Deck 44: Care of Patients With Problems of the Central Nervous System: the Brain

Question 1

A client is actively experiencing status epilepticus.Which prescribed medication does the nurse prepare to administer?

A) Atropine
B) Lorazepam (Ativan)
C) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
D) Morphine sulfate

Answer 1

Lorazepam (Ativan)

Question 2

The nurse is reviewing a client's prescription for sumatriptan succinate (Imitrex).Which condition in this client's medical history does the nurse report to the health care provider?

A) Bronchial asthma
B) Gonorrhea
C) Prinzmetal's angina
D) Chronic kidney disease

Answer 2

Prinzmetal's angina

Question 3

The nurse is assessing a client with a history of migraines.Which clinical manifestation is an early sign of a migraine with aura?

A) Vertigo
B) Lethargy
C) Visual disturbances
D) Numbness of the tongue

Answer 3

Visual disturbances

Question 4

A client with epilepsy develops stiffening of the muscles of the arms and legs,followed by an immediate loss of consciousness and jerking of all extremities.How does the nurse document this seizure activity?

A) Atonic seizure
B) Absence seizure
C) Myoclonic seizure
D) Tonic-clonic seizure

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a hospitalized client with Alzheimer's disease who has a history of agitation.Which intervention does the nurse implement to help prevent agitation and aggressive behavior in this client?

A) Provide undisturbed sleep.
B) Orient the client to reality.
C) Leave the television turned on.
D) Administer hypnotic drugs as needed.

Question 6

The nurse is assessing a client with a cluster headache.Which clinical manifestation does the nurse expect to find?

A) Ipsilateral tearing of the eye
B) Exophthalmos
C) Abrupt loss of consciousness
D) Neck and shoulder tenderness

Question 7

The caregiver of a client with advanced Alzheimer's disease states,"She is always wandering off.What can I do to manage this restless behavior?" How does the nurse respond?

A) "Allow for a 45-minute daytime nap."
B) "Take the client for frequent walks throughout the day."
C) "Using a Geri-chair may decrease agitation."
D) "Give a mild sedative during periods of restlessness."

Question 8

A hospitalized client with late-stage Alzheimer's disease says that breakfast has not been served.The nurse witnessed the client eating breakfast earlier.Which statement made to this client is an example of validation therapy?

A) "I see you are still hungry. I will get you some toast."
B) "You are confused about mealtimes this morning."
C) "You ate your breakfast 30 minutes ago."
D) "You look tired. Maybe a nap will help."

Question 9

The nurse is caring for a client with Parkinson's disease.Which intervention does the nurse implement to prevent respiratory complications in the client?

A) Keep an oral airway at the bedside.
B) Ensure fluid intake of at least 3 L/day.
C) Teach the client pursed-lip breathing techniques.
D) Maintain the head of the bed at 30 degrees or greater.

Question 10

A client with new-onset status epilepticus is prescribed phenytoin (Dilantin).After teaching the client about this treatment regimen,the nurse assesses the client's understanding.Which statement indicates that the client understands the teaching?

A) "I must drink at least 2 liters of water daily."
B) "This will stop me from getting an aura before a seizure."
C) "I will not be able to be employed while taking this medication."
D) "Even when my seizures stop, I will take this drug."

Question 11

A client with Alzheimer's disease is admitted to the hospital.Which psychosocial assessment is most important for the nurse to complete?

A) Ability to recall past events
B) Ability to perform self-care
C) Reaction to a change of environment
D) Relationship with close family members

Question 12

A client is prescribed levetiracetam (Keppra).Which laboratory tests does the nurse monitor for potential adverse effects of this medication?

A) Serum electrolyte levels
B) Kidney function tests
C) Complete blood cell count
D) Antinuclear antibodies

Question 13

The daughter of a client with Alzheimer's disease asks,"Will the medication my mother is taking improve her dementia?" How does the nurse respond?

A) "It will help your mother live independently once more."
B) "It is used to halt the advancement of Alzheimer's disease but will not cure it."
C) "It will provide a steady improvement in memory but not in problem solving."
D) "It will not improve dementia but can help control emotional responses."

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a client with a history of epilepsy who suddenly begins to experience a tonic-clonic seizure and loses consciousness.What is the nurse's priority action?

A) Restrain the client's extremities.
B) Turn the client's head to the side.
C) Take the client's blood pressure.
D) Place an airway into the client's mouth.

Question 15

The nurse is taking the health history of a client suspected of having bacterial meningitis.Which question is most important for the nurse to ask?

A) "Do you live in a crowded residence?"
B) "When was your last tetanus vaccination?"
C) "Have you had any viral infections recently?"
D) "Have you traveled out of the country in the last month?"

Question 16

The nurse assesses for which clinical manifestations in the client with suspected encephalitis?

A) Fever of 101° F (38.3° C)
B) Nausea and vomiting
C) Hypoactive deep tendon reflexes
D) Pain on flexion of the neck

Question 17

The nurse is teaching a client who is newly diagnosed with epilepsy.Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching concerning the drug regimen?

A) "I will not drink any alcoholic beverages."
B) "I will wear a medical alert bracelet."
C) "I will let my doctor know about all of my prescriptions."
D) "I can skip a couple of pills if they make me ill."

Question 18

The nurse is talking to the family of a client who has Parkinson's disease.Which statement indicates that the family has a good understanding of the changes in motor movement associated with this disease?

A) "I can never tell what she's thinking. She hides behind a frozen face."
B) "She drools all the time so I just can't take her out anywhere."
C) "I think this disease makes her nervous. She perspires all the time."
D) "She has trouble chewing so I will offer bite-sized portions."

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a client experiencing migraine headaches who is receiving a beta blocker to help manage this disorder.When preparing a teaching plan,which instruction does the nurse plan to provide?

A) "Take this drug only when you have prodromal symptoms indicating the onset of a migraine headache."
B) "Take this drug as ordered, even when feeling well, to prevent vascular changes associated with migraine headaches."
C) "This drug will relieve the pain during the aura phase soon after a headache has started."
D) "This medication will have no effect on your heart rate or blood pressure because you are taking it for migraines."

Question 20

The nurse is assessing a client with a history of absence seizures.Which clinical manifestation does the nurse assess for?

A) Automatisms
B) Intermittent rigidity
C) Sudden loss of muscle tone
D) Brief jerking of the extremities

Question 21

The nurse is caring for a client who has chronic migraine headaches.Which complementary health therapy does the nurse suggest?

A) "Place a hot compress on your forehead at the onset of the headache."
B) "Wear dark sunglasses when you are in brightly lit spaces."
C) "Lie down in a darkened room when you experience a headache."
D) "Do not sleep longer than 6 hours at one time."

Question 22

The nurse is planning to bathe a client diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis.In addition to gloves,what personal protective equipment does the nurse use?

A) Particulate respirator
B) Isolation gown
C) Shoe covers
D) Surgical mask

Question 23

The nurse is teaching a client with chronic headaches about headache triggers.Which statements does the nurse include in the client's teaching plan?

A) "Increase your intake of caffeinated beverages."
B) "Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables."
C) "Avoid all alcoholic beverages."
D) "Avoid drinking red wine."
E) "Incorporate physical exercise into your daily routine."
F) "Incorporate an occasional fast into your plan."

Question 24

The nurse is assessing a client with Huntington's disease.Which motor changes does the nurse monitor for in this client?

A) Shuffling gait
B) Jerky hand movements
C) Continuous chewing motions
D) Tremors of the hands during fine motor tasks

Question 25

The nurse is planning care for a client with epilepsy.Which precautions does the nurse implement to ensure the safety of the client while in the hospital?

A) Have suction equipment at the bedside.
B) Place a padded tongue at the bedside.
C) Permit only clear oral fluids.
D) Keep bed rails up at all times.
E) Maintain the client on strict bedrest.
F) Ensure that the client has IV access.

Question 26

A client diagnosed with the Huntington gene but who has no symptoms asks for options related to family planning.Which is the nurse's best response?

A) "Most clients with the Huntington gene do not pass on Huntington disease to their children."
B) "I understand that they can diagnose this disease in embryos. Therefore you could select a healthy embryo from your fertilized eggs for implantation to avoid passing on Huntington disease."
C) "The need for family planning is limited because one of the hallmarks of Huntington disease is infertility."
D) "Tell me more specifically what information you need about family planning so that I can direct you to the right information or health care provider."

Question 27

The nurse is assessing the results of diagnostic tests on a client's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).Which values and observations does the nurse correlate as most indicative of viral meningitis?

A) Clear
B) Cloudy
C) Normal protein level
D) Increased protein level
E) Normal glucose level
F) Decreased glucose level

Question 28

A client who has Alzheimer's disease is being discharged home.What safety instructions does the nurse include in the teaching plan for the client's caregiver?

A) "Keep exercise to a minimum."
B) "Place a padded throw rug at the bedside."
C) "Install deadbolt locks on all outside doors."
D) "Keep the lights off in the bedroom at night."