when antiparkinsonian drugs are administered. This patient has symptoms of tremor and bradykinesia; the next anticipated step will be treatment with medications. MRI and EEG are not useful in diagnosing Parkinson's disease, and corticosteroid therapy is not used to treat it.