Assessment Exam 3
During the assessment of deep tendon reflexes, the nurse finds that a patient's responses are bi-laterally normal. What number is used to indicate normal deep tendon reflexes when the docu-menting this finding? ____+
2
.During a follow-up visit, the nurse discovers that a patient has not been taking his insulin on a regular basis. The nurse asks, "Why haven't you taken your insulin?" Which statement is an ap-propriate evaluation of this question? a. This question may place the patient on the defensive. b. This question is an innocent search for information. c. Discussing his behavior with his wife would have been better. d. A direct question is the best way to discover the reasons for his behavior.
A
.During an assessment of a 62-year-old man, the nurse notices the patient has a stooped posture, shuffling walk with short steps, flat facial expression, and pill-rolling finger movements. These findings would be consistent with: a. Parkinsonism. b. Cerebral palsy. c. Cerebellar ataxia. d. Muscular dystrophy.
A
.Illness is considered part of life's rhythmic course and is an outward sign of disharmony within. This statement most accurately reflects the views about illness from which theory? a. Naturalistic b. Biomedical c. Reductionist d. Magicoreligious
A
A 21-year-old patient has a head injury resulting from trauma and is unconscious. There are no other injuries. During the assessment what would the nurse expect to find when testing the pa-tient's deep tendon reflexes? a. Reflexes will be normal. b. Reflexes cannot be elicited. c. All reflexes will be diminished but present. d. Some reflexes will be present, depending on the area of injury.
A
A 30-year-old woman has recently moved to the United States with her husband. They are living with the woman's sister until they can get a home of their own. When company arrives to visit with the woman's sister, the woman feels suddenly shy and retreats to the back bedroom to hide until the company leaves. She explains that her reaction to guests is simply because she does not know how to speak "perfect English." This woman could be experiencing: a. Culture shock. b. Cultural taboos. c. Cultural unfamiliarity. d. Culture disorientation.
A
A 59-year-old patient has a herniated intervertebral disk. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect to see on physical assessment of this individual? a. Hyporeflexia b. Increased muscle tone c. Positive Babinski sign d. Presence of pathologic reflexes
A
A 75-year-old woman is at the office for a preoperative interview. The nurse is aware that the interview may take longer than interviews with younger persons. What is the reason for this? a. An aged person has a longer story to tell. b. An aged person is usually lonely and likes to have someone with whom to talk. c. Aged persons lose much of their mental abilities and require longer time to complete an interview. d. As a person ages, he or she is unable to hear; thus the interviewer usually needs to repeat much of what is said.
A
A female nurse is interviewing a man who has recently immigrated. During the course of the in-terview, he leans forward and then finally moves his chair close enough that his knees are nearly touching the nurse's knees. The nurse begins to feel uncomfortable with his proximity. Which statement most closely reflects what the nurse should do next? a. The nurse should try to relax; these behaviors are culturally appropriate for this person. b. The nurse should discreetly move his or her chair back until the distance is more comfortable, and then continue with the interview. c. These behaviors are indicative of sexual aggression, and the nurse should confront this person about his behaviors. d. The nurse should laugh but tell him that he or she is uncomfortable with his proximity and ask him to move away.
A
A female patient does not speak English well, and the nurse needs to choose an interpreter. Which of the following would be the most appropriate choice? a. Trained interpreter b. Male family member c. Female family member d. Volunteer college student from the foreign language studies department
A
A newly admitted patient is in acute pain, has not been sleeping well lately, and is having diffi-culty breathing. How should the nurse prioritize these problems? a. Breathing, pain, and sleep b. Breathing, sleep, and pain c. Sleep, breathing, and pain d. Sleep, pain, and breathing
A
A patient describes feeling an unreasonable, irrational fear of snakes. His fear is so persistent that he can no longer comfortably look at even pictures of snakes and has made an effort to identify all the places he might encounter a snake and avoids them. The nurse recognizes that he: a. Has a snake phobia. b. Is a hypochondriac; snakes are usually harmless. c. Has an obsession with snakes. d. Has a delusion that snakes are harmful, which must stem from an early traumatic incident involving snakes.
A
A patient drifts off to sleep when she is not being stimulated. The nurse can easily arouse her by calling her name, but the patient remains drowsy during the conversation. The best description of this patient's level of consciousness would be: a. Lethargic b. Obtunded c. Stuporous d. Semialert
A
A patient is admitted to the unit after an automobile accident. The nurse begins the mental status examination and finds that the patient has dysarthric speech and is lethargic. The nurse's best ap-proach regarding this examination is to: a. Plan to defer the rest of the mental status examination. b. Skip the language portion of the examination, and proceed onto assessing mood and affect. c. Conduct an in-depth speech evaluation, and defer the mental status examination to another time. d. Proceed with the examination, and assess the patient for suicidal thoughts because dysarthria is often accom-panied by severe depression.
A
A patient is at the clinic to have her blood pressure checked. She has been coming to the clinic weekly since she changed medications 2 months ago. The nurse should: a. Collect a follow-up data base and then check her blood pressure. b. Ask her to read her health record and indicate any changes since her last visit. c. Check only her blood pressure because her complete health history was documented 2 months ago. d. Obtain a complete health history before checking her blood pressure because much of her history information may have changed.
A
A patient tells the nurse that she has had abdominal pain for the past week. What would be the nurse's best response? a. "Can you point to where it hurts?" b. "We'll talk more about that later in the interview." c. "What have you had to eat in the last 24 hours?" d. "Have you ever had any surgeries on your abdomen?"
A
The wife of a 65-year-old man tells the nurse that she is concerned because she has noticed a change in her husband's personality and ability to understand. He also cries very easily and be-comes angry. The nurse recalls that the cerebral lobe responsible for these behaviors is the __________ lobe. a. Frontal b. Parietal c. Occipital d. Temporal
A
A woman brings her husband to the clinic for an examination. She is particularly worried because after a recent fall, he seems to have lost a great deal of his memory of recent events. Which statement reflects the nurse's best course of action? a. Perform a complete mental status examination. b. Refer him to a psychometrician. c. Plan to integrate the mental status examination into the history and physical examination. d. Reassure his wife that memory loss after a physical shock is normal and will soon subside.
A
A woman who has lived in the United States for a year after moving from Europe has learned to speak English and is almost finished with her college studies. She now dresses like her peers and says that her family in Europe would hardly recognize her. This nurse recognizes that this situa-tion illustrates which concept? a. Assimilation b. Heritage consistency c. Biculturalism d. Acculturation
A
After completing an initial assessment of a patient, the nurse has charted that his respirations are eupneic and his pulse is 58 beats per minute. These types of data would be: a. Objective. b. Reflective. c. Subjective. d. Introspective.
A
An Asian-American woman is experiencing diarrhea, which is believed to be "cold" or "yin." The nurse expects that the woman is likely to try to treat it with: a. Foods that are "hot" or "yang." b. Readings and Eastern medicine meditations. c. High doses of medicines believed to be "cold." d. No treatment is tried because diarrhea is an expected part of life.
A
While obtaining a health history of a 3-month-old infant from the mother, the nurse asks about the infant's ability to suck and grasp the mother's finger. What is the nurse assessing? a. Reflexes b. Intelligence c. CNs d. Cerebral cortex function
A
As the nurse enters a patient's room, the nurse finds her crying. The patient states that she has just found out that the lump in her breast is cancer and says, "I'm so afraid of, um, you know." The nurse's most therapeutic response would be to say in a gentle manner: a. "You're afraid you might lose your breast?" b. "No, I'm not sure what you are talking about." c. "I'll wait here until you get yourself under control, and then we can talk." d. "I can see that you are very upset. Perhaps we should discuss this later."
A
Barriers to incorporating EBP include: a. Nurses' lack of research skills in evaluating the quality of research studies. b. Lack of significant research studies. c. Insufficient clinical skills of nurses. d. Inadequate physical assessment skills.
A
During a mental status examination, the nurse wants to assess a patient's affect. The nurse should ask the patient which question? a. "How do you feel today?" b. "Would you please repeat the following words?" c. "Have these medications had any effect on your pain?" d. "Has this pain affected your ability to get dressed by yourself?"
A
During reporting, the nurse hears that a patient is experiencing hallucinations. Which is an exam-ple of a hallucination? a. Man believes that his dead wife is talking to him. b. Woman hears the doorbell ring and goes to answer it, but no one is there. c. Child sees a man standing in his closet. When the lights are turned on, it is only a dry cleaning bag. d. Man believes that the dog has curled up on the bed, but when he gets closer he sees that it is a blanket.
A
During the assessment of an 80-year-old patient, the nurse notices that his hands show tremors when he reaches for something and his head is always nodding. No associated rigidity is ob-served with movement. Which of these statements is most accurate? a. These findings are normal, resulting from aging. b. These findings could be related to hyperthyroidism. c. These findings are the result of Parkinson disease. d. This patient should be evaluated for a cerebellar lesion.
A
During the taking of the health history, a patient tells the nurse that "it feels like the room is spin-ning around me." The nurse would document this finding as: a. Vertigo. b. Syncope. c. Dizziness. d. Seizure activity.
A
During3 morning rounds, the nurse asks a patient, "How are you today?" The patient responds, "You today, you today, you today!" and mumbles the words. This speech pattern is an example of: a. Echolalia b. Clanging c. Word salad d. Perseveration
A
Expert nurses learn to attend to a pattern of assessment data and act without consciously labeling it. These responses are referred to as: a. Intuition. b. The nursing process. c. Clinical knowledge. d. Diagnostic reasoning.
A
In a person with an upper motor neuron lesion such as a cerebrovascular accident, which of these physical assessment findings should the nurse expect? a. Hyperreflexia b. Fasciculations c. Loss of muscle tone and flaccidity d. Atrophy and wasting of the muscles
A
In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or her memory later. Which statement is true regarding note-taking? a. Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors. b. Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the nurse records what is said. c. Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient, resulting in an increased comfort level. d. Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which may increase his or her level of comfort.
A
In the assessment of a 1-month-old infant, the nurse notices a lack of response to noise or stimu-lation. The mother reports that in the last week he has been sleeping all of the time, and when he is awake all he does is cry. The nurse hears that the infant's cries are very high pitched and shrill. What should be the nurse's appropriate response to these findings? a. Refer the infant for further testing. b. Talk with the mother about eating habits. c. Do nothing; these are expected findings for an infant this age. d. Tell the mother to bring the baby back in 1 week for a recheck.
A
The nurse discovers speech problems in a patient during an assessment. The patient has sponta-neous speech, but it is mostly absent or is reduced to a few stereotypical words or sounds. This finding reflects which type of aphasia? a. Global b. Broca's c. Dysphonic d. Wernicke's
A
The nurse is administering a Mini-Cog test to an older adult woman. When asked to draw a clock showing the time of 10:45, the patient drew a clock with the numbers out of order and with an incorrect time. This result indicates which finding? a. Cognitive impairment b. Amnesia c. Delirium d. Attention-deficit disorder
A
The nurse is asking a patient for his reason for seeking care and asks about the signs and symp-toms he is experiencing. Which of these is an example of a symptom? a. Chest pain b. Clammy skin c. Serum potassium level at 4.2 mEq/L d. Body temperature of 100 F
A
The nurse is assessing the mental status of a child. Which statement about children and mental status is true? a. All aspects of mental status in children are interdependent. b. Children are highly labile and unstable until the age of 2 years. c. Children's mental status is largely a function of their parents' level of functioning until the age of 7 years. d. A child's mental status is impossible to assess until the child develops the ability to concentrate.
A
The nurse is interviewing a male patient who has a hearing impairment. What techniques would be most beneficial in communicating with this patient? a. Determine the communication method he prefers. b. Avoid using facial and hand gestures because most hearing-impaired people find this degrading. c. Request a sign language interpreter before meeting with him to help facilitate the communication. d. Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when talking with him because doing so will help him lip read.
A
The nurse is obtaining a history from a 30-year-old male patient and is concerned about health promotion activities. Which of these questions would be appropriate to use to assess health pro-motion activities for this patient? a. "Do you perform testicular self-examinations?" b. "Have you ever noticed any pain in your testicles?" c. "Have you had any problems with passing urine?" d. "Do you have any history of sexually transmitted diseases?"
A
The nurse is performing a health interview on a patient who has a language barrier, and no inter-preter is available. Which is the best example of an appropriate question for the nurse to ask in this situation? a. "Do you take medicine?" b. "Do you sterilize the bottles?" c. "Do you have nausea and vomiting?" d. "You have been taking your medicine, haven't you?"
A
The nurse is reviewing a patient's medical record and notes that he is in a coma. Using the Glas-gow Coma Scale, which number indicates that the patient is in a coma? a. 6 b. 12 c. 15 d. 24
A
The nurse is testing the deep tendon reflexes of a 30-year-old woman who is in the clinic for an annual physical examination. When striking the Achilles heel and quadriceps muscle, the nurse is unable to elicit a reflex. The nurse's next response should be to: a. Ask the patient to lock her fingers and pull. b. Complete the examination, and then test these reflexes again. c. Refer the patient to a specialist for further testing. d. Document these reflexes as 0 on a scale of 0 to 4+.
A
The nurse knows that determining whether a person is oriented to his or her surroundings will test the functioning of which structure(s)? a. Cerebrum b. Cerebellum c. CNs d. Medulla oblongata
A
The nurse knows that developing appropriate nursing interventions for a patient relies on the ap-propriateness of the __________ diagnosis. a. Nursing b. Medical c. Admission d. Collaborative
A
The nurse makes which adjustment in the physical environment to promote the success of an in-terview? a. Reduces noise by turning off televisions and radios b. Reduces the distance between the interviewer and the patient to 2 feet or less c. Provides a dim light that makes the room cozy and helps the patient relax d. Arranges seating across a desk or table to allow the patient some personal space
A
The nurse recognizes that working with children with a different cultural perspective may be es-pecially difficult because: a. Children have spiritual needs that are influenced by their stages of development. b. Children have spiritual needs that are direct reflections of what is occurring in their homes. c. Religious beliefs rarely affect the parents' perceptions of the illness. d. Parents are often the decision makers, and they have no knowledge of their children's spiritual needs.
A
The patient's record, laboratory studies, objective data, and subjective data combine to form the: a. Data base. b. Admitting data. c. Financial statement. d. Discharge summary
A
To assess the head control of a 4-month-old infant, the nurse lifts up the infant in a prone posi-tion while supporting his chest. The nurse looks for what normal response? The infant: a. Raises the head, and arches the back. b. Extends the arms, and drops down the head. c. Flexes the knees and elbows with the back straight. d. Holds the head at 45 degrees, and keeps the back straight.
A
To test for gross motor skill and coordination of a 6-year-old child, which of these techniques would be appropriate? Ask the child to: a. Hop on one foot. b. Stand on his head. c. Touch his finger to his nose. d. Make "funny" faces at the nurse.
A
When reviewing the demographics of ethnic groups in the United States, the nurse recalls that the largest and fastest growing population is: a. Hispanic. b. Black. c. Asian. d. American Indian.
A
When taking a history from a newly admitted patient, the nurse notices that he often pauses and expectantly looks at the nurse. What would be the nurse's best response to this behavior? a. Be silent, and allow him to continue when he is ready. b. Smile at him and say, "Don't worry about all of this. I'm sure we can find out why you're having these pains." c. Lean back in the chair and ask, "You are looking at me kind of funny; there isn't anything wrong, is there?" d. Stand up and say, "I can see that this interview is uncomfortable for you. We can continue it another time."
A
Which of these tests would the nurse use to check the motor coordination of an 11-month-old infant? a. Denver II b. Stereognosis c. Deep tendon reflexes d. Rapid alternating movements
A
The nurse is assessing a patient who is admitted with possible delirium. Which of these are mani-festations of delirium? Select all that apply. a. Develops over a short period. b. Person is experiencing apraxia. c. Person is exhibiting memory impairment or deficits. d. Occurs as a result of a medical condition, such as systemic infection. e. Person is experiencing agnosia.
A, C, D
The nurse is assessing a patient's headache pain. Which questions reflect one or more of the criti-cal characteristics of symptoms that should be assessed? Select all that apply. a. "Where is the headache pain?" b. "Did you have these headaches as a child?" c. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?" d. "How often do the headaches occur?" e. "What makes the headaches feel better?" f. "Do you have any family history of headaches?"
A, C, D, E
The nurse is asking questions about a patient's health beliefs. Which questions are appropriate? Select all that apply. a. "What is your definition of health?" b. "Does your family have a history of cancer?" c. "How do you describe illness?" d. "What did your mother do to keep you from getting sick?" e. "Have you ever had any surgeries?" f. "How do you keep yourself healthy?"
A, C, D, F
The nurse is reviewing data collected after an assessment. Of the data listed below, which would be considered related cues that would be clustered together during data analysis? Select all that apply. a. Inspiratory wheezes noted in left lower lobes b. Hypoactive bowel sounds c. Nonproductive cough d. Edema, +2, noted on left hand e. Patient reports dyspnea upon exertion f. Rate of respirations 16 breaths per minute
A, C, E, F
The nurse is conducting an interview in an outpatient clinic and is using a computer to record da-ta. Which are the best uses of the computer in this situation? Select all that apply. a. Collect the patient's data in a direct, face-to-face manner. b. Enter all the data as the patient states them. c. Ask the patient to wait as the nurse enters the data. d. Type the data into the computer after the narrative is fully explored. e. Allow the patient to see the monitor during typing.
A, D, E
During a seminar on cultural aspects of nursing, the nurse recognizes that the definition stating "the specific and distinct knowledge, beliefs, skills, and customs acquired by members of a soci-ety" reflects which term? a. Mores b. Norms c. Culture d. Social learning
C
Acoustic Nerve Sensory: hearing and equilibrium
Cranial Nerve 8
A female patient tells the nurse that she has had six pregnancies, with four live births at term and two spontaneous abortions. Her four children are still living. How would the nurse record this information? a. P-6, B-4, (S)Ab-2 b. Grav 6, Term 4, (S)Ab-2, Living 4 c. Patient has had four living babies. d. Patient has been pregnant six times.
B
A patient repeats, "I feel hot. Hot, cot, rot, tot, got. I'm a spot." The nurse documents this as an illustration of: a. Blocking b. Clanging c. Echolalia d. Neologism
B
.During a visit to the clinic, a patient states, "The doctor just told me he thought I ought to stop smoking. He doesn't understand how hard I've tried. I just don't know the best way to do it. What should I do?" The nurse's most appropriate response in this case would be: a. "I'd quit if I were you. The doctor really knows what he is talking about." b. "Would you like some information about the different ways a person can quit smoking?" c. "Stopping your dependence on cigarettes can be very difficult. I understand how you feel." d. "Why are you confused? Didn't the doctor give you the information about the smoking cessation program we offer?"
B
.During an assessment of a 22-year-old woman who sustained a head injury from an automobile accident 4 hours earlier, the nurse notices the following changes: pupils were equal, but now the right pupil is fully dilated and nonreactive, and the left pupil is 4 mm and reacts to light. What do these findings suggest? a. Injury to the right eye b. Increased intracranial pressure c. Test inaccurately performed d. Normal response after a head injury
B
.In the majority culture of America, coughing, sweating, and diarrhea are symptoms of an illness. For some individuals of Mexican-American origin, however, these symptoms are a normal part of living. The nurse recognizes that this difference is true, probably because Mexican-Americans: a. Have less efficient immune systems and are often ill. b. Consider these symptoms part of normal living, not symptoms of ill health. c. Come from Mexico, and coughing is normal and healthy there. d. Are usually in a lower socioeconomic group and are more likely to be sick.
B
A 16-year-old boy has just been admitted to the unit for overnight observation after being in an automobile accident. What is the nurse's best approach to communicating with him? a. Use periods of silence to communicate respect for him. b. Be totally honest with him, even if the in-formation is unpleasant. c. Tell him that everything that is discussed will be kept totally confidential. d. Use slang language when possible to help him open up.
B
A mother brings her 28-month-old daughter into the clinic for a well-child visit. At the beginning of the visit, the nurse focuses attention away from the toddler, but as the interview progresses, the toddler begins to "warm up" and is smiling shyly at the nurse. The nurse will be most suc-cessful in interacting with the toddler if which is done next? a. Tickle the toddler, and get her to laugh. b. Stoop down to her level, and ask her about the toy she is holding. c. Continue to ignore her until it is time for the physical examination. d. Ask the mother to leave during the exam-ination of the toddler, because toddlers often fuss less if their parent is not in view.
B
A mother of a 1-month-old infant asks the nurse why it takes so long for infants to learn to roll over. The nurse knows that the reason for this is: a. A demyelinating process must be occur-ring with her infant. b. Myelin is needed to conduct the impulses, and the neurons of a newborn are not yet myelinated. c. The cerebral cortex is not fully developed; therefore, control over motor function gradually occurs. d. The spinal cord is controlling the move-ment because the cerebellum is not yet fully developed.
B
A patient is brought by ambulance to the emergency department with multiple traumas received in an automobile accident. He is alert and cooperative, but his injuries are quite severe. How would the nurse proceed with data collection? a. Collect history information first, then perform the physical examination and institute life-saving measures. b. Simultaneously ask history questions while performing the examination and initiating life-saving measures. c. Collect all information on the history form, including social support patterns, strengths, and coping patterns. d. Perform life-saving measures and delay asking any history questions until the patient is transferred to the intensive care unit.
B
A pregnant woman states, "I just know labor will be so painful that I won't be able to stand it. I know it sounds awful, but I really dread going into labor." The nurse responds by stating, "Oh, don't worry about labor so much. I have been through it, and although it is painful, many good medications are available to decrease the pain." Which statement is true regarding this response? The nurse's reply was a: a. Therapeutic response. By sharing something personal, the nurse gives hope to this woman. b. Nontherapeutic response. By providing false reassurance, the nurse actually cut off further discussion of the woman's fears. c. Therapeutic response. By providing information about the medications available, the nurse is giving information to the woman. d. Nontherapeutic response. The nurse is essentially giving the message to the woman that labor cannot be tolerated without medication.
B
A woman is discussing the problems she is having with her 2-year-old son. She says, "He won't go to sleep at night, and during the day he has several fits. I get so upset when that happens." The nurse's best verbal response would be: a. "Go on, I'm listening." b. "Fits? Tell me what you mean by this." c. "Yes, it can be upsetting when a child has a fit." d. "Don't be upset when he has a fit; every 2 year old has fits."
B
An individual who takes the magicoreligious perspective of illness and disease is likely to believe that his or her illness was caused by: a. Germs and viruses. b. Supernatural forces. c. Eating imbalanced foods. d. An imbalance within his or her spiritual nature.
B
As part of the health history of a 6-year-old boy at a clinic for a sports physical examination, the nurse reviews his immunization record and notes that his last measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination was at 15 months of age. What recommendation should the nurse make? a. No further MMR immunizations are needed. b. MMR vaccination needs to be repeated at 4 to 6 years of age. c. MMR immunization needs to be repeated every 4 years until age 21 years. d. A recommendation cannot be made until the physician is consulted.
B
During a mental status assessment, which question by the nurse would best assess a person's judgment? a. "Do you feel that you are being watched, followed, or controlled?" b. "Tell me what you plan to do once you are discharged from the hospital." c. "What does the statement, 'People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,' mean to you?" d. "What would you do if you found a stamped, addressed envelope lying on the sidewalk?"
B
During a prenatal check, a patient begins to cry as the nurse asks her about previous pregnancies. She states that she is remembering her last pregnancy, which ended in miscarriage. The nurse's best response to her crying would be: a. "I'm so sorry for making you cry!" b. "I can see that you are sad remembering this. It is all right to cry." c. "Why don't I step out for a few minutes until you're feeling better?" d. "I can see that you feel sad about this; why don't we talk about something else?"
B
During an assessment of a patient's family history, the nurse constructs a genogram. Which statement best describes a genogram? a. List of diseases present in a person's near relatives b. Graphic family tree that uses symbols to depict the gender, relationship, and age of immediate family members c. Drawing that depicts the patient's family members up to five generations back d. Description of the health of a person's children and grandchildren
B
During an assessment of the CNs, the nurse finds the following: asymmetry when the patient smiles or frowns, uneven lifting of the eyebrows, sagging of the lower eyelids, and escape of air when the nurse presses against the right puffed cheek. This would indicate dysfunction of which of these CNs? a. Motor component of CN IV b. Motor component of CN VII c. Motor and sensory components of CN XI d. Motor component of CN X and sensory component of CN VII
B
During an examination, the nurse notices severe nystagmus in both eyes of a patient. Which con-clusion by the nurse is correct? Severe nystagmus in both eyes: a. Is a normal occurrence. b. May indicate disease of the cerebellum or brainstem. c. Is a sign that the patient is nervous about the examination. d. Indicates a visual problem, and a referral to an ophthalmologist is indicated.
B
During an interview, the nurse notes that the patient gets up several times to wash her hands even though they are not dirty. This behavior is an example of: a. Social phobia b. Compulsive disorder c. Generalized anxiety disorder d. Posttraumatic stress disorder
B
During the neurologic assessment of a "healthy" 35-year-old patient, the nurse asks him to relax his muscles completely. The nurse then moves each extremity through full range of motion. Which of these results would the nurse expect to find? a. Firm, rigid resistance to movement b. Mild, even resistance to movement c. Hypotonic muscles as a result of total relaxation d. Slight pain with some directions of movement
B
In obtaining a health history on a 74-year-old patient, the nurse notes that he drinks alcohol daily and that he has noticed a tremor in his hands that affects his ability to hold things. With this in-formation, what response should the nurse make? a. "Does your family know you are drinking every day?" b. "Does the tremor change when you drink alcohol?" c. "We'll do some tests to see what is causing the tremor." d. "You really shouldn't drink so much alcohol; it may be causing your tremor."
B
In response to a question regarding the use of alcohol, a patient asks the nurse why the nurse needs to know. What is the reason for needing this information? a. This information is necessary to determine the patient's reliability. b. Alcohol can interact with all medications and can make some diseases worse. c. The nurse needs to be able to teach the patient about the dangers of alcohol use. d. This information is not necessary unless a drinking problem is obvious.
B
Symptoms, such as pain, are often influenced by a person's cultural heritage. Which of the fol-lowing is a true statement regarding pain? a. Nurses' attitudes toward their patients' pain are unrelated to their own experiences with pain. b. Nurses need to recognize that many cultures practice silent suffering as a response to pain. c. A nurse's area of clinical practice will most likely determine his or her assessment of a patient's pain. d. A nurse's years of clinical experience and current position are strong indicators of his or her response to patient pain.
B
The ability that humans have to perform very skilled movements such as writing is controlled by the: a. Basal ganglia. b. Corticospinal tract. c. Spinothalamic tract. d. Extrapyramidal tract.
B
The assessment of a 60-year-old patient has taken longer than anticipated. In testing his pain perception, the nurse decides to complete the test as quickly as possible. When the nurse applies the sharp point of the pin on his arm several times, he is only able to identify these as one "very sharp prick." What would be the most accurate explanation for this? a. The patient has hyperesthesia as a result of the aging process. b. This response is most likely the result of the summation effect. c. The nurse was probably not poking hard enough with the pin in the other areas. d. The patient most likely has analgesia in some areas of arm and hyperalgesia in others.
B
The nurse has used interpretation regarding a patient's statement or actions. After using this technique, it would be best for the nurse to: a. Apologize, because using interpretation can be demeaning for the patient. b. Allow time for the patient to confirm or correct the inference. c. Continue with the interview as though nothing has happened. d. Immediately restate the nurse's conclusion on the basis of the patient's nonverbal response.
B
The nurse is assessing a new patient who has recently immigrated to the United States. Which question is appropriate to add to the health history? a. "Why did you come to the United States?" b. "When did you come to the United States and from what country?" c. "What made you leave your native country?" d. "Are you planning to return to your home?"
B
The nurse is assessing the neurologic status of a patient who has a late-stage brain tumor. With the reflex hammer, the nurse draws a light stroke up the lateral side of the sole of the foot and inward, across the ball of the foot. In response, the patient's toes fan out, and the big toe shows dorsiflexion. The nurse interprets this result as: a. Negative Babinski sign, which is normal for adults. b. Positive Babinski sign, which is abnormal for adults. c. Clonus, which is a hyperactive response. d. Achilles reflex, which is an expected response.
B
The nurse is conducting a class for new graduate nurses. During the teaching session, the nurse should keep in mind that novice nurses, without a background of skills and experience from which to draw, are more likely to make their decisions using: a. Intuition. b. A set of rules. c. Articles in journals. d. Advice from supervisors.
B
The nurse is conducting a heritage assessment. Which question is most appropriate for this as-sessment? a. "What is your religion?" b. "Do you mostly participate in the religious traditions of your family?" c. "Do you smoke?" d. "Do you have a history of heart disease?"
B
The nurse is conducting an interview with a woman who has recently learned that she is pregnant and who has come to the clinic today to begin prenatal care. The woman states that she and her husband are excited about the pregnancy but have a few questions. She looks nervously at her hands during the interview and sighs loudly. Considering the concept of communication, which statement does the nurse know to be most accurate? The woman is: a. Excited about her pregnancy but nervous about the labor. b. Exhibiting verbal and nonverbal behaviors that do not match. c. Excited about her pregnancy, but her husband is not and this is upsetting to her. d. Not excited about her pregnancy but believes the nurse will negatively respond to her if she states this.
B
The nurse is incorporating a person's spiritual values into the health history. Which of these ques-tions illustrates the "community" portion of the FICA (faith and belief, importance and influ-ence, community, and addressing or applying in care) questions? a. "Do you believe in God?" b. "Are you a part of any religious or spiritual congregation?" c. "Do you consider yourself to be a religious or spiritual person?" d. "How does your religious faith influence the way you think about your health?"
B
The nurse is nearing the end of an interview. Which statement is appropriate at this time? a. "Did we forget something?" b. "Is there anything else you would like to mention?" c. "I need to go on to the next patient. I'll be back." d. "While I'm here, let's talk about your upcoming surgery."
B
The nurse is performing a functional assessment on an 82-year-old patient who recently had a stroke. Which of these questions would be most important to ask? a. "Do you wear glasses?" b. "Are you able to dress yourself?" c. "Do you have any thyroid problems?" d. "How many times a day do you have a bowel movement?"
B
The nurse is preparing to conduct a mental status examination. Which statement is true regarding the mental status examination? a. A patient's family is the best resource for information about the patient's coping skills. b. Gathering mental status information during the health history interview is usually sufficient. c. Integrating the mental status examination into the health history interview takes an enormous amount of extra time. d. To get a good idea of the patient's level of functioning, performing a complete mental status examination is usually necessary.
B
The nurse is reviewing concepts of cultural aspects of pain. Which statement is true regarding pain? a. All patients will behave the same way when in pain. b. Just as patients vary in their perceptions of pain, so will they vary in their expressions of pain. c. Cultural norms have very little to do with pain tolerance, because pain tolerance is always biologically determined. d. A patient's expression of pain is largely dependent on the amount of tissue injury associated with the pain.
B
The nurse is reviewing concepts related to one's heritage and beliefs. The belief in divine or su-perhuman power(s) to be obeyed and worshipped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe is known as: a. Culture. b. Religion. c. Ethnicity. d. Spirituality.
B
The nurse is reviewing the development of culture. Which statement is correct regarding the de-velopment of one's culture? Culture is: a. Genetically determined on the basis of racial background. b. Learned through language acquisition and socialization. c. A nonspecific phenomenon and is adaptive but unnecessary. d. Biologically determined on the basis of physical characteristics.
B
The nurse is reviewing theories of illness. The germ theory, which states that microscopic organ-isms such as bacteria and viruses are responsible for specific disease conditions, is a basic belief of which theory of illness? a. Holistic b. Biomedical c. Naturalistic d. Magicoreligious
B
The nurse knows that testing kinesthesia is a test of a person's: a. Fine touch. b. Position sense. c. Motor coordination. d. Perception of vibration.
B
The nurse places a key in the hand of a patient and he identifies it as a penny. What term would the nurse use to describe this finding? a. Extinction b. Astereognosis c. Graphesthesia d. Tactile discrimination
B
The nurse recognizes that an example of a person who is heritage consistent would be a: a. Woman who has adapted her clothing to the clothing style of her new country. b. Woman who follows the traditions that her mother followed regarding meals. c. Man who is not sure of his ancestor's country of origin. d. Child who is not able to speak his parents' native language.
B
The review of systems provides the nurse with: a. Physical findings related to each system. b. Information regarding health promotion practices. c. An opportunity to teach the patient medical terms. d. Information necessary for the nurse to diagnose the patient's medical problem.
B
The two parts of the nervous system are the: a. Motor and sensory. b. Central and peripheral. c. Peripheral and autonomic. d. Hypothalamus and cerebral.
B
When the nurse is evaluating the reliability of a patient's responses, which of these statements would be correct? The patient: a. Has a history of drug abuse and therefore is not reliable. b. Provided consistent information and therefore is reliable. c. Smiled throughout interview and therefore is assumed reliable. d. Would not answer questions concerning stress and therefore is not reliable.
B
Which critical thinking skill helps the nurse see relationships among the data? a. Validation b. Clustering related cues c. Identifying gaps in data d. Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
B
Which statement concerning the areas of the brain is true? a. The cerebellum is the center for speech and emotions. b. The hypothalamus controls body temperature and regulates sleep. c. The basal ganglia are responsible for controlling voluntary movements. d. Motor pathways of the spinal cord and brainstem synapse in the thalamus.
B
The nurse is conducting a developmental history on a 5-year-old child. Which questions are ap-propriate to ask the parents for this part of the assessment? Select all that apply. a. "How much junk food does your child eat?" b. "How many teeth has he lost, and when did he lose them?" c. "Is he able to tie his shoelaces?" d. "Does he take a children's vitamin?" e. "Can he tell time?" f. "Does he have any food allergies?"
B, C, E
A 69-year-old patient has been admitted to an adult psychiatric unit because his wife thinks he is getting more and more confused. He laughs when he is found to be forgetful, saying "I'm just getting old!" After the nurse completes a thorough neurologic assessment, which findings would be indicative of Alzheimer disease? Select all that apply. a. Occasionally forgetting names or appointments b. Difficulty performing familiar tasks, such as placing a telephone call c. Misplacing items, such as putting dish soap in the refrigerator d. Sometimes having trouble finding the right word e. Rapid mood swings, from calm to tears, for no apparent reason f. Getting lost in one's own neighborhood
B, C, E, F
The nurse is conducting an interview. Which of these statements is true regarding open-ended questions? Select all that apply. a. Open-ended questions elicit cold facts. b. They allow for self-expression. c. Open-ended questions build and enhance rapport. d. They leave interactions neutral. e. Open-ended questions call for short one- to two-word answers. f. They are used when narrative information is needed.
B, C, F
The nurse is reviewing aspects of cultural care. Which statements illustrate proper cultural care? Select all that apply. a. Examine the patient within the context of one's own cultural health and illness practices. b. Select questions that are not complex. c. Ask questions rapidly. d. Touch patients within the cultural boundaries of their heritage. e. Pace questions throughout the physical examination.
B, D, E
mediates motor speech
Broca's area in the frontal lobe
. A patient with a lack of oxygen to his heart will have pain in his chest and possibly in the shoulder, arms, or jaw. The nurse knows that the best explanation why this occurs is which one of these statements? a. A problem exists with the sensory cortex and its ability to discriminate the location. b. The lack of oxygen in his heart has resulted in decreased amount of oxygen to the areas experiencing the pain. c. The sensory cortex does not have the ability to localize pain in the heart; consequently, the pain is felt elsewhere. d. A lesion has developed in the dorsal root, which is preventing the sensation from being transmitted normally.
C
.A patient repeatedly seems to have difficulty coming up with a word. He says, "I was on my way to work, and when I got there, the thing that you step into that goes up in the air was so full that I decided to take the stairs." The nurse will note on his chart that he is using or experiencing: a. Blocking b. Neologism c. Circumlocution d. Circumstantiality
C
.During an interview, a woman says, "I have decided that I can no longer allow my children to live with their father's violence, but I just can't seem to leave him." Using interpretation, the nurse's best response would be: a. "You are going to leave him?" b. "If you are afraid for your children, then why can't you leave?" c. "It sounds as if you might be afraid of how your husband will respond." d. "It sounds as though you have made your decision. I think it is a good one."
C
.During an interview, the nurse would expect that most of the interview will take place at what distance? a. Intimate zone b. Personal distance c. Social distance d. Public distance
C
A 17-year-old single mother is describing how difficult it is to raise a 3-year-old child by herself. During the course of the interview she states, "I can't believe my boyfriend left me to do this by myself! What a terrible thing to do to me!" Which of these responses by the nurse uses empathy? a. "You feel alone." b. "You can't believe he left you alone?" c. "It must be so hard to face this all alone." d. "I would be angry, too; raising a child alone is no picnic."
C
A 30-year-old female patient is describing feelings of hopelessness and depression. She has at-tempted self-mutilation and has a history of suicide attempts. She describes difficulty sleeping at night and has lost 10 pounds in the past month. Which of these statements or questions is the nurse's best response in this situation? a. "Do you have a weapon?" b. "How do other people treat you?" c. "Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?" d. "People often feel hopeless, but the feelings resolve within a few weeks."
C
A 30-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has been very unsteady and has had difficulty in maintaining her balance. Which area of the brain that is related to these findings would concern the nurse? a. Thalamus b. Brainstem c. Cerebellum d. Extrapyramidal tract
C
A 45-year-old woman is at the clinic for a mental status assessment. In giving her the Four Unre-lated Words Test, the nurse would be concerned if she could not ____ four unrelated words ____. a. Invent; within 5 minutes b. Invent; within 30 seconds c. Recall; after a 30-minute delay d. Recall; after a 60-minute delay
C
A man who was found wandering in a park at 2 AM has been brought to the emergency depart-ment for an examination; he said he fell and hit his head. During the examination, the nurse asks him to use his index finger to touch the nurse's finger, then his own nose, then the nurse's finger again (which has been moved to a different location). The patient is clumsy, unable to follow the instructions, and overshoots the mark, missing the finger. The nurse should suspect which of the following? a. Cerebral injury b. Cerebrovascular accident c. Acute alcohol intoxication d. Peripheral neuropathy
C
A nurse is taking complete health histories on all of the patients attending a wellness workshop. On the history form, one of the written questions asks, "You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" This question is an example of: a. Talking too much. b. Using confrontation. c. Using biased or leading questions. d. Using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics.
C
A patient has a severed spinal nerve as a result of trauma. Which statement is true in this situa-tion? a. Because there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, no effect results if only one nerve is severed. b. The dermatome served by this nerve will no longer experience any sensation. c. The adjacent spinal nerves will continue to carry sensations for the dermatome served by the severed nerve. d. A severed spinal nerve will only affect motor function of the patient because spinal nerves have no sensory com-ponent.
C
A patient has been in the intensive care unit for 10 days. He has just been moved to the medi-cal-surgical unit, and the admitting nurse is planning to perform a mental status examination. During the tests of cognitive function, the nurse would expect that he: a. May display some disruption in thought content. b. Will state, "I am so relieved to be out of intensive care." c. Will be oriented to place and person, but the patient may not be certain of the date. d. May show evidence of some clouding of his level of consciousness.
C
A patient is unable to perform rapid alternating movements such as rapidly patting her knees. The nurse should document this inability as: a. Ataxia. b. Astereognosis. c. Presence of dysdiadochokinesia. d. Loss of kinesthesia.
C
A patient states, "I feel so sad all of the time. I can't feel happy even doing things I used to like to do." He also states that he is tired, sleeps poorly, and has no energy. To differentiate between a dysthymic disorder and a major depressive disorder, the nurse should ask which question? a. "Have you had any weight changes?" b. "Are you having any thoughts of suicide?" c. "How long have you been feeling this way?" d. "Are you having feelings of worthlessness?"
C
A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, is nauseated, and "feels hot." These types of data would be: a. Objective. b. Reflective. c. Subjective. d. Introspective.
C
A visiting nurse is making an initial home visit for a patient who has many chronic medical prob-lems. Which type of data base is most appropriate to collect in this setting? a. A follow-up data base to evaluate changes at appropriate intervals b. An episodic data base because of the continuing, complex medical problems of this patient c. A complete health data base because of the nurse's primary responsibility for monitoring the patient's health d. An emergency data base because of the need to collect information and make accurate diagnoses rapidly
C
After a class on culture and ethnicity, the new graduate nurse reflects a correct understanding of the concept of ethnicity with which statement? a. "Ethnicity is dynamic and ever changing." b. "Ethnicity is the belief in a higher power." c. "Ethnicity pertains to a social group within the social system that claims shared values and traditions." d. "Ethnicity is learned from birth through the processes of language acquisition and socialization."
C
An older Mexican-American woman with traditional beliefs has been admitted to an inpatient care unit. A culturally sensitive nurse would: a. Contact the hospital administrator about the best course of action. b. Automatically get a curandero for her, because requesting one herself is not culturally appropriate. c. Further assess the patient's cultural beliefs and offer the patient assistance in contacting a curandero or priest if she desires. d. Ask the family what they would like to do because Mexican-Americans traditionally give control of decision mak-ing to their families.
C
During a class on cultural practices, the nurse hears the term cultural taboo. Which statement il-lustrates the concept of a cultural taboo? a. Believing that illness is a punishment of sin b. Trying prayer before seeking medical help c. Refusing to accept blood products as part of treatment d. Stating that a child's birth defect is the result of the parents' sins
C
During an assessment of an 80-year-old patient, the nurse notices the following: an inability to identify vibrations at her ankle and to identify the position of her big toe, a slower and more de-liberate gait, and a slightly impaired tactile sensation. All other neurologic findings are normal. The nurse should interpret that these findings indicate: a. CN dysfunction. b. Lesion in the cerebral cortex. c. Normal changes attributable to aging. d. Demyelination of nerves attributable to a lesion.
C
During an examination, the nurse notes that a patient is exhibiting flight of ideas. Which state-ment by the patient is an example of flight of ideas? a. "My stomach hurts. Hurts, spurts, burts." b. "Kiss, wood, reading, ducks, onto, maybe." c. "Take this pill? The pill is red. I see red. Red velvet is soft, soft as a baby's bottom." d. "I wash my hands, wash them, wash them. I usually go to the sink and wash my hands."
C
If an American Indian woman has come to the clinic to seek help with regulating her diabetes, then the nurse can expect that she: a. Will comply with the treatment prescribed. b. Has obviously given up her belief in naturalistic causes of disease. c. May also be seeking the assistance of a shaman or medicine man. d. Will need extra help in dealing with her illness and may be experiencing a crisis of faith.
C
In response to a question about stress, a 39-year-old woman tells the nurse that her husband and mother both died in the past year. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate? a. "This has been a difficult year for you." b. "I don't know how anyone could handle that much stress in 1 year!" c. "What did you do to cope with the loss of both your husband and mother?" d. "That is a lot of stress; now let's go on to the next section of your history."
C
Many Asians believe in the yin/yang theory, which is rooted in the ancient Chinese philosophy of Tao. Which statement most accurately reflects "health" in an Asian with this belief? a. A person is able to work and produce. b. A person is happy, stable, and feels good. c. All aspects of the person are in perfect balance. d. A person is able to care for others and function socially.
C
Receiving is a part of the communication process. Which receiver is most likely to misinterpret a message sent by a health care professional? a. Well-adjusted adolescent who came in for a sports physical b. Recovering alcoholic who came in for a basic physical examination c. Man whose wife has just been diagnosed with lung cancer d. Man with a hearing impairment who uses sign language to communicate and who has an interpreter with him
C
The area of the nervous system that is responsible for mediating reflexes is the: a. Medulla. b. Cerebellum. c. Spinal cord. d. Cerebral cortex.
C
The nurse has implemented several planned interventions to address the nursing diagnosis of acute pain. Which would be the next appropriate action? a. Establish priorities. b. Identify expected outcomes. c. Evaluate the individual's condition, and compare actual outcomes with expected outcomes. d. Interpret data, and then identify clusters of cues and make inferences.
C
The nurse is assessing a 75-year-old man. As the nurse begins the mental status portion of the as-sessment, the nurse expects that this patient: a. Will have no decrease in any of his abilities, including response time. b. Will have difficulty on tests of remote memory because this ability typically decreases with age. c. May take a little longer to respond, but his general knowledge and abilities should not have declined. d. Will exhibit had a decrease in his response time because of the loss of language and a decrease in general knowledge.
C
The nurse is caring for a patient who has just had neurosurgery. To assess for increased intracra-nial pressure, what would the nurse include in the assessment? a. CNs, motor function, and sensory function b. Deep tendon reflexes, vital signs, and coordinated movements c. Level of consciousness, motor function, pupillary response, and vital signs d. Mental status, deep tendon reflexes, sensory function, and pupillary response
C
The nurse is comparing the concepts of religion and spirituality. Which of the following is an ap-propriate component of one's spirituality? a. Belief in and the worship of God or gods b. Attendance at a specific church or place of worship c. Personal effort made to find purpose and meaning in life d. Being closely tied to one's ethnic background
C
The nurse is conducting a patient interview. Which statement made by the patient should the nurse more fully explore during the interview? a. "I sleep like a baby." b. "I have no health problems." c. "I never did too good in school." d. "I am not currently taking any medications."
C
The nurse is performing a mental status examination. Which statement is true regarding the as-sessment of mental status? a. Mental status assessment diagnoses specific psychiatric disorders. b. Mental disorders occur in response to everyday life stressors. c. Mental status functioning is inferred through the assessment of an individual's behaviors. d. Mental status can be directly assessed, similar to other systems of the body (e.g., heart sounds, breath sounds).
C
The nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on a 41-year-old woman with a history of dia-betes. When testing her ability to feel the vibrations of a tuning fork, the nurse notices that the patient is unable to feel vibrations on the great toe or ankle bilaterally, but she is able to feel vi-brations on both patellae. Given this information, what would the nurse suspect? a. Hyperalgesia b. Hyperesthesia c. Peripheral neuropathy d. Lesion of sensory cortex
C
The nurse is performing a review of systems on a 76-year-old patient. Which of these statements is correct for this situation? a. The questions asked are identical for all ages. b. The interviewer will start incorporating different questions for patients 70 years of age and older. c. Questions that are reflective of the normal effects of aging are added. d. At this age, a review of systems is not necessary—the focus should be on current problems.
C
The nurse is performing an assessment on a 29-year-old woman who visits the clinic complaining of "always dropping things and falling down." While testing rapid alternating movements, the nurse notices that the woman is unable to pat both of her knees. Her response is extremely slow and she frequently misses. What should the nurse suspect? a. Vestibular disease b. Lesion of CN IX c. Dysfunction of the cerebellum d. Inability to understand directions
C
The nurse is performing the Denver II screening test on a 12-month-old infant during a routine well-child visit. The nurse should tell the infant's parents that the Denver II: a. Tests three areas of development: cogni-tive, physical, and psychological b. Will indicate whether the child has a speech disorder so that treatment can begin. c. Is a screening instrument designed to de-tect children who are slow in develop-ment. d. Is a test to determine intellectual ability and may indicate whether problems will develop later in school.
C
The nurse is planning health teaching for a 65-year-old woman who has had a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and has aphasia. Which of these questions is most important to use when as-sessing mental status in this patient? a. "Please count backward from 100 by seven." b. "I will name three items and ask you to repeat them in a few minutes." c. "Please point to articles in the room and parts of the body as I name them." d. "What would you do if you found a stamped, addressed envelope on the sidewalk?"
C
The nurse is planning to assess new memory with a patient. The best way for the nurse to do this would be to: a. Administer the FACT test. b. Ask him to describe his first job. c. Give him the Four Unrelated Words Test. d. Ask him to describe what television show he was watching before coming to the clinic.
C
The nurse is providing instructions to newly hired graduates for the mini-mental state examina-tion (MMSE). Which statement best describes this examination? a. Scores below 30 indicate cognitive impairment. b. The MMSE is a good tool to evaluate mood and thought processes. c. This examination is a good tool to detect delirium and dementia and to differentiate these from psychiatric mental illness. d. The MMSE is useful tool for an initial evaluation of mental status. Additional tools are needed to evaluate cogni-tion changes over time.
C
The nurse is reviewing information about evidence-based practice (EBP). Which statement best reflects EBP? a. EBP relies on tradition for support of best practices. b. EBP is simply the use of best practice techniques for the treatment of patients. c. EBP emphasizes the use of best evidence with the clinician's experience. d. The patient's own preferences are not important with EBP.
C
The nurse is taking a family history. Important diseases or problems about which the patient should be specifically asked include: a. Emphysema. b. Head trauma. c. Mental illness. d. Fractured bones.
C
The nurse is testing superficial reflexes on an adult patient. When stroking up the lateral side of the sole and across the ball of the foot, the nurse notices the plantar flexion of the toes. How should the nurse document this finding? a. Positive Babinski sign b. Plantar reflex abnormal c. Plantar reflex present d. Plantar reflex 2+ on a scale from "0 to 4+"
C
The nurse makes this comment to a patient, "I know it may be hard, but you should do what the doctor ordered because she is the expert in this field." Which statement is correct about the nurse's comment? a. This comment is inappropriate because it shows the nurse's bias. b. This comment is appropriate because members of the health care team are experts in their area of patient care. c. This type of comment promotes dependency and inferiority on the part of the patient and is best avoided in an interview situation. d. Using authority statements when dealing with patients, especially when they are undecided about an issue, is necessary at times.
C
The nurse recognizes that the concept of prevention in describing health is essential because: a. Disease can be prevented by treating the external environment. b. The majority of deaths among Americans under age 65 years are not preventable. c. Prevention places the emphasis on the link between health and personal behavior. d. The means to prevention is through treatment provided by primary health care practitioners.
C
When considering priority setting of problems, the nurse keeps in mind that second-level priority problems include which of these aspects? a. Low self-esteem b. Lack of knowledge c. Abnormal laboratory values d. Severely abnormal vital signs
C
When listening to a patient's breath sounds, the nurse is unsure of a sound that is heard. The nurse's next action should be to: a. Immediately notify the patient's physician. b. Document the sound exactly as it was heard. c. Validate the data by asking a coworker to listen to the breath sounds. d. Assess again in 20 minutes to note whether the sound is still present.
C
When taking the health history on a patient with a seizure disorder, the nurse assesses whether the patient has an aura. Which of these would be the best question for obtaining this information? a. "Does your muscle tone seem tense or limp?" b. "After the seizure, do you spend a lot of time sleeping?" c. "Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?" d. "Do you experience any color change or incontinence during the seizure?"
C
When the nurse asks for a description of who lives with a child, the method of discipline, and the support system of the child, what part of the assessment is being performed? a. Family history b. Review of systems c. Functional assessment d. Reason for seeking care
C
When the nurse is testing the triceps reflex, what is the expected response? a. Flexion of the hand b. Pronation of the hand c. Extension of the forearm d. Flexion of the forearm
C
Which of these statements represents subjective data the nurse obtained from the patient regard-ing the patient's skin? a. Skin appears dry. b. No lesions are obvious. c. Patient denies any color change. d. Lesion is noted on the lateral aspect of the right arm.
C
Which of these would be formulated by a nurse using diagnostic reasoning? a. Nursing diagnosis b. Medical diagnosis c. Diagnostic hypothesis d. Diagnostic assessment
C
While assessing a 7-month-old infant, the nurse makes a loud noise and notices the following re-sponse: abduction and flexion of the arms and legs; fanning of the fingers, and curling of the in-dex finger and thumb in a C position, followed by the infant bringing in the arms and legs to the body. What does the nurse know about this response? a. This response could indicate brachial nerve palsy. b. This reaction is an expected startle re-sponse at this age. c. This reflex should have disappeared be-tween 1 and 4 months of age. d. This response is normal as long as the movements are bilaterally symmetric.
C
While gathering equipment after an injection, a nurse accidentally received a prick from an im-properly capped needle. To interpret this sensation, which of these areas must be intact? a. Corticospinal tract, medulla, and basal ganglia b. Pyramidal tract, hypothalamus, and sensory cortex c. Lateral spinothalamic tract, thalamus, and sensory cortex d. Anterior spinothalamic tract, basal ganglia, and sensory cortex
C
Glossopharyngeal Nerve Mixed Motor: pharynx (phonation and swallowing) Sensory: taste on the posterior one third of tongue, pharynx (gag reflex) Parasympathetic: parotid gland, carotid reflex
Cranial Nerve 9
Concerned with motor coordination of voluntary movements, equilibrium, and muscle tone
Cerebellum
Olfactory nerve Sensory: Smell
Cranial Nerve 1
Vagus Nerve Mixed Motor: Pharynx and larynx (talking and swallowing) Sensory: general sensation from carotid body, carotid sinus, pharynx, viscera Parasympathetic: carotid reflex
Cranial Nerve 10
Spinal Accessory Motor: movement of trapezius and sternomastoid muscles
Cranial Nerve 11
Hypoglossal Nerve Motor: movement of tongue
Cranial Nerve 12
Optic nerve Sensory: Vision
Cranial Nerve 2
Oculomotor Nerve Mixed Motor: most extraocular muscle movement, opening of eyelids Parasympathetic: pupil constriction, lens shape
Cranial Nerve 3
Trochlear Nerve Motor: down and inward movement of eye
Cranial Nerve 4
Trigeminal Nerve Mixed Motor: muscles of mastication Sensory: sensation of face and scalp, cornea, mucous membranes of mouth and nose
Cranial Nerve 5
Abducens Nerve Motor: lateral movement of eye
Cranial Nerve 6
Facial Nerve Mixed Motor: facial muscles, close eyes, labial speech, close mouth Sensory: taste on anterior two thirds of tongue Parasympathetic: saliva and tear secretion
Cranial Nerve 7
.During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open position. As the inter-viewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, however, he suddenly crosses his arms against his chest and crosses his legs. This changed posture would suggest that the parent is: a. Simply changing positions. b. More comfortable in this position. c. Tired and needs a break from the interview. d. Uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
D
A 19-year-old woman comes to the clinic at the insistence of her brother. She is wearing black combat boots and a black lace nightgown over the top of her other clothes. Her hair is dyed pink with black streaks throughout. She has several pierced holes in her nares and ears and is wearing an earring through her eyebrow and heavy black makeup. The nurse concludes that: a. She probably does not have any problems. b. She is only trying to shock people and that her dress should be ignored. c. She has a manic syndrome because of her abnormal dress and grooming. d. More information should be gathered to decide whether her dress is appropriate.
D
A 20-year-old construction worker has been brought into the emergency department with heat stroke. He has delirium as a result of a fluid and electrolyte imbalance. For the mental status ex-amination, the nurse should first assess the patient's: a. Affect and mood b. Memory and affect c. Language abilities d. Level of consciousness and cognitive abilities
D
A 23-year-old patient in the clinic appears anxious. Her speech is rapid, and she is fidgety and in constant motion. Which of these questions or statements would be most appropriate for the nurse to use in this situation to assess attention span? a. "How do you usually feel? Is this normal behavior for you?" b. "I am going to say four words. In a few minutes, I will ask you to recall them." c. "Describe the meaning of the phrase, 'Looking through rose-colored glasses.'" d. "Pick up the pencil in your left hand, move it to your right hand, and place it on the table."
D
A 26-year-old woman was robbed and beaten a month ago. She is returning to the clinic today for a follow-up assessment. The nurse will want to ask her which one of these questions? a. "How are things going with the trial?" b. "How are things going with your job?" c. "Tell me about your recent engagement!" d. "Are you having any disturbing dreams?"
D
A 29-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has "excruciating pain" in her back. Which would be the nurse's appropriate response to the woman's statement? a. "How does your family react to your pain?" b. "The pain must be terrible. You probably pinched a nerve." c. "I've had back pain myself, and it can be excruciating." d. "How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your daily activities?"
D
A 32-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has noticed "very sudden, jerky movements" main-ly in her hands and arms. She says, "They seem to come and go, primarily when I am trying to do something. I haven't noticed them when I'm sleeping." This description suggests: a. Tics. b. Athetosis. c. Myoclonus. d. Chorea.
D
A 42-year-old patient of Asian descent is being seen at the clinic for an initial examination. The nurse knows that including cultural information in his health assessment is important to: a. Identify the cause of his illness. b. Make accurate disease diagnoses. c. Provide cultural health rights for the individual. d. Provide culturally sensitive and appropriate care.
D
A 5-year-old boy is being admitted to the hospital to have his tonsils removed. Which infor-mation should the nurse collect before this procedure? a. Child's birth weight b. Age at which he crawled c. Whether the child has had the measles d. Child's reactions to previous hospitaliza-tions
D
A 50-year-old woman is in the clinic for weakness in her left arm and leg that she has noticed for the past week. The nurse should perform which type of neurologic examination? a. Glasgow Coma Scale b. Neurologic recheck examination c. Screening neurologic examination d. Complete neurologic examination
D
A 59-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has ulcerative colitis. He has been having "black stools" for the last 24 hours. How would the nurse best document his reason for seeking care? a. J.M. is a 59-year-old man seeking treatment for ulcerative colitis. b. J.M. came into the clinic complaining of having black stools for the past 24 hours. c. J.M. is a 59-year-old man who states that he has ulcerative colitis and wants it checked. d. J.M. is a 59-year-old man who states that he has been having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
D
A 63-year-old Chinese-American man enters the hospital with complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Which statement most accurately reflects the nurse's best course of action? a. The nurse should focus on performing a full cardiac assessment. b. The nurse should focus on psychosomatic complaints because the patient has just learned that his wife has cancer. c. This patient is not in any danger at present; therefore, the nurse should send him home with instructions to contact his physician. d. It is unclear what is happening with this patient; consequently, the nurse should perform an assessment in both the physical and the psychosocial realms.
D
A 70-year-old woman tells the nurse that every time she gets up in the morning or after she's been sitting, she gets "really dizzy" and feels like she is going to fall over. The nurse's best re-sponse would be: a. "Have you been extremely tired lately?" b. "You probably just need to drink more liquids." c. "I'll refer you for a complete neurologic examination." d. "You need to get up slowly when you've been lying down or sitting."
D
A 78-year-old man has a history of a cerebrovascular accident. The nurse notes that when he walks, his left arm is immobile against the body with flexion of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers and adduction of the shoulder. His left leg is stiff and extended and circumducts with each step. What type of gait disturbance is this individual experiencing? a. Scissors gait b. Cerebellar ataxia c. Parkinsonian gait d. Spastic hemiparesis
D
A 90-year-old patient tells the nurse that he cannot remember the names of the medications he is taking or for what reason he is taking them. An appropriate response from the nurse would be: a. "Can you tell me what they look like?" b. "Don't worry about it. You are only taking two medications." c. "How long have you been taking each of the pills?" d. "Would you have a family member bring in your medications?"
D
A female American Indian has come to the clinic for follow-up diabetic teaching. During the in-terview, the nurse notices that she never makes eye contact and speaks mostly to the floor. Which statement is true regarding this situation? a. The woman is nervous and embarrassed. b. She has something to hide and is ashamed. c. The woman is showing inconsistent verbal and nonverbal behaviors. d. She is showing that she is carefully listening to what the nurse is saying.
D
A female nurse is interviewing a male patient who is near the same age as the nurse. During the interview, the patient makes an overtly sexual comment. The nurse's best reaction would be: a. "Stop that immediately!" b. "Oh, you are too funny. Let's keep going with the interview." c. "Do you really think I would be interested?" d. "It makes me uncomfortable when you talk that way. Please stop."
D
A man arrives at the clinic for his annual wellness physical. He is experiencing no acute health problems. Which question or statement by the nurse is most appropriate when beginning the in-terview? a. "How is your family?" b. "How is your job?" c. "Tell me about your hypertension." d. "How has your health been since your last visit?"
D
A man has been admitted to the observation unit for observation after being treated for a large cut on his forehead. As the nurse works through the interview, one of the standard questions has to do with alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. When the nurse asks him about tobacco use, he states, "I quit smoking after my wife died 7 years ago." However, the nurse notices an open pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket. Using confrontation, the nurse could say: a. "Mr. K., I know that you are lying." b. "Mr. K., come on, tell me how much you smoke." c. "Mr. K., I didn't realize your wife had died. It must be difficult for you at this time. Please tell me more about that." d. "Mr. K., you have said that you don't smoke, but I see that you have an open pack of cigarettes in your pocket."
D
A patient has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. During a recent interview, he shows the nurse a picture of a man holding a decapitated head. He describes this picture as horrifying but then laughs loudly at the content. This behavior is a display of: a. Confusion b. Ambivalence c. Depersonalization d. Inappropriate affect
D
A patient has finished giving the nurse information about the reason he is seeking care. When re-viewing the data, the nurse finds that some information about past hospitalizations is missing. At this point, which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate to gather these data? a. "Mr. Y., at your age, surely you have been hospitalized before!" b. "Mr. Y., I just need permission to get your medical records from County Medical." c. "Mr. Y., you mentioned that you have been hospitalized on several occasions. Would you tell me more about that?" d. "Mr. Y., I just need to get some additional information about your past hospitalizations. When was the last time you were admitted for chest pain?"
D
A patient has had a cerebrovascular accident (stroke). He is trying very hard to communicate. He seems driven to speak and says, "I buy obie get spirding and take my train." What is the best de-scription of this patient's problem? a. Global aphasia b. Broca's aphasia c. Echolalia d. Wernicke's aphasia
D
A patient is describing his symptoms to the nurse. Which of these statements reflects a descrip-tion of the setting of his symptoms? a. "It is a sharp, burning pain in my stomach." b. "I also have the sweats and nausea when I feel this pain." c. "I think this pain is telling me that something bad is wrong with me." d. "This pain happens every time I sit down to use the computer."
D
A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin. What would be the nurse's best response to this information? a. "Are you allergic to any other drugs?" b. "How often have you received penicillin?" c. "I'll write your allergy on your chart so you won't receive any penicillin." d. "Describe what happens to you when you take penicillin."
D
A woman has just entered the emergency department after being battered by her husband. The nurse needs to get some information from her to begin treatment. What is the best choice for an opening phase of the interview with this patient? a. "Hello, Nancy, my name is Mrs. C." b. "Hello, Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. It sure is cold today!" c. "Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. How are you?" d. "Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. I'll need to ask you a few questions about what happened."
D
After a symptom is recognized, the first effort at treatment is often self-care. Which of the fol-lowing statements about self-care is true? "Self-care is: a. Not recognized as valuable by most health care providers." b. Usually ineffective and may delay more effective treatment." c. Always less expensive than biomedical alternatives." d. Influenced by the accessibility of over-the-counter medicines."
D
During a class on religion and spirituality, the nurse is asked to define spirituality. Which answer is correct? "Spirituality: a. Is a personal search to discover a supreme being." b. Is an organized system of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe." c. Is a belief that each person exists forever in some form, such as a belief in reincarnation or the afterlife." d. Arises out of each person's unique life experience and his or her personal effort to find purpose in life."
D
During a class on the aspects of culture, the nurse shares that culture has four basic characteris-tics. Which statement correctly reflects one of these characteristics? a. Cultures are static and unchanging, despite changes around them. b. Cultures are never specific, which makes them hard to identify. c. Culture is most clearly reflected in a person's language and behavior. d. Culture adapts to specific environmental factors and available natural resources.
D
During a staff meeting, nurses discuss the problems with accessing research studies to incorporate evidence-based clinical decision making into their practice. Which suggestion by the nurse man-ager would best help these problems? a. Form a committee to conduct research studies. b. Post published research studies on the unit's bulletin boards. c. Encourage the nurses to visit the library to review studies. d. Teach the nurses how to conduct electronic searches for research studies.
D
During an assessment of a 32-year-old patient with a recent head injury, the nurse notices that the patient responds to pain by extending, adducting, and internally rotating his arms. His palms pronate, and his lower extremities extend with plantar flexion. Which statement concerning these findings is most accurate? This patient's response: a. Indicates a lesion of the cerebral cortex. b. Indicates a completely nonfunctional brainstem. c. Is normal and will go away in 24 to 48 hours. d. Is a very ominous sign and may indicate brainstem injury.
D
During an assessment, the nurse uses the CAGE test. The patient answers "yes" to two of the questions. What could this be indicating? a. The patient is an alcoholic. b. The patient is annoyed at the questions. c. The patient should be thoroughly examined for possible alcohol withdrawal symptoms. d. The nurse should suspect alcohol abuse and continue with a more thorough substance abuse assessment.
D
During an examination of a 3-year-old child, the nurse will need to take her blood pressure. What might the nurse do to try to gain the child's full cooperation? a. Tell the child that the blood pressure cuff is going to give her arm a big hug. b. Tell the child that the blood pressure cuff is asleep and cannot wake up. c. Give the blood pressure cuff a name and refer to it by this name during the assess-ment. d. Tell the child that by using the blood pressure cuff, we can see how strong her muscles are.
D
During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned having shortness of breath. Tell me more about that." Which verbal skill is used with this statement? a. Reflection b. Facilitation c. Direct question d. Open-ended question
D
During the interview portion of data collection, the nurse collects __________ data. a. Physical b. Historical c. Objective d. Subjective
D
During the taking of the health history of a 78-year-old man, his wife states that he occasionally has problems with short-term memory loss and confusion: "He can't even remember how to but-ton his shirt." When assessing his sensory system, which action by the nurse is most appropriate? a. The nurse would not test the sensory system as part of the examination because the results would not be valid. b. The nurse would perform the tests, knowing that mental status does not affect sensory ability. c. The nurse would proceed with an explanation of each test, making certain that the wife understands. d. Before testing, the nurse would assess the patient's mental status and ability to follow directions.
D
In assessing a 70-year-old patient who has had a recent cerebrovascular accident, the nurse no-tices right-sided weakness. What might the nurse expect to find when testing his reflexes on the right side? a. Lack of reflexes b. Normal reflexes c. Diminished reflexes d. Hyperactive reflexes
D
In obtaining a review of systems on a "healthy" 7-year-old girl, the health care provider knows that it would be important to include the: a. Last glaucoma examination. b. Frequency of breast self-examinations. c. Date of her last electrocardiogram. d. Limitations related to her involvement in sports activities.
D
In recording the childhood illnesses of a patient who denies having had any, which note by the nurse would be most accurate? a. Patient denies usual childhood illnesses. b. Patient states he was a "very healthy" child. c. Patient states his sister had measles, but he didn't. d. Patient denies measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, and strep throat.
D
In the health promotion model, the focus of the health professional includes: a. Changing the patient's perceptions of disease. b. Identifying biomedical model interventions. c. Identifying negative health acts of the consumer. d. Helping the consumer choose a healthier lifestyle.
D
In the hot/cold theory, illnesses are believed to be caused by hot or cold entering the body. Which of these patient conditions is most consistent with a cold condition? a. Patient with diabetes and renal failure b. Teenager with an abscessed tooth c. Child with symptoms of itching and a rash d. Older man with gastrointestinal discomfort
D
In using verbal responses to assist the patient's narrative, some responses focus on the patient's frame of reference and some focus on the health care provider's perspective. An example of a verbal response that focuses on the health care provider's perspective would be: a. Empathy. b. Reflection. c. Facilitation. d. Confrontation.
D
The mother of a 16-month-old toddler tells the nurse that her daughter has an earache. What would be an appropriate response? a. "Maybe she is just teething." b. "I will check her ear for an ear infection." c. "Are you sure she is really having pain?" d. "Describe what she is doing to indicate she is having pain."
D
The nurse asks, "I would like to ask you some questions about your health and your usual daily activities so that we can better plan your stay here." This question is found at the __________ phase of the interview process. a. Summary b. Closing c. Body d. Opening or introduction
D
The nurse is assessing orientation in a 79-year-old patient. Which of these responses would lead the nurse to conclude that this patient is oriented? a. "I know my name is John. I couldn't tell you where I am. I think it is 2010, though." b. "I know my name is John, but to tell you the truth, I get kind of confused about the date." c. "I know my name is John; I guess I'm at the hospital in Spokane. No, I don't know the date." d. "I know my name is John. I am at the hospital in Spokane. I couldn't tell you what date it is, but I know that it is February of a new year—2010."
D
The nurse is conducting a class on priority setting for a group of new graduate nurses. Which is an example of a first-level priority problem? a. Patient with postoperative pain b. Newly diagnosed patient with diabetes who needs diabetic teaching c. Individual with a small laceration on the sole of the foot d. Individual with shortness of breath and respiratory distress
D
The nurse is obtaining a health history on an 87-year-old woman. Which of the following areas of questioning would be most useful at this time? a. Obstetric history b. Childhood illnesses c. General health for the past 20 years d. Current health promotion activities
D
The nurse is performing a mental status assessment on a 5-year-old girl. Her parents are undergo-ing a bitter divorce and are worried about the effect it is having on their daughter. Which action or statement might lead the nurse to be concerned about the girl's mental status? a. She clings to her mother whenever the nurse is in the room. b. She appears angry and will not make eye contact with the nurse. c. Her mother states that she has begun to ride a tricycle around their yard. d. Her mother states that her daughter prefers to play with toddlers instead of kids her own age while in daycare.
D
The nurse is performing a physical assessment on a newly admitted patient. An example of objec-tive information obtained during the physical assessment includes the: a. Patient's history of allergies. b. Patient's use of medications at home. c. Last menstrual period 1 month ago. d. 2.5 cm scar on the right lower forearm.
D
The nurse is preparing to complete a health assessment on a 16-year-old girl whose parents have brought her to the clinic. Which instruction would be appropriate for the parents before the inter-view begins? a. "Please stay during the interview; you can answer for her if she does not know the answer." b. "It would help to interview the three of you together." c. "While I interview your daughter, will you please stay in the room and complete these family health history questionnaires?" d. "While I interview your daughter, will you step out to the waiting room and complete these family health history questionnaires?"
D
The nurse is preparing to conduct a health history. Which of these statements best describes the purpose of a health history? a. To provide an opportunity for interaction between the patient and the nurse b. To provide a form for obtaining the patient's biographic information c. To document the normal and abnormal findings of a physical assessment d. To provide a database of subjective information about the patient's past and current health
D
The nurse is preparing to do a functional assessment. Which statement best describes the purpose of a functional assessment? a. The functional assessment assesses how the individual is coping with life at home. b. It determines how children are meeting developmental milestones. c. The functional assessment can identify any problems with memory the individual may be experiencing. d. It helps determine how a person is managing day-to-day activities.
D
The nurse is reviewing the hot/cold theory of health and illness. Which statement best describes the basic tenets of this theory? a. The causation of illness is based on supernatural forces that influence the humors of the body. b. Herbs and medicines are classified on their physical characteristics of hot and cold and the humors of the body. c. The four humors of the body consist of blood, yellow bile, spiritual connectedness, and social aspects of the indi-vidual. d. The treatment of disease consists of adding or subtracting cold, heat, dryness, or wetness to restore the balance of the humors of the body.
D
The nurse is testing the function of CN XI. Which statement best describes the response the nurse should expect if this nerve is intact? The patient: a. Demonstrates the ability to hear normal conversation. b. Sticks out the tongue midline without tremors or deviation. c. Follows an object with his or her eyes without nystagmus or strabismus. d. Moves the head and shoulders against resistance with equal strength.
D
The nurse manager is explaining culturally competent care during a staff meeting. Which state-ment accurately describes the concept of culturally competent care? "The caregiver: a. Is able to speak the patient's native language." b. Possesses some basic knowledge of the patient's cultural background." c. Applies the proper background knowledge of a patient's cultural background to provide the best possible health care." d. Understands and attends to the total context of the patient's situation."
D
The nurse recognizes that categories such as ethnicity, gender, and religion illustrate the concept of: a. Family. b. Cultures. c. Spirituality. d. Subcultures.
D
The nursing process is a sequential method of problem solving that nurses use and includes which steps? a. Assessment, treatment, planning, evaluation, discharge, and follow-up b. Admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning c. Admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and discharge planning d. Assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation
D
What step of the nursing process includes data collection by health history, physical examination, and interview? a. Planning b. Diagnosis c. Evaluation d. Assessment
D
When assessing aging adults, the nurse knows that one of the first things that should be assessed before making judgments about their mental status is: a. Presence of phobias b. General intelligence c. Presence of irrational thinking patterns d. Sensory-perceptive abilities
D
When discussing the use of the term subculture, the nurse recognizes that it is best described as: a. Fitting as many people into the majority culture as possible. b. Defining small groups of people who do not want to be identified with the larger culture. c. Singling out groups of people who suffer differential and unequal treatment as a result of cultural variations. d. Identifying fairly large groups of people with shared characteristics that are not common to all members of a cul-ture.
D
When observing a patient's verbal and nonverbal communication, the nurse notices a discrepancy. Which statement is true regarding this situation? The nurse should: a. Ask someone who knows the patient well to help interpret this discrepancy. b. Focus on the patient's verbal message, and try to ignore the nonverbal behaviors. c. Try to integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and then interpret them as an average. d. Focus on the patient's nonverbal behaviors, because these are often more reflective of a patient's true feelings.
D
When planning a cultural assessment, the nurse should include which component? a. Family history b. Chief complaint c. Medical history d. Health-related beliefs
D
When providing culturally competent care, nurses must incorporate cultural assessments into their health assessments. Which statement is most appropriate to use when initiating an assessment of cultural beliefs with an older American-Indian patient? a. "Are you of the Christian faith?" b. "Do you want to see a medicine man?" c. "How often do you seek help from medical providers?" d. "What cultural or spiritual beliefs are important to you?"
D
When reviewing the concepts of health, the nurse recalls that the components of holistic health include which of these? a. Disease originates from the external environment. b. The individual human is a closed system. c. Nurses are responsible for a patient's health state. d. Holistic health views the mind, body, and spirit as interdependent.
D
When the nurse asks a 68-year-old patient to stand with his feet together and arms at his side with his eyes closed, he starts to sway and moves his feet farther apart. The nurse would docu-ment this finding as: a. Ataxia. b. Lack of coordination. c. Negative Homans sign. d. Positive Romberg sign.
D
Which of the following reflects the traditional health and illness beliefs and practices of those of African heritage? Health is: a. Being rewarded for good behavior. b. The balance of the body and spirit. c. Maintained by wearing jade amulets. d. Being in harmony with nature.
D
Which of these individuals would the nurse consider at highest risk for a suicide attempt? a. Man who jokes about death b. Woman who, during a past episode of major depression, attempted suicide c. Adolescent who just broke up with her boyfriend and states that she would like to kill herself d. Older adult man who tells the nurse that he is going to "join his wife in heaven" tomorrow and plans to use a gun
D
Which of these responses might the nurse expect during a functional assessment of a patient whose leg is in a cast? a. "I broke my right leg in a car accident 2 weeks ago." b. "The pain is decreasing, but I still need to take acetaminophen." c. "I check the color of my toes every evening just like I was taught." d. "I'm able to transfer myself from the wheelchair to the bed without help."
D
Which of these statements about the peripheral nervous system is correct? a. The CNs enter the brain through the spinal cord. b. Efferent fibers carry sensory input to the central nervous system through the spinal cord. c. The peripheral nerves are inside the central nervous system and carry impulses through their motor fibers. d. The peripheral nerves carry input to the central nervous system by afferent fibers and away from the central nerv-ous system by efferent fibers.
D
Which situation is most appropriate during which the nurse performs a focused or prob-lem-centered history? a. Patient is admitted to a long-term care facility. b. Patient has a sudden and severe shortness of breath. c. Patient is admitted to the hospital for surgery the following day. d. Patient in an outpatient clinic has cold and influenza-like symptoms.
D
Which statement best describes a proficient nurse? A proficient nurse is one who: a. Has little experience with a specified population and uses rules to guide performance. b. Has an intuitive grasp of a clinical situation and quickly identifies the accurate solution. c. Sees actions in the context of daily plans for patients. d. Understands a patient situation as a whole rather than a list of tasks and recognizes the long-term goals for the patient.
D
While the nurse is taking the history of a 68-year-old patient who sustained a head injury 3 days earlier, he tells the nurse that he is on a cruise ship and is 30 years old. The nurse knows that this finding is indicative of a(n): a. Great sense of humor. b. Uncooperative behavior. c. Inability to understand questions. d. Decreased level of consciousness.
D
Personality, behavior, emotions, and intellectual functions
Frontal Lobe
Major respiratory center with basic vital functions: temperature, appetite, sex drive, heart rate, and blood pressure control; sleep center; anterior and posterior pituitary gland regulator; and coordinator of autonomic nervous system activity and stress response
Hypothalamus
Primary visual receptor
Occipital Lobe
Continuation of the spinal cord in the brain that contains all ascending and descending fiber tracts. It has vital autonomic centers and nuclei for cranial nerves 8-12
Medulla
Most anterior part of the brain stem that still has the basic tubular structure of the spinal cord. It merges into the thalamus and hypothalamus. It contains many motor neurons and tracts.
Midbrain
Primary center for sensation
Parietal Lobe's postcentral gyrus
enlarged area containing ascending sensory and descending motor tracts. It has 2 respiratory centers that coordinate with the main respiratory center in the medulla
Pons
Primary auditory reception center
Temporal lobe
Language Comprehension
Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe
Put the following patient situations in order according to the level of priority. a. A patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus does not know how to check his own blood glucose lev-els with a glucometer. b. A teenager who was stung by a bee during a soccer match is having trouble breathing. c. An older adult with a urinary tract infection is also showing signs of confusion and agitation.
a = third level priority problem b = first level priority problem c = second level priority problem
Parts of the brain stem
midbrain, pons, medulla