chapter 69 nursing

Which nursing intervention is appropriate for a client with double vision in the right eye due to MS?

Apply an eye patch to the right eye

Bell palsy is a disorder of which cranial nerve?

Facial (VII)

Which of the following tests confirms the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG)?

Tensilon test

The nurse is assisting with administering a Tensilon test to a patient with ptosis. If the test is positive for myasthenia gravis, what outcome does the nurse know will occur?

Thirty seconds after administration, the facial weakness and ptosis will be relieved for approximately 5 minutes.

Hemiplegia

is, in its most severe form, complete paralysis of half of the body. Hemiparesis and hemiplegia can be caused by different medical conditions, including congenital causes, trauma, tumors, or stroke.

At what rate (in drops per minute) should a nurse start an IV infusion if the order is for 1 g of vancomycin (Vancocin) to be given in 180 ml of dextrose 5% in water over 60 minutes? The tubing delivers 15 drops/ml. Enter the correct number only.

45

During a Tensilon test to determine if a patient has myasthenia gravis, the patient complains of cramping and becomes diaphoretic. Vital signs are BP 130/78, HR 42, and respiration 18. What intervention should the nurse prepare to do?

Administer atropine to control the side effects of edrophonium. Explanation: Atropine should be available to control the side effects of edrophonium, which include bradycardia, sweating, and cramping.

The nurse is performing an initial assessment on a client with suspected Bell's palsy. Which of the following findings would the nurse be most focused on related to this medical diagnosis?

Facial distortion and pain

A client is experiencing muscle weakness and an ataxic gait. The client has a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Based on these symptoms, the nurse formulates "Impaired physical mobility" as one of the nursing diagnoses applicable to the client. What nursing intervention should be most appropriate to address the nursing diagnosis?

Help the client perform ROM exercises every 8 hours Helping the client perform ROM exercises every 8 hours helps in promoting joint flexibility and muscle tone in a client with muscle weakness. Measures such as using pressure-relieving devices or changing the body positions every 2 hours prevents skin breakdown. The nurse should use a footboard and trochanter rolls to promote a neutral body position that will keep the body in good alignment.

A client is brought to the emergency department in a confused state, with slurred speech, characteristics of a headache, and right facial droop. The vital signs reveal a blood pressure of 170/88 mm Hg, pulse of 92 beats/minute, and respirations at 24 breaths/minute. On which bodily system does the nurse focus the nursing assessment?

Neurovascular system

Which well-recognized sign of meningitis is exhibited when the client's neck is flexed and flexion of the knees and hips is produced?

Positive Brudzinski sign Explanation: A positive Brudzinski sign occurs when the client's neck is flexed (after ruling out cervical trauma or injury), and flexion of the knees and hips is produced. Photophobia is sensitivity to light. A positive Kerning sign occurs when the client is lying with the thigh flexed on the abdomen and the leg cannot be completely extended. Nuchal rigidity is neck stiffness.

Which of the following is the first-line therapy for myasthenia gravis (MG)?

Pyridostigmine bromide (Mestinon) Mestinon, an anticholinesterase medication, is the first-line therapy in MG. It provides symptomatic relief by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine and increasing the relative concentration of available acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. If Mestinon does not improve muscle strength and control fatigue, the next agents used are immunosuppressant agents. Imuran is an immunosuppressive agent that inhibits T lymphocytes and reduces acetylcholine receptor antibody levels. Baclofen is used in the treatment of spasticity in MG.

The nurse is caring for a client with trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux). The care plan for this client reflects the client's problem eating due to jaw pain. To assist the client in meeting the adequate nutritional needs, what should the nurse suggest?

Take small meals of soft consistency

During the recovery phase of a neurologic deficit, assessment tools may be used to help identify a client's level of functioning. Which tool is used to measure performance in activities of daily living (ADL)?

The Barthel Index

A client is diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. The 22-year-old client shares an apartment with one other person. What would the nurse expect as appropriate care for the client's roommate?

Treatment with antimicrobial prophylaxis as soon as possible

A patient has been diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis at a community living home. When should prophylactic therapy begin for those who have had close contact with the patient?

Within 24 hours after exposure People in close contact with patients with meningococcal meningitis should be treated with antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis using rifampin (Rifadin), ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (Cipro), or ceftriaxone sodium (Rocephin). Therapy should be started within 24 hours after exposure because a delay in the initiation of therapy limits the effectiveness of the prophylaxis.

A client with fungal encephalitis receiving IV amphotericin B reports fever, chills, and body aches. What action by the nurse is appropriate?

Administer diphenhydramine and acetaminophen per orders.

A client with fungal encephalitis receiving amphotericin B reports fever, chills, and body aches. The nurse knows that these symptoms

may be controlled by the administration of diphenhydramine and acetaminophen approximately 30 minutes before administration of the amphotericin. Explanation: Administration of amphotericin B may cause fever, chills, and body aches. The administration of diphenhydramine and acetaminophen approximately 30 minutes before the administration of amphotericin B may prevent these side effects. Renal toxicity due to amphotericin B is dose limiting. Monitoring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels may alert the nurse to the development of renal insufficiency and the need to address the clients' renal status. Vascular changes are associated with C. immitis and Aspergillus. Manifestations of vascular change may include arteritis or cerebral infarction. Blood and CSF cultures help diagnosis fungal encephalitis.

the parents of a client intubated due to the progression of Guillain-Barré syndrome ask whether their child will die. What is the best response by the nurse? "There are no guarantees, but a large portion of people with Guillain-Barré syndrome survive."

"There are no guarantees, but a large portion of people with Guillain-Barré syndrome survive."

A client has a neurological defect and will be transferred to a nursing home because family members are unable to care for the client at home. While receiving a bed bath, the client yells at the nurse, "You don't know what you are doing!" What is the best reaction by the nurse?

Accept the patient's behavior and do not take it personally.

A client is receiving mitoxantrone for treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). This client should be closely monitored for

leukopenia and cardiac toxicity.

A nurse is assisting with the assessment of a client with suspected brain abscess. Which of the following findings would be consistent with such an abscess in the frontal lobe of the brain? Select all that apply.

Correct response: Hemiparesis Seizures Expressive aphasia Explanation: Signs and symptoms of a frontal lobe abscess include hemiparesis, expressive aphasia, seizures, and frontal headache. Vision changes are associated with a temporal lobe abscess. Nystagmus is a sign of a cerebellar abscess.

A patient with myasthenia gravis is in the hospital for treatment of pneumonia. The patient informs the nurse that it is very important to take pyridostigmine bromide (Mestinon) on time. The nurse gets busy and does not administer the medication until after breakfast. What outcome will the patient have related to this late dose?

The muscles will become fatigued and the patient will not be able to chew food or swallow pills. -pyridostigmine= anti cholinesterase medication --> stabilize muscle strength delay= exacerbate muscle weakness The muscles will become fatigued and the patient will not be able to chew food or swallow pills. Explanation: Maintenance of stable blood levels of anticholinesterase medications, such as pyridostigmine (Mestinon), is imperative to stabilize muscle strength. Therefore, the anticholinesterase medications must be administered on time. Any delay in administration of medications may exacerbate muscle weakness and make it impossible for the patient to take medications orally.

A client's spouse relates how the client reported a severe headache, and shortly after was unable to talk or move their right arm and leg. The spouse indicates the client has hypertension. What should be the focus of management during this phase?

preventing further neurologic damage

The nurse has been educating a patient newly diagnosed with MS. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the education?

"I will stretch daily as directed by the physical therapist." Explanation: Hot baths are discouraged due to the risk of injury. Patients have sensory loss that may contribute to the risk of burns. In addition, hot temperatures may cause an increase in symptoms. Warm packs should be encouraged to provide relief. Progressive weight-bearing exercises are effective in managing muscle spasms. A stretching routine should be established. Stretching can help prevent contractures and muscle spasticity. Patients should not hurry through the exercise activity as it may increase muscle spasticity.

A patient has been brought to the ED with altered LOC, high fever, and a purpura rash on the lower extremities. The family states the patient was complaining of neck stiffness earlier in the day. What action should the nurse do first?

Initiate isolation precautions. Explanation: The signs and symptoms are consistent with bacterial meningitis. The nurse should protect self, other health care workers, and patients against the spread of the bacteria. Patients should receive the prescribed antibiotics within 30 minutes of arrival, but the nurse can administer the antibiotics following the isolation precautions. The nurse can use a cooling blanket to help with the elevated temperature, but this should be done following isolation precautions. Prophylaxis antibiotic therapy should be given to people who were in close contact with the patient, but this is not the highest priority nursing intervention.

Which is a component of the nursing management of the client with new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)?

Providing supportive care Explanation: vCJD is a progressive fatal disease, and no treatment is available. Because of the fatal outcome of vCJD, nursing care is primarily supportive and palliative. Prevention of disease transmission is an important part of providing nursing care. Although client isolation is not necessary, use of standard precautions is important. Institutional protocols are followed for blood and body fluid exposure and decontamination of equipment. Organ donation is not an option because of the risk for disease transmission. Amphotericin B is used in the treatment of fungal encephalitis; no treatment is available for vCJD.

A client with respiratory complications of multiple sclerosis (MS) is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. Which equipment is most important for the nurse to keep at the client's bedside?

Suction machine with catheters -MS weakens the respiratory muscles & impairs swallowing --> risk for aspiration MS weakens the respiratory muscles and impairs swallowing, putting the client at risk for aspiration. To ensure a patent oral airway, the nurse should keep a suction machine and suction catheters at the bedside. A sphygmomanometer is no more important for this client than for any other. A padded tongue blade is an appropriate seizure precaution but shouldn't be used in this client because its large size could cause oral airway obstruction. A nasal cannula and oxygen would be ineffective to ensure adequate oxygen delivery; this client requires a mechanical ventilator.

Which of the following tests confirms the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG)?

A positive edrophonium test edrophonium (Tensilon) test: a drug called Tensilon (or a placebo) is administered intravenously, and you're asked to perform muscle movements under doctor

rare, transmissible, progressive fatal disease of the central nervous system characterized by spongiform degeneration of the gray matter of the brain.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is based on which test?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Which is a component of the nursing management of the client with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)?

Providing palliative care

While caring for clients who have suffered neurologic deficits from causes such as cerebrovascular accident and closed head injury, an important nursing goal that motivate nurses to offer the best care possible is preventing:

complications

myasthenia gravis (MG)?

weakness and rapid fatigue of the voluntary muscles. The weakness is due to a breakdown in communication between a nerve ending and its adjoining muscle fiber.