Nokea
When the family of a client who has been diagnosed with a dementia secondary to normal pressure hydrocephalus asks the nurse about prognosis, the nurse should reply:
- A. Unfortunately the prognosis is for a downhill course ending in death.'
- B. There will be good days and bad days for the rest of the client's life.'
- C. The symptoms usually remit after a shunt is inserted to drain fluid.'
- D. We'll try our very best, but only time will tell how successful we are.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) symptoms typically improve after a shunt is inserted to drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid, leading to a better prognosis. This intervention can help alleviate symptoms such as gait disturbances, cognitive impairment, and urinary incontinence associated with NPH.
Choice A is incorrect as it inaccurately states that the prognosis is inevitably poor, which is not true for NPH with appropriate treatment. Choice B is incorrect because NPH symptoms can be effectively managed with treatment, so it is not accurate to say that there will always be good and bad days for the rest of the client's life. Choice D is incorrect as it does not provide specific information about the positive impact of shunt insertion on NPH symptoms and prognosis.
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The family of a patient with schizophrenia who has been stable for a year reports to the community mental health nurse that the patient reports feeling tense and having difficulty concentrating. He sleeps only 3 to 4 hours nightly and has begun to talk about creatures called 'volmers' hiding in the warehouse where he works and undoing his work each night. This information most likely suggests:
- A. medication nonadherence.
- B. a need for psychoeducation.
- C. the chronic nature of his illness.
- D. relapse of his schizophrenia.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: relapse of his schizophrenia. The patient's symptoms of feeling tense, difficulty concentrating, poor sleep, and delusional beliefs about creatures at work indicate a worsening of his psychotic symptoms. This suggests a relapse of schizophrenia, a chronic mental illness characterized by periods of stability and exacerbation of symptoms. The patient's previous stability for a year makes medication nonadherence less likely. While psychoeducation may be beneficial, the patient's current symptoms require more immediate intervention for relapse management. The information provided does not directly indicate the chronic nature of his illness, but rather an acute exacerbation. Therefore, D is the most appropriate choice based on the presented symptoms and clinical understanding of schizophrenia.
A patient with schizophrenia who admits to auditory hallucinations anxiously tells the nurse, 'The voice is telling me to do things.' Which of the following responses should the nurse make next?
- A. Do you recognize the voice you hear?'
- B. How long has this been happening?'
- C. Does what the voice tells you to do frighten you?'
- D. What is the voice telling you to do?'
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: "What is the voice telling you to do?" This response helps the nurse assess the content and potential danger of the hallucinations, guiding further interventions. Option A focuses on recognition, which is less urgent. Option B addresses duration, not immediate safety. Option C inquires about fear but does not directly address the hallucination's content. By asking what the voice commands, the nurse gains crucial insight for risk assessment and safety planning.
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 child, aged 11 years, has to stay home from school to care for his siblings while his mother works, because the family cannot afford a babysitter. The father appears to be emotionally abusive. Which intervention could be used for the primary prevention of problems such as these?
- A. Involve the parents in a parenting support group, and help them find affordable childcare.
- B. Meet with elected officials to lobby for subsidized childcare and increasing the minimum wage.
- C. Screen for signs of abuse and neglect in all children so that it can be discovered and treated early.
- D. Provide supportive counseling services for those who have survived neglect or abuse.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because lobbying for subsidized childcare and increasing the minimum wage addresses the root causes of the family's situation, such as financial insecurity and lack of affordable childcare. This intervention aims to prevent similar situations from occurring by advocating for systemic changes that can support families in need.
Choice A focuses on providing support to the parents, which may not address the underlying issues of financial instability and emotional abuse. Choice C addresses detection and treatment after the abuse has occurred, rather than preventing it from happening in the first place. Choice D focuses on providing counseling services after abuse or neglect has already taken place, rather than preventing it through systemic changes like subsidized childcare and increased minimum wage.
A client with borderline personality disorder is having difficulty with memories of sexual abuse. She has a history of suicidal gestures, self-mutilation, sexual addiction, and substance addiction. She complains of vague pains, menstrual problems, and headaches. She entered the partial hospital program to prevent another suicide gesture or self-mutilation. The nurse recognizes that collaborative therapy may be helpful for this client and knows that the most useful collaboration in this case would be the client, the nurse, and the:
- A. Occupational therapist exploring ways to reduce stress
- B. Physical therapist exploring ways to reduce back pain
- C. Acupuncturist exploring ways to reduce pain
- D. Sexologist exploring healthy sexuality and safe sex
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Occupational therapist exploring ways to reduce stress. In this case, the client's symptoms and history suggest complex emotional issues related to trauma and addiction. Occupational therapy can help the client develop coping skills, manage stress, and improve functioning in daily activities. The therapist can work collaboratively with the client and nurse to address the client's emotional, physical, and social needs.
Choice B: Physical therapist exploring ways to reduce back pain focuses only on physical symptoms and does not address the underlying emotional issues. Choice C: Acupuncturist exploring ways to reduce pain also only addresses physical symptoms and does not provide comprehensive support for the client's mental health. Choice D: Sexologist exploring healthy sexuality and safe sex is not the most immediate need for the client, as her primary concerns are related to trauma, self-harm, and addiction.