Med Surg Quiz - 58 60 59 61 Flashcards
What is the priority intervention in the emergency department for the patient with a stroke?
a. Intravenous fluid replacement
b. Administration of osmotic diuretics to reduce cerebral edema
c. Initiation of hypothermia to decrease the oxygen needs of the brain
d. Maintenance of respiratory function with patent airway and oxygen administration
d. Maintenance of respiratory function with patent airway and oxygen administration
The first priority in acute management of the patient with a stroke is the preservation of life. Because the patient of a stroke may be unconscious or have a reduced gag reflex, it is most important to maintain a patent airway for the patient and provide oxygen if respiratory effort is impaired. IV fluid replacement, treatment with osmotic diuretics, and avoiding hyperthermia may be used for further treatment.
During the acute phase of a stroke, the nurse assesses the patient’s vital signs and neurologic status every 4 hours. What is a cardiovascular sign that the nurse would see as a body attempts to increase cerebral blood flow?
a. Hypertension
b. Fluid overload
c. Cardiac dysrhythmias
d. S3 and S4 heart sounds
a. Hypertension
The body responds to the vasospasm and decreased circulation to the brain that occurs with a stroke by increasing the BP, frequently resulting in hypertension. The other options are important cardiovascular factors to assess but they do not result from impaired cerebral blood flow.
What is a nursing intervention that is indicated for the patient with hemiplegia?
a. The use of a footboard to prevent plantar flexion
b. Immobilization of the affected arm against the chest with a sling
c. Positioning the patient in bed with each joint lower than the joint proximal to it
d. Having the patient perform passive range of motion (ROM) of the affected limb with the unaffected limb
d. Having the patient perform passive range of motion (ROM) of the affected limb with the unaffected limb
Active range of motion (ROM) should be initiated on the unaffected side as soon as possible and passive ROM of the affected side should be started on the first day. Having the patient actively exercise the unaffected side provides the patient with active and passive ROM as needed. Use of footboards is controversial because they stimulate plantar flexion. The unaffected arm should be supported but immobilization may precipitate a painful shoulder-hand syndrome. The patient should be positioned with each joint higher than the joint proximal to it to prevent dependent edema.
A newly admitted patient diagnosed with right-sided brain stroke has a nursing diagnosis of disturbed visual sensory perception related to homonymous hemianopsia. Early in the care of the patient, what should the nurse do?
a. Place objects on the right side within the patient’s field of vision.
b. Approach the patient from the left side to encourage the patient to turn the head.
c. Place objects on the patient’s left side to assess the patient’s ability to compensate.
d. Patch the affected eye to encourage the patient to turn the head to scan the environment.
a. Place objects on the right side within the patient’s field of vision.
The presence of homonymous hemianopia in a patient with right hemisphere brain damage causes a loss of vision in the left field bilaterally. Early in the care of the patient, objects should be placed on the right side of the patient in the field of vision and the nurse should approach the patient from the right side. Later in treatment, patients should be taught to turn the head and scan the environment and should be approached from the affected side to encourage head turning. Eye patches are used if patients have diplopia (double vision).
Four days following a stroke, a patient is to start oral fluids and feedings. Before feeding the patient, what should the nurse do first?
a. Check the patient’s gag reflex.
b. Order a soft diet for the patient.
c. Raise the head of the bed to a sitting position.
d. Evaluate the patient’s ability to swallow small amounts of crushed ice or ice water.
a. Check the patient’s gag reflex.
Usually the speech therapist will have completed a swallowing study before a diet is ordered. The first step in providing oral feedings for a patient with a stroke is ensuring that the patient has an intact gag reflex because oral feedings will not be provided if the gag reflex is impaired. After placing the patient in an upright position, the nurse should then evaluate the patient’s ability to swallow ice chips or ice water.
What is an appropriate food for a patient with a stroke who has mild dysphagia?
a. Fruit juices
b. Pureed meat
c. Scrambled eggs
d. Fortified milkshakes
c. Scrambled eggs
Soft foods that promote enough texture, flavor, and bulk to stimulate swallowing should be used for the patient with dysphagia. Thin liquids are difficult to swallow and patients may not be able to control them in the mouth. Pureed foods are often too bland and too smooth and milk products should be avoided because they tend to increase the viscosity of mucus and increase salivation.
A patient’s wife asks the nurse why her husband did not receive the clot busting medication (tissue plasminogen activator [tPA] she has been reading about. Her husband is diagnosed with a hemorrhagic stroke. What is the best response by the nurse to the patient’s wife?
a. “He didn’t arrive within the timeframe for that therapy.”
b. “Not everyone is eligible for this drug. Has he had surgery lately?”
c. “You should discuss the treatment of your husband with his doctor.”
d. “The medication you are talking about dissolves clots and could cause more bleeding in your husband’s brain.”
d. “The medication you are talking about dissolves clots and could cause more bleeding in your husband’s brain.”
Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) dissolves clots and increases the risk for bleeding. It is not used with hemorrhagic strokes. If the patient had a thrombotic or embolic stroke, the timeframe of 3 to 4.5 hours after onset of clinical signs of the stroke would be important as well as a history of surgery. The nurse should answer the question as accurately as possible and then encourage the wife to talk with the physician if she has further questions.
The rehabilitation nurse assesses the patient, caregiver, and family before planning the rehabilitation program for this patient. What needs to be included in this assessment (select all that apply)?
a. Cognitive status of the family
b. Patient resources and support
c. Rehabilitation potential of the patient
d. Body strength remaining after the stroke
e. Physical status of body systems affected by the stroke
f. Patient and caregiver expectations of the rehabilitation
a. Cognitive status of the family
d. Body strength remaining after the stroke
e. Physical status of body systems affected by the stroke
f. Patient and caregiver expectations of the rehabilitation
The patient’s rehabilitation potential and expectations of the patient and caregiver related to the rehabilitation program will have a big impact on planning and carrying out the rehabilitation plan. The other things the rehabilitation nurse will assess are the physical status of all the patient’s body systems, presence of complications caused by the stroke or other chronic conditions, the cognitive status of the patient, and the family (including the patient and caregiver) resources and support.
What is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote communication during rehabilitation of the patient with aphasia?
a. Use gestures, pictures, and music to stimulate patient responses.
b. Talk about activities of daily living (ADLs) that are familiar to the patient.
c. Structure statements so that the patient does not have to respond verbally.
d. Use flashcards with simple words and pictures to promote recall of language.
b. Talk about activities of daily living (ADLs) that are familiar to the patient.
During rehabilitation, the patient with aphasia needs frequent, meaningful verbal stimulation that has relevance for him or her. Conversation by the nurse and family should address activities of daily living (ADLs) that are familiar to the patient. Gestures, pictures, and simple statements are more appropriate in the acute phase, when patients may be overwhelmed by verbal stimuli. Flashcards are often perceived by the patient as childish and meaningless. Not responding verbally does not promote communication.
A patient with a right hemisphere stroke has a nursing diagnosis of unilateral neglect related to sensory-perceptual deficits. During the patient’s rehabilitation, what nursing intervention is important for the nurse to do?
a. Avoid positioning the patient on the affected side.
b. Place all objects for care on the patient’s unaffected side.
c. Teach the patient to care consciously for the affected side.
d. Protect the affected side from injury with pillows and supports.
c. Teach the patient to care consciously for the affected side.
Unilateral neglect, or neglect syndrome, occurs when the patient with a stroke is unaware of the affected side of the body, which puts the patient at risk for injury. During the acute phase, the affected side is cared for by the nurse with positioning and support but during rehabilitation the patient is taught to care consciously for and attend to the affected side of the body to protect it from injury. Patients may be positioned on the affected side for up to 30 minutes.
A patient with a stroke has a right-sided hemiplegia. What does the nurse teach the family to prepare them to cope with the behavior changes seen with this type of stroke?
a. Ignore undesirable behaviors manifested by the patient.
b. Provide directions to the patient verbally in small steps.
c. Distract the patient from inappropriate emotional responses.
d. Supervise all activities before allowing the patient to pursue them independently.
c. Distract the patient from inappropriate emotional responses.
Patients with left-brain damage from stroke often experience emotional lability, inappropriate emotional responses, mood swings, and uncontrolled tears or laughter disproportionate to or out of context with the situation. The behavior is upsetting and embarrassing to both the patient and the family and the patient should be distracted to minimize its presence. Maintaining a calm environment and avoiding shaming or scolding the patient is important. Patients with right-brain damage often have impulsive, rapid behavior that requires supervision and direction.
The nurse can assist the patient and family in coping with the long-term effects of a stroke by doing what?
a. Informing family members that the patient will need assistance with almost all ADLs
b. Explaining that the patient’s prestroke behavior will return as improvement progresses
c. Encouraging the patient and family members to seek assistance from family therapy or stroke support groups
d. Helping the patient and family to understand the significance of residual stroke damage to promote problem solving and planning
d. Helping the patient and family to understand the significance of residual stroke damage to promote problem solving and planning
The patient and family need accurate and complete information about the effects of the stroke to problem-solve and make plans for the chronic care of the patient. It is uncommon for patients with major strokes to return completely to prestroke function, behaviors, and role and both the patient and family will mourn these losses. The patient’s specific needs for care must be identified and rehabilitation efforts should be continued at home. Family therapy and support groups may be helpful for some patients and families.
For a patient who is suspected of having a stroke, one of the most important pieces of information that the nurse can obtain is
a. time of the patient’s last meal.
b. time at which stroke symptoms first appeared.
c. patient’s hypertension history and management.
d. family history of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
b. time at which stroke symptoms first appeared.
During initial evaluation, the most important point in the patient’s history is the time since onset of stroke symptoms. If the stroke is ischemic, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) must be administered within 3 to 4.5 hours of the onset of clinical signs of ischemic stroke; tPA reestablishes blood flow through a blocked artery and prevents brain cell death in patients with acute onset of ischemic stroke.
Bladder training in a male patient who has urinary incontinence after a stroke includes
a. limiting fluid intake.
b. keeping a urinal in place at all times.
c. assisting the patient to stand to void.
d. catheterizing the patient every 4 hours.
c. assisting the patient to stand to void.
In the acute stage of stroke, the primary urinary problem is poor bladder control and incontinence. Nurses should promote normal bladder function and avoid the use of indwelling catheters. A bladder retraining program consists of (1) adequate fluid intake, with most fluids administered between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM; (2) scheduled toileting every 2 hours with the use of a bedpan, commode, or bathroom; and (3) noting signs of restlessness, which may indicate the need for urination. Intermittent catheterization may be used for urinary retention (not urinary incontinence). During the rehabilitation phase after a stroke, nursing interventions focused on urinary continence include (1) assessment for bladder distention by palpation; (2) offering the bedpan, urinal, commode, or toilet every 2 hours during waking hours and every 3 to 4 hours at night; (3) using a direct command to help the patient focus on the need to urinate; (4) assistance with clothing and mobility; (5) scheduling most fluid intake between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM; and (6) encouraging the usual position for urinating (i.e., standing for men and sitting for women).
Common psychosocial reactions of the stroke patient to the stroke include (select all that apply)
a. depression.
b. disassociation.
c. intellectualization.
d. sleep disturbances.
e. denial of severity of stroke.
a. depression.
d. sleep disturbances.
e. denial of severity of stroke.
The patient with a stroke may experience many losses, including sensory, intellectual, communicative, functional, role behavior, emotional, social, and vocational losses. Some patients experience long-term depression, manifesting symptoms such as anxiety, weight loss, fatigue, poor appetite, and sleep disturbances. The time and energy required to perform previously simple tasks can result in anger and frustration. Frustration and depression are common in the first year after a stroke. A stroke is usually a sudden, extremely stressful event for the patient, caregiver, family, and significant others. The family is often affected emotionally, socially, and financially as their roles and responsibilities change. Reactions vary considerably but may involve fear, apprehension, denial of the severity of stroke, depression, anger, and sorrow.
A female patient has left-sided hemiplegia following an ischemic stroke that she experienced 4 days earlier. How should the nurse best promote the health of the patient’s integumentary system?
a. Position the patient on her weak side the majority of the time.
b. Alternate the patient’s positioning between supine and side-lying.
c. Avoid the use of pillows in order to promote independence in positioning.
d. Establish a schedule for the massage of areas where skin breakdown emerges.
b. Alternate the patient’s positioning between supine and side-lying.
A position change schedule should be established for stroke patients. An example is side-back-side, with a maximum duration of 2 hours for any position. The patient should be positioned on the weak or paralyzed side for only 30 minutes. Pillows may be used to facilitate positioning. Areas of skin breakdown should never be massaged.
The patient with diabetes mellitus has had a right-sided stroke. Which nursing intervention should the nurse plan to provide for this patient related to expected manifestations of this stroke?
a. Safety measures
b. Patience with communication
c. Mobility assistance on the right side
d. Place food in the left side of patient’s mouth.
a. Safety measures
A patient with a right-sided stroke has spatial-perceptual deficits, tends to minimize problems, has a short attention span, is impulsive, and may have impaired judgment. Safety is the biggest concern for this patient. Hemiplegia occurs on the left side of this patient’s body. The patient with a left-sided stroke has hemiplegia on the right, is more likely to have communication problems, and needs mobility assistance on the right side with food placed on the left side if the patient needs to be fed after a swallow evaluation has taken place.
The nurse is planning psychosocial support for the patient and family of the patient who suffered a stroke. What factor will most likely have the greatest impact on positive family coping with the situation?
a. Specific patient neurologic deficits
b. The patient’s ability to communicate
c. Rehabilitation potential of the patient
d. Presence of complications of a stroke
c. Rehabilitation potential of the patient
Although a patient’s neurologic deficit might initially be severe after a stroke, the ability of the patient to recover is most likely to positively impact the family’s coping with the situation. Providing explanations and emotional support beginning in the acute phase through the rehabilitation phase will facilitate coping. Emphasizing successes will offer the most realistic hope for the patient’s rehabilitation and helps maintain hope for the patient’s future abilities.
Dementia is defined as a
a. syndrome that results only in memory loss.
b. disease associated with abrupt changes in behavior.
c. disease that is always due to reduced blood flow to the brain.
d. syndrome characterized by cognitive dysfunction and loss of memory.
d. syndrome characterized by cognitive dysfunction and loss of memory.
Dementia is a syndrome characterized by dysfunction in or loss of memory, orientation, attention, language, judgment, and reasoning. Personality changes and behavioral problems such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations may result.
Vascular dementia is associated with
a. transient ischemic attacks.
b. bacterial or viral infection of neuronal tissue.
c. cognitive changes secondary to cerebral ischemia.
d. abrupt changes in cognitive function that are irreversible.
c. cognitive changes secondary to cerebral ischemia.
Vascular dementia is the loss of cognitive function that results from ischemic, ischemic-hypoxic, or hemorrhagic brain lesions caused by cardiovascular disease. In this type of dementia, narrowing and blocking of arteries that supply the brain causes a decrease in blood supply.
The clinical diagnosis of dementia is based on
a. CT or MRS.
b. brain biopsy.
c. electroencephalogram.
d. patient history and cognitive assessment.
d. patient history and cognitive assessment.
The diagnosis of dementia depends on determining the cause. A thorough physical examination is performed to rule out other potential medical conditions. Cognitive testing (e.g., Mini-Mental State Examination) is focused on evaluating memory, ability to calculate, language, visual-spatial skills, and degree of alertness. Diagnosis of dementia related to vascular causes is based on the presence of cognitive loss, the presence of vascular brain lesions demonstrated by neuroimaging techniques, and the exclusion of other causes of dementia. Structural neuroimaging with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used in the evaluation of patients with dementia. A psychologic evaluation is also indicated to determine the presence of depression.
Which statement(s) accurately describe(s) mild cognitive impairment (select all that apply)?
a. Always progresses to AD
b. Caused by a variety of factors and may progress to AD
c. Should be aggressively treated with acetylcholinesterase drugs
d. Caused by vascular infarcts that, if treated, will delay progression to AD
e. Patient is usually not aware that there is a problem with his or her memory
b. Caused by a variety of factors and may progress to AD
Although some individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) revert to normal cognitive function or do not go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD), those with MCI are at high risk for AD. No drugs have been approved for the treatment of MCI. A person with MCI is often aware of a significant change in memory.
The early stage of AD is characterized by
a. no noticeable change in behavior.
b. memory problems and mild confusion.
c. increased time spent sleeping or in bed.
d. incontinence, agitation, and wandering behavior.
b. memory problems and mild confusion.
An initial sign of AD is a subtle deterioration in memory.
A major goal of treatment for the patient with AD is to
a. maintain patient safety.
b. maintain or increase body weight.
c. return to a higher level of self-care.
d. enhance functional ability over time.
a. maintain patient safety.
The overall management goals are that the patient with AD will (1) maintain functional ability for as long as possible, (2) be maintained in a safe environment with a minimum of injuries, (3) have personal care needs met, and (4) have dignity maintained. The nurse should place emphasis on patient safety while planning and providing nursing care.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is characterized by
a. remissions and exacerbations over many years.
b. memory impairment, muscle jerks, and blindness.
c. parkinsonian symptomsin, including muscle rigidity and tremors at rest.
d. increased intracranial pressure secondary to decreased CSF drainage.
b. memory impairment, muscle jerks, and blindness.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a fatal brain disorder caused by a prion protein. The earliest symptom of the disease may be memory impairment and behavioral changes. The disease progresses rapidly, with mental deterioration, involuntary movements (i.e., muscle jerks), weakness in the limbs, blindness, and eventually coma.
Which patient is most at risk for developing delirium?
a. A 50-year-old woman with cholecystitis
b. A 19-year-old man with a fractured femur
c. A 42-year-old woman having an elective hysterectomy
d. A 78-year-old man admitted to the medical unit with complications related to heart failure
d. A 78-year-old man admitted to the medical unit with complications related to heart failure
Risk factors that can precipitate delirium include age of 65 years or older, male gender, and severe acute illness (e.g., heart failure). The 78-year-old man has the most risk factors for delirium (see Table 60-14).
What manifestations of cognitive impairment are primarily characteristic of delirium (select all that apply)?
a. Reduced awareness
b. Impaired judgments
c. Words difficult to find
d. Sleep/wake cycle reversed
e. Distorted thinking and perception
f. Insidious onset with prolonged duration
a. Reduced awareness
d. Sleep/wake cycle reversed
e. Distorted thinking and perception
Manifestations of delirium include cognitive impairment with reduced awareness, reversed sleep/wake cycle, and distorted thinking and perception. The other options are characteristic of dementia.
Which statement accurately describes dementia?
a. Overproduction of B-amyloid protein causes all dementias.
b. Demential resulting from neurodegenerative causes can be prevented.
c. Dementia caused by hepatic or renal encephalopathy cannot be reversed.
d. Vascular dementia can be diagnosed by brain lesions identified with neuroimaging.
d. Vascular dementia can be diagnosed by brain lesions identified with neuroimaging.
The diagnosis of vascular dementia can be aided by neuroimaging studies showing vascular brain lesions along with exclusion of other causes of dementia. Overproduction of B-amyloid protein contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Vascular dementia can be prevented or slowed by treating underlying diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease). Dementia caused by hepatic or renal encephalopathy potentially can be reversed.
A patient with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia has manifestations of depression. The nurse knows that treatment of the patient with antidepressants will most likely do what?
a. Improve cognitive function
b. Not alter the course of either condition
c. Cause interactions with the drugs used to treat the dementia
d. Be contraindicated because of the central nervous system (CNS)-depressant effect of antidepressants
a. Improve cognitive function
Depression is often associated with AD, especially early in the disease when the patient has awareness of the diagnosis and the progression of the disease. When dementia and depression occur together, intellectual deterioration may be more extreme. Depression is treatable and use of antidepressants often improves cognitive function.
For what purpose would the nurse use the Mini-Mental State Examination to evaluate a patient with cognitive impairment?
a. It is a good tool to determine the etiology of dementia.
b. It is a good tool to evaluate mood and thought processes.
c. It can help to document the degree of cognitive impairment in delirium and dementia.
d. It is useful for initial evaluation of mental status but additional tools are needed to evaluate changes in cognition over time.
c. It can help to document the degree of cognitive impairment in delirium and dementia.
The Mini-Mental State Examination is a tool to document the decree of cognitive impairment and it can be used to determine a baseline from which changes over time can be evaluated. It does not evaluate mood or thought processes but can detect dementia and delirium and differentiate these from psychiatric mental illness. It cannot help to determine etiology.
During assessment of a patient with dementia, the nurse determines that the condition is potentially reversible when finding out what about the patient?
a. Has long-standing abuse of alcohol
b. Has a history of Parkinson’s disease
c. Recently developed symptoms of hypothyroidism
d. Was infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 10 years ago
c. Recently developed symptoms of hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism can cause dementia but it is a treatable condition if it has not been long standing. The other conditions are causes of irreversible dementia.
The husband of a patient is complaining that his wife’s memory has been decreasing lately. When asked for examples of her memory loss, the husband says that she is forgetting the neighbors’ names and forgot their granddaughter’s birthday. What kind of loss does the nurse recognize this to be?
a. Delirium
b. Memory loss in AD
c. Normal forgetfulness
d. Memory loss in mild cognitive impairment
d. Memory loss in mild cognitive impairment
In mild cognitive impairment people frequently forget people’s names and begin to forget important events. Delirium changes usually occur abruptly. In Alzheimer’s disease the patient may not remember knowing a person and loses the sense of time and which day it is. Normal forgetfulness includes momentarily forgetting names and occasionally forgetting to run an errand.
The wife of a patient who is manifesting deterioration in memory asks the nurse whether her husband has AD. The nurse explains that a diagnosis of AD is usually made when what happens?
a. A urine test indicates elevated levels of isoprostanes
b. All other possible causes of dementia have been eliminated
c. Blood analysis reveals increased amounts of B-amyloid protein
d. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain indicates brain atrophy
b. All other possible causes of dementia have been eliminated
The only definitive diagnosis of AD can be made on examination of brain tissue during an autopsy but a clinical diagnosis is made when all other possible causes of dementia have been eliminated. Patients with AD may be B-amyloid proteins in the blood, brain atrophy, or isoprostanes in the urine but these findings are not exclusive to those with AD.
The newly admitted patient has moderate AD. What does the nurse know this patient will need help with?
a. Eating
b. Walking
c. Dressing
d. Self-care activities
c. Dressing
In the moderate stage of AD, the patient may need help with getting dressed. In the severe stage, patients will be unable to dress or feed themselves and are usually incontinent.
What is one focus of collaborative care of patients with AD?
a. Replacement of deficient acetylcholine in the brain
b. Drug therapy for cognitive problems and undesirable behaviors
c. The use of memory-enhancing techniques to delay disease progression
d. Prevention of other chronic diseases that hasten the progression of AD
b. Drug therapy for cognitive problems and undesirable behaviors
Because there is no cure for AD, collaborative management is aimed at controlling the decline in cognition, controlling the undesirable manifestations that the patient may exhibit, and providing support for the family caregiver. Anticholinesterase agents help to increase acetylcholine (ACh) in the brain but a variety of other drugs are also used to control behavior. Memory-enhancing techniques have little or no effect in patients with AD, especially as the disease progresses. Patients with AD have limited ability to communicate health symptoms and problems, leading to a lack of professional attention for acute and other chronic illnesses.
A patient with AD in a long-term care facility is wandering the halls very agitated, asking for her “mommy” and crying. What is the best response by the nurse?
a. Ask the patient, “Why are you behaving this way?”
b. Tell the patient, “Let’s go get a snack in the kitchen.”
c. Ask the patient, “Wouldn’t you like to lie down now?”
d. Tell the patient, “Just take some deep breaths and calm down.”
b. Tell the patient, “Let’s go get a snack in the kitchen.”
Patients with moderate to severe AD frequently become agitated but because their short-term memory loss is so pronounced, distraction is a very good way to calm them. “Why” questions are upsetting to them because they don’t know the answer and they cannot respond to normal relaxation techniques.
The sister of a patient with AD asks the nurse whether prevention of the disease is possible. In responding, the nurse explains that there is no known way to prevent AD but there are ways to keep the brain healthy. What is included in the ways to keep the brain healthy (select all that apply)?
a. Avoid trauma to the brain.
b. Recognize and treat depression early.
c. Avoid social gatherings to avoid infections.
d. Do not overtax the brain by trying to learn new skills.
e. Daily wine intake will increase circulation to the brain.
f. Exercise regularly to decrease the risk for cognitive decline.
a. Avoid trauma to the brain.
b. Recognize and treat depression early.
f. Exercise regularly to decrease the risk for cognitive decline.
Avoiding trauma to the brain, treating depression early, and exercising regularly can maintain cognitive function. Staying socially active, avoiding intake of harmful substances, and challenging the brain to keep its connections active and create new ones also help to keep the brain healthy.
The son of a patient with early-onset AD asks if he will get AD. What should the nurse tell this man about the genetics of AD?
a. The risk of early-onset AD for the children of parents with it is about 50%.
b. Women get AD more often than men do, so his chances of getting AD are slim.
c. The blood test for the ApoE gene to identify this type of AD can predict who will develop it.
d. This type of AD is not as complex as regular AD, so he does not need to worry about getting AD.
a. The risk of early-onset AD for the children of parents with it is about 50%.
The risk of early-onset AD for the children of parents with it is 50%. Women do get AD more often than men but that is more likely related to women living longer than men than to the type of AD. ApoE gene testing is used for research with late-onset AD but does not predict who will develop the disease. Late-onset AD is more genetically complex than early-onset AD and is more common in those over age 60 but because his parent has early-onset AD he is at a 50% risk of getting it.
A patient with moderate AD has a nursing diagnosis of impaired memory related to effects of dementia. What is an appropriate nursing intervention for this patient?
a. Post clocks and calendars in the patient’s environment.
b. Establish and consistently follow a daily schedule with the patient.
c. Monitor the patient’s activities to maintain a safe patient environment.
d. Stimulate thought processes by asking the patient questions about recent activities.
b. Establish and consistently follow a daily schedule with the patient.
Adhering to a regular, consistent daily schedule helps the patient to avoid confusion and anxiety and is important both during hospitalization and at home. Clocks and calendars may be useful in early AD but they have little meaning to a patient as the disease progresses. Questioning the patient about activities and events they cannot remember is threatening and may because severe anxiety. Maintaining a safe environment for the patient is important but does not change the disturbed thought processes.
The family caregiver for a patient with AD expresses an inability to make decisions, concentrate, or sleep. The nurse determines what about the caregiver?
a. The caregiver is also developing signs of AD.
b. The caregiver is manifesting symptoms of caregiver role strain.
c. The caregiver needs a period of respite from care of the patient.
d. The caregiver should ask other family members to participate in the patient’s care.
b. The caregiver is manifesting symptoms of caregiver role strain.
Family caregiver role strain is characterized by such symptoms of stress as the inability to sleep, make decisions, or concentrate. It is frequently seen in family members who are responsible for the care of the patient with AD. Assessment of the caregiver may reveal a need for assistance to increase coping skills, effectively use community resources, or maintain social relationships. Eventually the demands on a caregiver exceed the resources and the person with AD may be placed in an institutional setting.
The wife of a man with moderate AD has a nursing diagnosis of social isolation related to diminishing social relationships and behavioral problems of the patient with AD. What is a nursing intervention that should be appropriate to provide respite care and allow the wife to have satisfactory contact with significant others?
a. Help the wife to arrange adult day care for the patient.
b. Encourage permanent placement of the patient in the Alzheimer’s unit of a long-term care facility.
c. Refer the wife to a home health agency to arrange for daily home nursing visits to assist with the patient’s care.
d. Arrange for the hospitalization of the patient for 3 to 4 days so that the wife can visit out-of-town friends and relatives.
a. Help the wife to arrange adult day care for the patient.
Adult dare care is an option to provide respite for caregivers and a protective environment for the patient during the early and middle stages of AD. There are also in-home respite care providers. The respite from the demands of care allows the caregiver to maintain social contacts, perform normal tasks of living, and be more responsive to the patient’s needs. Visits by home health nurses involve the caregiver and cannot provide adequate respite. Institutional placement is not always an acceptable option at earlier stages of AD, nor is hospitalization available for respite care.
A 72-year-old woman is hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) with pneumonia resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She has a fever, productive cough, and adventitious breath sounds throughout her lungs. In the past 24 hours her fluid intake was 1000 mL and her urine output was 700 mL. She was diagnosed with early-stage AD 6 months ago but has been able to maintain her activities of daily living (ADLs) with supervision. Identify at least six risk factors for the development of delirium in this patient.
a. age
b. infection
c. hypoxemia (lung disease)
d. intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization (change in environment, sensory overload)
e. preexisting dementia
f. dehydration
g. hyperthermia
h. potentially medications to treat COPD
i. pneumonia
A 68-year-old man is admitted to the emergency department with multiple blunt trauma following a one-vehicle car accident. He is restless; disoriented to person, place, and time; and agitated. He resists attempts at examination and calls out the name “Janice.” Why should the nurse suspect delirium rather than dementia in this patient?
a. The fact that he wouldn’t have been allowed to drive if he had dementia
b. His hyperactive behavior, which differentiates his condition from the hypoactive behavior of dementia
c. The report of emergency personnel that he was noncommunicative when they arrived at the accident scene
d. The report of his family that although he has heart disease and is “very hard of hearing,” this behavior is unlike him
d. The report of his family that although he has heart disease and is “very hard of hearing,” this behavior is unlike him
Delirium is an acute problem that usually has a rapid onset in response to a precipitating event, especially when the patient has underlying health problems, such as heart disease and sensory limitations. In the absence of prior cognitive impairment, a sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, and agitation is usually delirium. Delirium may manifest with both hypoactive and hyperactive symptoms.