Question 1

The client receives aspirin, a multivitamin, and an antihistamine every day. What is the best instruction by the nurse prior to administering carbidopa -levodopa (Sinemet)?

Accepted Answer

Multivitamins, especially those containing pyridoxine (vitamin B6), can reduce the effectiveness of carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet) by increasing its metabolism, thereby diminishing its therapeutic effect.

Question 2

The nurse plans care for a client with Parkinson's disease. What will the best plan of the nurse include?

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's disease can cause dysphagia and difficulty with chewing and swallowing, which can increase the risk of choking and aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, monitoring the client's ability to chew and swallow is an important part of their care. Limiting exercise can actually be detrimental to the client's overall health, as exercise can improve mobility and prevent falls. Psychotic symptoms are not a common manifestation of Parkinson's disease, so monitoring for them is not a priority. Checking peripheral circulation for thrombophlebitis may be important in other situations, but it is not directly related to Parkinson's disease.

Question 3

The client receives carbidopa -levodopa (Sinemet). The nurse has completed medication education and determines that learning has occurred when the client makes which statement?

Accepted Answer

Carbidopa-levodopa can cause gastrointestinal side effects, including constipation. Increasing dietary fiber can help alleviate this side effect, indicating the client has understood the medication education.

Question 4

The client receives carbidopa -levodopa (Sinemet). What will the best teaching of the nurse include as relates to this medication?

Accepted Answer

Carbidopa-levodopa is best absorbed on an empty stomach, as food, especially protein, can interfere with its absorption.

Question 5

The client is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The client's wife asks the nurse how taking medicine will help her husband. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The medications for Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa, help improve motor symptoms, enabling the patient to perform daily activities like eating and walking more easily.

Question 6

The client receives trihexyphenidyl (PMS - trihexyphenidyl) for Parkinson's disease. Which assessment data will the nurse report to the physician?

Accepted Answer

Trihexyphenidyl can cause urinary retention as a side effect, which can be a concern for patients with Parkinson's disease who already have potential bladder issues. The nurse should report this potential side effect to the physician for further evaluation and management. Hypertension, dry mouth, and anorexia are also potential side effects of trihexyphenidyl, but they may not be as immediate of a concern as urinary retention in this population.

Question 7

The client receives donepezil (Aricept) as treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Which laboratory test(s) will the nurse primarily assess?

Accepted Answer

Liver function tests should be primarily assessed when a client is receiving donepezil (Aricept) as treatment for Alzheimer's disease because this medication is metabolized in the liver. Liver function tests, including serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin, should be monitored regularly to evaluate the liver's ability to metabolize the medication and to assess for potential hepatotoxicity.

Question 8

The client has Parkinson's disease, and develops depression. What is the best education the nurse can give the client's family?

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's disease is frequently associated with depression. It is important for the family to understand this and to be able to recognize the symptoms. It is not necessarily caused by the medications used to treat Parkinson's disease, and medication is not always the only or best solution for depression.

Question 9

The client receives benztropine (Apo -benztropine) and tells the nurse he is going on a Caribbean cruise. Which statement would be included in the best plan of the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Benztropine can increase sensitivity to sunlight, which may increase the risk of sunburn. Therefore, the nurse should advise the client to protect himself from the sun by wearing a hat and sunglasses. Limiting activity is not necessary unless there are other medical reasons for doing so. There is no evidence to support the use of a multivitamin for additional energy, and it is not related to the client's drug therapy. It is not safe to advise the client that forgetting doses is all right, as this may result in decreased effectiveness of the medication or rebound symptoms.

Question 10

The nurse is teaching a class for caregivers of clients with Alzheimer's disease. The nurse determines that learning has occurred when the caregivers make which statement?

Accepted Answer

This statement shows that the caregivers have learned that there are drugs available that can help alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's disease temporarily. The other answer choices either provide inaccurate or incomplete information about the use and effectiveness of drugs in treating Alzheimer's disease.

Question 11

The client has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. What is the best medication education the nurse gives to the client's husband?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease has no known cure, and current medications for Alzheimer's only treat the symptoms for a period of time. It is important to be honest with the client and their loved ones about the efficacy of medication in order to manage expectations and ensure realistic goals are set for care. Choice A may cause unnecessary anxiety for the caregiver, while choices C and D offer unrealistic expectations of medication's ability to fully cure or reverse the disease.

Question 12

The nurse prepares to administer benztropine (Apo -Benztropine) to the client. The nurse holds the dose and notifies the physician based on which assessment finding?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse prepares to administer benztropine (Apo...

Question 13

The nurse plans to teach a class about Alzheimer's disease to a caregiver's support group. What will the best plan of the nurse include? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Chronic inflammation of the brain is considered a potential cause of Alzheimer's. Memory difficulties are typically an early symptom. Depression and aggressive behavior are common symptoms in Alzheimer's patients.

Question 14

Several senior citizens have asked the nurse to do a presentation on degenerative diseases. What does the nurse plan to teach as the most common degenerative diseases? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Several senior citizens have asked the nurse...

Question 15

The elderly client receives carbidopa -levodopa (Sinemet). The nurse is primarily concerned about which problem with this client?

Accepted Answer

Carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet) is used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease or Parkinson-like symptoms. A common side effect of this medication is involuntary muscle movements or muscle twitching, which is why the nurse would be primarily concerned about this issue in the client.

Quiz 18: Drugs for Degenerative Diseases of the Nervous System

The client receives aspirin, a multivitamin, and an antihistamine every day. What is the best instruction by the nurse prior to administering carbidopa -levodopa (Sinemet) ?