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
The nurse is caring for a 77-year-old woman with MS. She states that she is very concerned about the progress of her disease and what the future holds. The nurse should know that elderly patients with MS are known to be particularly concerned about what variables? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A,C,D
Rationale: Elderly MS patients worry about increasing disability, family burden, and potential nursing home placement due to progressive loss of function. Pain from therapy and appetite loss are not primary concerns.
Question 2 of 5
You are the clinic nurse caring for a patient with a recent diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. The patient has begun treatment with pyridostigmine bromide (Mestinon). What change in status would most clearly suggest a therapeutic benefit of this medication?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pyridostigmine enhances muscle strength in myasthenia gravis by inhibiting acetylcholine breakdown. It does not target pain, GI function, or cognition.
Question 3 of 5
The critical care nurse is admitting a patient in myasthenic crisis to the ICU. The nurse should prioritize what nursing action in the immediate care of this patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Myasthenic crisis causes severe muscle weakness, risking respiratory failure, so ventilatory assistance is the priority. Suctioning, ABGs, and feeding are secondary.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse caring for a patient in ICU diagnosed with Guillain-Barr?© syndrome should prioritize monitoring for what potential complication?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomic dysfunction, causing issues like heart rate variability, is a critical complication in Guillain-Barr?© syndrome. Skin integrity is a concern but less urgent, and cognitive deficits or hemorrhage are not typical.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is teaching a patient with Guillain-Barr?© syndrome about the disease. The patient asks how he can ever recover if demyelination of his nerves is occurring. What would be the nurse's best response?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Guillain-Barr?© spares Schwann cells, enabling remyelination during recovery. Schwann cells do not replicate preemptively or take over uniquely, and deferring entirely to the physician dismisses the nurse's role.