Question 1

A 60-year-old patient with a recent history of head trauma and a long-term history of hypertension presents to the ER for changes in mental status.MRI reveals that the patient has experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage.What does the nurse suspect caused this type of stroke?

Accepted Answer

A subarachnoid hemorrhage is often caused by the rupture of an aneurysm, especially in patients with a history of hypertension.

Question 2

Upon autopsy of a 25 year old, abnormalities in the media of the arterial wall and degenerative changes were detected.Which of the following would most likely accompany this finding?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Upon autopsy of a 25 year old,...

Question 3

A 75-year-old patient experienced a lacunar stroke.When looking through the history of the patient's chart, which of the following would the nurse expect to find?

Accepted Answer

A lacunar stroke is a type of ischemic stroke that results from the occlusion of small penetrating arteries, leading to small, deep cerebral infarcts known as lacunes.

Question 4

A 65-year-old patient diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to uncontrolled hypertension appears drowsy and confused with pronounced focal neurologic deficits.This symptomology would place this hemorrhage at which grade?

Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms, including drowsiness, confusion, and pronounced focal neurologic deficits, indicate a subarachnoid hemorrhage grade III.

Question 5

Which information is basic to the assessment findings associated with a patient diagnosed with an aneurysm?

Accepted Answer

The majority of aneurysms are asymptomatic, meaning they do not show symptoms until they rupture or grow large enough to press on surrounding tissues.

Question 6

A 48-year-old patient presents at the ER reporting an acute severe headache, nausea, photophobia, and nuchal rigidity.Which medical diagnosis is supported by these signs and symptoms?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of acute severe headache, nausea, photophobia, and nuchal rigidity are classic signs of a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Question 7

A patient presents with seizures.An MRI reveals a meningioma most likely originating from the:

Accepted Answer

Meningiomas most commonly originate from the meningothelial cells of the arachnoid layer, which is part of the dura mater and arachnoid membrane.

Question 8

Patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis often have tumors or pathologic changes in the:

Accepted Answer

Myasthenia gravis is often associated with thymic abnormalities, such as thymomas or thymic hyperplasia.

Question 9

The patient reports generalized muscle weakness.The health care provider orders administration of the medication edrophonium chloride (Tensilon).This medication is used in the diagnosis of:

Accepted Answer

Edrophonium chloride (Tensilon) is used in the Tensilon test to diagnose myasthenia gravis, as it temporarily improves muscle strength in patients with this condition.

Question 10

A patient is newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).What physiologic change is causing the patient's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by the demyelination of nerve fibers in the central nervous system, which disrupts the normal conduction of electrical impulses along the nerves, leading to the symptoms experienced by the patient.

Question 11

Patient teaching is considered successful regarding myasthenia gravis when the patient identifies its cause as being:

Accepted Answer

Myasthenia gravis is caused by an autoimmune response where antibodies attack the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, impairing communication between nerves and muscles.

Question 12

What is the most common early symptom of a brain abscess?

Accepted Answer

Headache is the most common early symptom of a brain abscess due to increased intracranial pressure and localized inflammation.

Question 13

Most causes of encephalitis are which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Most cases of encephalitis are caused by viruses.

Question 14

When a patient asks, "What is the cause of multiple sclerosis?" the nurse bases the answer on the interaction between:

Accepted Answer

Multiple sclerosis is believed to be caused by an interaction between autoimmunity, where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, and genetic susceptibility, which makes certain individuals more prone to developing the disease.

Question 15

A 15-month-old child from Pennsylvania was brought to the ER with symptomology that includes fever, seizure activity, cranial palsies, and paralysis.Which form of encephalitis is best supported by the available assessment data?

Accepted Answer

Eastern equine encephalitis is known for causing severe symptoms such as fever, seizures, cranial nerve palsies, and paralysis, especially in young children, which aligns with the symptoms presented by the child.

Question 16

What are the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors in adults?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the most common primary central...

Question 17

A patient presents to a primary care provider reporting fever, headache, nuchal rigidity, and decreased consciousness.History includes a previously treated sinusitis.Which medical diagnosis is best supported by this assessment data?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of fever, headache, nuchal rigidity, and decreased consciousness, along with a history of sinusitis, suggest bacterial meningitis, which can occur as a complication of sinusitis.

Quiz 17: Disorders of the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems and Neuromuscular Junction