ATI LPN
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017)
Chapter 69 : Management of Patients with Neurologic Infections, Autoimmune Disorders, and Neuropathies Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 48-year-old patient has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia following recent episodes of unilateral face pain. The nurse should recognize what implication of this diagnosis?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Trigeminal neuralgia in patients under 50 may indicate MS, necessitating evaluation. It is not treated with anticholinergics, not linked to myasthenia gravis, and not self-limiting.
Question 2 of 5
A patient presents at the clinic complaining of pain and weakness in her hands. On assessment, the nurse notes diminished reflexes in the upper extremities bilaterally and bilateral loss of sensation. The nurse knows that these findings are indicative of what?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Pain, weakness, diminished reflexes, and sensory loss in the extremities indicate a peripheral nerve disorder. Guillain-Barr?© involves ascending paralysis, myasthenia gravis affects voluntary muscles, and trigeminal neuralgia causes facial pain.
Question 3 of 5
A patient with possible bacterial meningitis is admitted to the ICU. What assessment finding would the nurse expect for a patient with this diagnosis?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A positive Brudzinski's sign, where neck flexion causes knee and hip flexion, is a hallmark of bacterial meningitis due to meningeal irritation. Pain on dorsiflexion (Homans' sign) relates to thrombosis, Romberg's sign to balance issues, and numbness to peripheral neuropathy, none of which are typical for meningitis.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is planning discharge education for a patient with trigeminal neuralgia. The nurse knows to include information about factors that precipitate an attack. What would the nurse be correct in teaching the patient to avoid?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Washing the face can trigger pain in trigeminal neuralgia due to stimulation of the affected nerve. Sunlight exposure, artificial tears, and fluid intake do not typically precipitate attacks.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS). The patient tells the nurse the hardest thing to deal with is the fatigue. When teaching the patient how to reduce fatigue, what action should the nurse suggest?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Resting in a cool, air-conditioned environment reduces body temperature, which can alleviate MS-related fatigue. Hot baths exacerbate fatigue, muscle relaxants may worsen it, and naps are beneficial.