Question 1

An older patient newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is prescribed galantamine (Razadyne). How will the nurse instruct the patient about this medication? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Galantamine should be taken with food to minimize gastrointestinal side effects. The dosage may be adjusted every 4 weeks to find the optimal dose. It is advised to avoid NSAIDs as they can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding when taken with galantamine.

Question 2

The family of an older patient with Alzheimer's disease does not want to discuss long-term care placement for at least "a few years." How should the nurse respond to the family?

Accepted Answer

Discussing long-term care options early allows families to consider their choices thoughtfully and make informed decisions without the pressure of an immediate need.

Question 3

An older client is demonstrating signs of a brain attack. What will the nurse do to assess the degree of cerebral infarct?

Accepted Answer

Assessing the client's motor strength is a direct method to evaluate the impact of a cerebral infarct on the brain's ability to control muscle movements, which can be affected by stroke or brain attack.

Question 4

An older client with advanced Alzheimer's disease is being treated for pneumonia. The daughter is not sure if resuscitation efforts should be a part of the plan of care. What information should the nurse provide to the daughter?

Accepted Answer

Resuscitation can indeed be effective for older adults, including those with serious conditions like advanced Alzheimer's disease. However, the outcomes can vary widely based on the individual's overall health, the cause of the arrest, and the timeliness and quality of the resuscitation efforts. Choices A, B, and C are overly optimistic and do not accurately reflect the complexities and uncertainties involved in resuscitation, especially for older adults with significant health issues.

Question 5

The nurse instructs an older client with Parkinson's disease about carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet). Which of the following shows an accurate understanding of the medication?

Accepted Answer

Carbidopa-levodopa can cause orthostatic hypotension, so sitting on the side of the bed before standing helps prevent dizziness or falls.

Question 6

A care conference is being held with the family of an older patient in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease. The family wants to know if a feeding tube should be placed. How should this question be answered?

Accepted Answer

In the late stages of Alzheimer's disease, the absence of tube feeding can lead to dehydration, which may reduce pain sensitivity. However, the decision should be based on the patient's overall condition, quality of life, and family wishes, often guided by ethical considerations and medical advice.

Question 7

An older client is diagnosed with dementia caused by Lewy bodies. What will the nurse most likely assess in this client? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Dementia with Lewy bodies is characterized by symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, and postural instability, which are similar to Parkinson's disease symptoms, as well as visual hallucinations, which are particularly common in this type of dementia. Sleep apnea is not specifically associated with Lewy body dementia.

Question 8

An older client with Alzheimer's disease has wandered away from the home several times. What can the nurse suggest that the spouse do to reduce the client's risk for wandering? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Installing motion detectors can alert the spouse when the client tries to leave. Disguising the door can prevent the client from recognizing it as an exit. Alerting neighbors can help in quickly locating the client if they wander.

Question 9

The nurse is preparing an educational session on stroke prevention for a group of senior citizens. What information would be important for the nurse to provide to these participants? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Smoking cessation, maintaining a healthy weight, following a low-sodium diet, and taking prescribed blood pressure medication are all important factors in stroke prevention. While moderate alcohol consumption may be acceptable, complete cessation is not typically necessary for stroke prevention.

Question 10

An older patient begins to experience status epilepticus. Which action will the nurse take to help this patient?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring an intravenous access line is available is crucial for administering medications quickly to stop the seizures in status epilepticus.

Question 11

An older patient is diagnosed with early-mild Alzheimer's disease. Which should be done at the time of diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

At the time of diagnosis, it is important to discuss treatment options and the patient's wishes to ensure they are involved in their care planning and decision-making process.

Question 12

What should the nurse teach the family of an older patient with Alzheimer's disease to help with spatial disorientation? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Using color to contrast objects can help the patient distinguish between different items. Keeping furniture in the same place helps maintain a familiar environment. Placing family photos or recognizable items in prominent spots can provide comfort and orientation.

Question 13

An older patient is being evaluated for dementia. What manifestations need to be present to diagnose this disorder? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

These are all manifestations of dementia. Intermittent forgetfulness is not a manifestation of dementia.

Question 14

An older patient with Alzheimer's disease is demonstrating agnosia. Which intervention would be important to include in this patient's plan of care?

Accepted Answer

Agnosia is the inability to recognize objects, persons, sounds, shapes, or smells while the specific sense is not defective nor is there any significant memory loss. It can be a symptom of Alzheimer's disease. Removing inedible items from the environment is important to prevent the patient from accidentally ingesting something harmful, as they may not recognize items as being inedible.

Question 15

An older patient with Alzheimer's disease has a feeding tube. The family wants to know if the patient will ever be able to eat solid food again. What information should the nurse include when responding to this family's question?

Accepted Answer

The answer of An older patient with Alzheimer's disease has...

Question 16

An older client is being evaluated for delirium. Of the following, which is not a manifestation typically used to make a diagnosis of this disorder?

Accepted Answer

The inability to physically swallow when asked to is not typically a manifestation used to diagnose delirium. Delirium is characterized by disturbances in attention, awareness, and cognition that are not better explained by a preexisting or evolving neurocognitive disorder. Memory issues, sleep disturbances, and difficulty maintaining attention are common in delirium, but swallowing difficulties are more indicative of other medical conditions rather than delirium itself.

Question 17

The nurse suspects an older client is having a grand mal seizure. What is the nurse's highest priority?

Accepted Answer

During a grand mal seizure, the highest priority is to prevent the client from being injured. This involves ensuring the environment is safe and the client is protected from harm, such as moving furniture away and placing something soft under their head.

Question 18

The nurse suspects that an older client is experiencing Parkinson's disease. What did the nurse observe in this patient? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse suspects that an older client...

Question 19

After a neurologic assessment, the nurse determines that an older patient is exhibiting normal signs of aging. What did the nurse assess in this patient? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The answer of After a neurologic assessment, the nurse determines...

Question 20

Which assessment finding places an older patient at the greatest risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which assessment finding places an older patient...

Quiz 22: The Neurologic System

An older patient newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is prescribed galantamine (Razadyne) . How will the nurse instruct the patient about this medication? Select all that apply.