Question 1

Which group would be the target population for educational material on the dangers of binge drinking?

Accepted Answer

The highest prevalence of binge and heavy drinking is among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years,with the majority being full-time college students.

Question 2

If an individual is admitted with a diagnosis of Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome,the nurse would expect to assess:

Accepted Answer

Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome includes a severe form of amnesia and an inability to learn new skills which reflects a cognitive impairment.The other options are not associated with the syndrome.

Question 3

A patient recently discharged from an alcohol rehabilitation program is brought to the hospital in a state of prostration with severe throbbing headache,tachycardia,a beet-red face,dyspnea,and continuous vomiting.The patient's significant other states the patient got sick about 15 minutes after drinking a glass of wine.The nurse should be guided in assessment by the suspicion that the patient:

Accepted Answer

The alcohol deterrent drug,Antabuse,commonly prescribed in recovering alcoholic treatment,causes this reaction when taken in combination with alcohol.Alcohol intoxication,stroke,and cross-dependence do not present with the listed prostration symptoms.

Question 4

Which observation seen in a teenage patient supports the suspicion of anabolic steroid abuse?

Accepted Answer

For all individuals abusing anabolic steroids,extreme mood swings occur,and these may be accompanied by violent behaviors.Obsessive-compulsive behaviors and stealing are not generally associated with this disorder.The increased hormone presence would result not in a lack,but rather an increase,in facial hair.

Question 5

A patient's wife has chronic alcoholism,and the husband is concerned about the possibility that their children may develop the disease.He asks the nurse what the risk is.The nurse's best response is:

Accepted Answer

Problems with alcohol increase with the number of relatives with alcoholism.No unique personality profile is prone to addiction.Ritualized use of alcohol does not predispose to alcoholism and twin studies indicate a significant genetic contribution to susceptibility to alcoholism.

Question 6

Which assessment data poses the greatest risk for injury in a patient who abuses alcohol?

Accepted Answer

Tricyclic antidepressants are strictly contraindicated with alcohol consumption because of their potential effect on cardiac function.Although aspirin increases bleeding times and antihistamines and narcotics increase sedation,the outcome of combining alcohol and these drugs is not as dangerous as that of the correct option.

Question 7

Which nursing intervention best demonstrates an understanding of the relationship between confirmed intravenous drug abuse and specific infections?

Accepted Answer

Injecting drug users have one of the highest HBV rates among all risk groups and account for at least half of all new HCV cases,so screening for such infections demonstrates that the nurse understands the severity of the problem.Although the other options reflect potential infection risks,they are not as commonly seen in patients with this diagnosis.

Question 8

Which protocol should guide the nurse responsible for administering pharmacologic interventions for a patient who is experiencing alcohol intoxication?

Accepted Answer

The course of intoxication is usually self-limiting to approximately 24 hours,after which withdrawal symptoms can occur for a time period unique to each patient.Treatment is directed by the symptoms the patient is experiencing,which generally emerge during the withdrawal stage.Seizures are among several serious symptoms that can occur during the withdrawal stage.

Question 9

Which nursing intervention demonstrates an understanding regarding the primary form of substance use disorder among older adults?

Accepted Answer

Misuse of prescription medications is the most common form of drug abuse among older adults.This population is especially vulnerable because of the multiple drugs that are often prescribed for medical conditions.The remaining options do not help identify the presence of multiple medications.

Question 10

Which intervention has priority when a nurse suspects a staff member of providing patient care while being impaired by alcohol or drugs?

Accepted Answer

It is a professional obligation to report suspected impaired practice.The remaining options do not have prior in this situation since the concern is patient safety.

Question 11

Which social factor has the greatest impact on the changing nature of alcohol abuse treatment?

Accepted Answer

The existence of an alcohol abuse problem among women has only been recently recognized and this has dramatically affected treatments and services being provided.Although the other options are true,they do not have the impact on treatment modalities as much as the correct option.

Question 12

Which observation best supports the patient's success with achieving long-term sobriety?

Accepted Answer

One of the most prominent factors that leads an individual to recovery is the patient's recognition that substance use has caused or influenced his or her life's problems and interrupted his or her functioning.The remaining options lack that element of self-reflection.

Question 13

Which question is most appropriate when assessing a patient who is exhibiting symptoms of a systemic infection including a fever of unknown origin?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous drug users are at risk for subacute bacterial endocarditis and other circulatory compromise created by foreign substances introduced during the process of intravenous use.Regardless of the setting,nurses need to ask about intravenous drug use whenever a patient presents with fever of unexplained origin.Assessing the patient's knowledge related to bacterial infections and endocarditis will not address the possible cause of the fever.Alcohol consumption is not relevant in this situation.

Question 14

Which patient response would support the conclusion that the patient has moved into the 'dark side' of a narcotic addition?

Accepted Answer

During beginning use (the light side),the "feel good" effects are dominant.As the individual becomes habituated to the drug,tolerance and withdrawal symptoms develop; this constitutes the dark side.The remaining options do not describe effects of drug use.

Question 15

Which sociological aspect,vital to relapse prevention,is greatly affected when a patient is found to have a dual diagnosis of psychosis and alcoholism?

Accepted Answer

Often individuals with this type of diagnosis have lost their support systems as a result of chronic mistreatment of their family and friends and an inability to maintain and recognize the importance of this aspect to their treatment plan.Although the remaining options impact relapse prevention,they are generally available when the patient is being supported appropriately.

Question 16

Which assessment data would bring into question a patient's statement that,"I have only a few drinks on special occasions."?

Accepted Answer

Peripheral nerve deterioration in both hands and feet result from chronic alcohol intake.Peripheral neuropathy occurs in about 10% of alcoholics after years of heavy drinking causing the nurse to question the patient's statement.The remaining options do not reflect symptomology generally associated with alcoholism.

Question 17

Which assessment demonstrates the nurse's understanding of the relationship between substance abuse and the development of symptoms characteristic of delirium?

Accepted Answer

Some people who ingest large amounts of caffeine develop delirium.The remaining options are not relevant to caffeine ingestion or the abuse of any other substance.

Question 18

Which principle of recovery is the basis of the nurse's response when a patient relapses and is hospitalized for alcohol detox treatment?

Accepted Answer

Sobriety is the goal of complete abstention from drugs,alcohol,and addictive behaviors.Sobriety often involves several attempts,and many patients relapse 9 or 10 times before achieving and sustaining sobriety.This information is the basis for the physical and emotional support provided by the nurse.Although citing that a relapse is not a failure but an expected part of the recovery process,this option does not include the needed information of the frequency of the possible relapses.The remaining options are not focused on relapsing.

Question 19

When asked,"What causes alcoholism?" the nurse's response will be based on the fact that:

Accepted Answer

It has been determined that alcoholism is not an allergy but rather it is recognized as a partial brain-based disorder that some brains are more susceptible to than others.

Question 20

A substance use disorder (SUD)is a likely comorbid mental illness in which patient?

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic stress disorder creates a risk for substance use or relapse.A total of 30% to 60% of persons with SUDs meet the criteria for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder.The remaining options have not shown such a prevalence of comorbid relationship with SUDs.

Quiz 15: Substance Related Disorders and Addictive Behaviors