Question 1

The patient has smoked a pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years.The patient also takes oral contraceptives.In implementing a teaching plan,what is the most important information for the nurse to include?

Accepted Answer

The most important information for the nurse to include is that the patient is at a higher risk for a heart attack than nonsmokers. This is because smoking and oral contraceptive use increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, and the patient has two established risk factors. It is important for the patient to understand this increased risk and the importance of lifestyle changes to reduce this risk. While the other options may be relevant, they are not as pertinent or significant as the increased risk for a heart attack.

Question 2

When an individual wants to stop using a drug but can't,she would be suffering from

Accepted Answer

Substance dependence refers to the compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences. This includes both psychological and physical dependence and is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop using the drug. Option A (psychological dependence) only refers to the emotional need for a drug, whereas option C (physical dependence) only refers to the physical symptoms of withdrawal. Option D (withdrawal syndrome) is a result of substance dependence and not a separate category.

Question 3

What is a priority outcome for the patient who has chronic alcoholism with liver damage?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 4

The patient is admitted to the in-patient substance abuse unit.She tells the nurse she has been buying "yellow jackets" (pentobarbital,[Nembutal])on the street,but hasn't had any for a few days.What is the best plan by the nurse at this time?

Accepted Answer

The patient has been taking barbiturates, a type of central nervous system depressant, which can cause severe withdrawal symptoms including seizures and delirium tremens, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, the nurse should prepare to manage a withdrawal that could be life-threatening. Options A and B are not appropriate as the patient has not given any indication of depression or suicidal thoughts, and there is no evidence that her friends will bring drugs into the unit. Option D cannot be assumed without further assessment and monitoring.

Question 5

During a health history,the nurse should use therapeutic communication when asking about substance abuse.Which of the following is essential to establish a trusting nurse-patient relationship?

Accepted Answer

The answer of During a health history,the nurse should use...

Question 6

The patient comes to the emergency department and tells the nurse,"I have been off my drugs for 3 days." The nurse assesses the patient for withdrawal symptoms associated with the category of drug used.Withdrawal from which drug,if taken by the patient,should cause the nurse the most concern?

Accepted Answer

Withdrawal from benzodiazepines like Alprazolam (Xanax) can be life-threatening and cause severe symptoms such as seizures, which require immediate medical attention.

Question 7

The nurse is managing care for a group of substance abusers.The patients have completed group education about the disease of addiction.The nurse determines that learning has occurred when the patients make which statements? Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

Accepted Answer

These statements demonstrate an understanding of the complex nature of addiction, including its physiological, psychological, and genetic components.

Question 8

The patient has an extensive history of alcoholism.He is having coronary bypass surgery.While administering anesthesia,the certified nurse anesthetist notes that the patient requires higher-than-usual amounts of the drug.The nurse correctly evaluates this response as what phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The patient's extensive history of alcoholism indicates that he may have developed cross-tolerance to the anesthesia, which can result in requiring higher amounts of the drug for a desired effect. This is a common phenomenon in patients with a history of substance abuse. The other options are less likely explanations in this case.

Question 9

The patient has been prescribed disulfiram (Antabuse)to discourage a return to drinking alcohol.The patient tells the nurse that after stopping disulfiram (Antabuse)for a week,he returned to drinking alcohol.What will the nurse most likely assess in the patient?

Accepted Answer

Disulfiram (Antabuse) is an aversion therapy drug that causes unpleasant reactions when alcohol is consumed. If the patient consumes alcohol after stopping disulfiram for a week, they are likely to experience headache, nausea, and vomiting due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde in their system. This reaction occurs because disulfiram inhibits the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetaldehyde, which is one of the toxic byproducts of alcohol metabolism.

Question 10

Which of the following drugs is least likely to produce physical dependence or tolerance?

Accepted Answer

Compared to the other drugs listed, marijuana is least likely to produce physical dependence or tolerance. While it can lead to psychological dependence, withdrawal symptoms are typically mild and short-lived. Morphine, nicotine, and ethyl alcohol are all known to produce physical dependence and tolerance with repeated use.

Question 11

The nurse would expect to see which of the following withdrawal symptoms from an alcoholic patient?

Accepted Answer

Tremors, anxiety, confusion, and delirium are common withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. Option A includes symptoms that are not typically seen in alcohol withdrawal. Option B includes hearing loss and alopecia, which are not typical withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. Option D includes symptoms that may be seen in withdrawal from opioids or other drugs, but not specifically from alcohol.

Question 12

The mother of an adolescent patient says to the nurse,"I think my son is staying up too late studying,and I see him using Visine eye drops all the time for his red eyes.Should I have his vision checked?" What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The use of Visine eye drops to reduce redness and staying up late could be indicative of marijuana use, which is known to cause red eyes. The nurse's response should address the possibility of substance use.

Question 13

The patient is a 10-year-old child admitted to the emergency department after "huffing" gasoline.The physician suspects mild brain damage.What signs will the nurse teach the parents to observe for after they take the child home?

Accepted Answer

"Huffing" gasoline can cause damage to the brain, and some signs of mild brain damage include slurred speech, memory loss, and personality changes. Therefore, the nurse should teach the parents to observe for these signs in the child after they take him/her home. The other options (B, C, D) are not typically associated with huffing gasoline or mild brain damage.

Question 14

The patient tells the nurse that her 12-year-old child asks to use her nail polish remover several times a day.When her friends come to visit,this seems to occur more frequently.What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Choice B is the best response as it accurately identifies the potential issue of inhalant abuse, also known as "huffing," which is a common problem among adolescents. The nurse should explain the dangers of inhaling the fumes from nail polish remover and encourage the patient to seek medical and possibly behavioral health services for her daughter. The other choices are either incomplete or inaccurate.

Question 15

The patient has been abusing alcohol for several years and tells the nurse,"I used to drink a pint of whiskey every day.Now I get sick and pass out after just two drinks." What does the nurse correctly recognize about this patient?

Accepted Answer

The patient's decreased tolerance and increased adverse effects from a smaller amount of alcohol suggests liver damage, which may result in an inability to metabolize large amounts of alcohol. This can lead to a buildup of toxins in the bloodstream, causing symptoms of alcohol poisoning after only a small amount of alcohol consumption.

Question 16

The adolescent patient is in a drug rehabilitation program.The mother of this patient says to the nurse,"The doctor said my son has a physical addiction to alcohol.What does this mean?" What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A physical addiction to alcohol means that the body has become dependent on alcohol and will experience withdrawal symptoms when it is stopped. The patient's body has become accustomed to functioning with alcohol and needs it to feel "normal." It is important for healthcare professionals to monitor the patient for signs of withdrawal and to provide proper treatment to manage these symptoms.

Question 17

The patient is withdrawing from opioids.Which symptom best describe(s)the results of the nurse's assessment? Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

Accepted Answer

Abdominal cramping and pain, dilated pupils, and diaphoresis are common symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Hypotension and pinpoint pupils are more associated with opioid intoxication rather than withdrawal.

Question 18

A hospice patient has been receiving oral pain medication for several weeks.The patient started with 4 mg of the drug,and each week has had to increase the amount by 2-3 mg to obtain adequate pain relief.The nurse recognizes that the patient

Accepted Answer

The answer of A hospice patient has been receiving oral...

Question 19

The patient had been abusing cocaine for several years.Recently,the patient snorted cocaine that was much purer than was thought,resulting in an overdose.The patient died in the emergency department.What does the nurse recognize as the most likely cause of death?

Accepted Answer

Cocaine use can cause an overdose by increasing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in severe hypertension, tachycardia, and arrhythmias. These effects can cause a heart attack or cardiac arrest and may lead to death, as in this patient's case.

Question 20

Which of the following profiles would have the greatest risk for developing a drug addiction?

Accepted Answer

The 21-year-old male with insomnia who lives in a college dormitory is at the greatest risk for developing a drug addiction due to the combination of factors such as age, living in a social environment where drug usage may be common, and having a pre-existing condition like insomnia that may lead to self-medication.

Quiz 11: Substance Abuse