Question 1

A client being treated for cancer is offended because she overheard a nurse say that the client had "wild-type genes." How should the nurse respond to calm this client?

Accepted Answer

"Wild-type genes" refer to those genes that are normal and have not been affected by any mutation. It is important to provide the client with accurate information rather than trying to sugar-coat a situation or make assumptions about their resilience or treatment. By explaining the true meaning of the term, the nurse can reassure the client that there is no negative connotation associated with it.

Question 2

A male infant is diagnosed with a disorder of mitochondrial inheritance.What should the nurse consider when developing a teaching plan about this disorder for the parents?

Accepted Answer

Disorders of mitochondrial inheritance are passed down from the mother due to the presence of mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the ovum. A male child can be affected if he inherits an altered mitochondrial DNA from his mother. It is important for the parents to understand the genetic inheritance of the disorder.

Question 3

A nurse is providing preconception counseling to a healthy woman and her husband,who has hemophilia A.They are very concerned about passing the disorder on to their children.What should the nurse consider before addressing this concern?

Accepted Answer

B,E

Question 4

A client is diagnosed with a disorder that has an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.A review of the client's family history and pedigree does not reveal any ancestors with the disorder.How should the nurse interpret this finding?

Accepted Answer

A de novo mutation refers to a new genetic mutation that occurs spontaneously and is not inherited from either parent. This would explain why there is no record of the disorder in the client's family history or pedigree.

Question 5

A client is diagnosed with a single-gene disorder on a non-sex chromosome.How would the nurse describe this disorder?

Accepted Answer

Monogenic disorders are caused by a mutation in a single gene, and when this gene is located on a non-sex chromosome, it is referred to as an autosomal disorder.

Question 6

The evaluation of a family pedigree reveals numerous cases of an autosomal dominant disorder.The client does not have the disorder.What does the nurse teach the client about her children's chances of having the disorder?

Accepted Answer

Autosomal dominant disorders are passed on to offspring in a 50/50 chance if one parent has the disorder. If the client does not have the disorder but the father of the children does not have it either, their chances of developing the disorder is significantly reduced.

Question 7

A teenager is diagnosed with a disorder of mitochondrial inheritance.What assessment findings would the nurse expect to find in this client's history?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrial disorders often present with symptoms related to energy production issues, such as hearing loss, exercise intolerance, and generalized fatigue. These symptoms are due to the mitochondria's role in energy generation within cells.

Question 8

The nurse is reviewing an obstetric client's history and physical assessment.Which finding is most likely to alert the nurse to the possibility of a genetic disorder in the infant?

Accepted Answer

A family history of genetic disorders increases the risk of the infant inheriting a genetic disorder. Other factors may also be considered, but a family history is the most significant indicator.

Question 9

A client has been diagnosed with a rare autosomal recessive disorder.Which finding is the nurse most likely to assess in the client's pedigree?

Accepted Answer

Autosomal recessive disorders are more likely to occur in families with consanguineous (related) marriages, particularly first cousin marriages. Therefore, the nurse is most likely to assess marriages between first cousins in the client's pedigree. Deaths from other autosomal recessive disorders, many families units with only one child, and an unusual number of adopted children may not necessarily be related to the rare autosomal recessive disorder that the client has been diagnosed with.

Question 10

A couple has delivered an infant with a serious genetic disorder.Which nursing diagnoses would likely apply to this family?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A couple has delivered an infant with...

Question 11

A child has been diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome.The nurse would explain that this child is at risk for which other disorders?

Accepted Answer

Fragile X syndrome is associated with a range of developmental problems including cognitive impairment, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, and autism spectrum disorders. Mitral valve prolapse, a heart valve abnormality, has also been observed in individuals with Fragile X syndrome. Huntington disease, however, is a separate genetic disorder and is not associated with Fragile X syndrome.

Question 12

A client has been diagnosed with an autosomal recessive disorder that developed in middle adulthood.No other people in his family have manifested the disorder.The client asks the nurse why he is affected and if his children are at risk.What would the nurse consider when formulating a reply?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A client has been diagnosed with an...

Question 13

The mother of a client with cystic fibrosis (CF)says,"I don't understand why my son is sick so often when some of the other children in our CF support group are hardly ever sick." How should the nurse respond?

Accepted Answer

Cystic fibrosis can vary in severity among individuals due to different mutations in the CFTR gene, leading to varying levels of dysfunction and disease manifestation.

Question 14

A man who has a Y-linked disorder has married a healthy woman.The couple is concerned about passing the man's disorder to their children.What should the nurse consider before responding to this concern?

Accepted Answer

Y-linked disorders are only passed down from father to son. Since women do not have a Y chromosome, they cannot be carriers or affected by a Y-linked disorder. Therefore, only male children will be affected if the father has a Y-linked disorder.

Quiz 7: Mendelian Inheritance