Ch.50

A patient in the plateau stage of GBS is frustrated because there has been no improvement in manifestations for 5 days. Which explanation does the nurse provide to the patient?

The manifestations can last up to 2 weeks

The nurse is visiting the home of a patient who is being treated for Bell palsy. Which statement by the patient indicates that care instructions need to be reviewed by the nurse?

"Alternating heat and cold therapy is helping the swelling."

The nurse is collecting up-to-date data from a patient who was diagnosed with MS 15 years ago. The patient has a good understanding of the disease and manages to maintain a relatively high level of functioning. Which statement by the patient prompts the nurse to seek additional information?

"I love to work in my flower beds during the summer months."

A patient who is prescribed neostigmine for newly diagnosed MG asks how the medication works. Which response does the nurse provide to the patient?

"It makes more neurotransmitters available so that your muscles can contract."

A patient diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) asks how the disease developed since the patient rarely has an illness. Which nursing response is the most accurate?

"It may be an autoimmune reaction to a virus."

A mother of three young children has a 3-year history of MG and recently stopped helping in the children's classrooms because of fatigue. Which advice does the nurse give to help the patient best cope with the problem?

"Time your medication so its action peaks during the time you need the most energy."

The nurse reviews information with a patient and family members about the patient's recent diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Which comment by a family member indicates a need for clarification?

"When the heart muscle is affected, death will occur shortly."

The nurse is teaching a patient with MG how to recognize a cholinergic crisis. Which manifestations does the nurse include in this teaching? (Select all that apply.)

1. Diarrhea 2. Salivation 3. Vomiting 5. Increased bronchial secretions

A patient with MS has been prescribed baclofen to relax muscles. Which information is included in the nurse's teaching about this drug? (Select all that apply.)

3. "Report any shortness of breath or other respiratory problems." 4. "Avoid driving or operating machinery until the effects of the drug are known." 5. "Prevent constipation by increasing fluids and fiber-rich foods; use suppositories when necessary."

The nurse is providing care for a patient after surgery for treatment of trigeminal neuropathy. Which nursing intervention will the nurse initiate for this patient?

Check the eye on the surgery side for corneal sensation.

The nurse is preparing a patient with MG to undergo plasmapheresis. Which laboratory tests does the nurse verify and place on the medical record before the procedure?

Complete blood count, platelets, and clotting studies

The nurse is caring for a patient experiencing an acute exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS). Which pathophysiological change does the nurse recognize as causing the manifestations of MS?

Demyelination and destruction of nerve fibers

The nurse is assisting with care of patients diagnosed with neuromuscular disorders. Which complication does the nurse recognize as a medical emergency?

Indications of the development of pneumonia

A patient is scheduled for a thymectomy. For which peripheral nervous system disorder does the nurse plan care for this patient?

MG

The nurse is collecting data from a patient who is diagnosed with MG. Which data is most important for the nurse to obtain?

Monitor the patient's respiratory function and the ability to swallow effectively.

A patient reports to the nurse an inability to rest or sleep due to a long-term condition causing a constant urge to move the legs called restless legs syndrome (RLS). The patient expresses a need for some type of relief. Which suggestion by the nurse is most likely to help the patient?

Pramipexole or ropinrole medication therapy

A patient with trigeminal neuralgia is admitted to the hospital for diagnostic testing and possible surgery. Which intervention is appropriate for this patient?

Provide soft foods at body temperature at mealtimes.

The nurse is providing care for a patient being treated for trigeminal neuropathy. The nurse is concerned about the patient's nutritional status because of an inability to eat without experiencing severe pain. Which patient behavior indicates the nurse's interventions are successful?

The patient can eat multiple small, soft, lukewarm meals daily.

The nurse is assisting with the care of a patient diagnosed with postpolio syndrome. The nurse asks the registered nurse (RN) to explain the source of the disease. Which answer by the RN is correct?

The patient must first have had a poliovirus infection.

The nurse is collecting information from a patient in the HCP's office. The patient is exhibiting symptoms associated with Bell palsy. Which population group does the nurse recognize as being at greatest risk for the condition?

Women in the third trimester of pregnancy