ATI LPN
Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice
Chapter 38 : Neurocognitive Disorders Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client is brought to the emergency department by his wife. The wife states that over the past few hours, the client has become disoriented and confused. He didn?t know where he was and didn?t seem to recognize me or be able to carry on a coherent conversation. The nurse suspects delirium. When reviewing the client?s medication history with the wife, use of which of the following would alert the nurse to a potential cause? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diphenhydramine (
C) is an anticholinergic medication known to cause delirium in older adults due to its effects on cognition. Propranolol (
A), verapamil (
D), and quinidine (E) are cardiovascular drugs with less direct links to delirium. Acetaminophen (
B) is not typically associated with cognitive side effects.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with Alzheimer?s disease. As part of the assessment, the nurse asks the client to identify common objects. The nurse is assessing for which of the following?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Asking a client to identify common objects assesses for agnosia (
C), the inability to recognize familiar objects, a common symptom in Alzheimer?s. Aphasia (
A) involves language difficulties, apraxia (
B) involves impaired motor planning, and executive functioning (
D) involves decision-making and problem-solving.
Question 3 of 5
A nursing instructor is preparing a presentation on the etiology of Alzheimer?s disease. When discussing the role of neurotransmitters in the course of the disease, which of the following would the instructor most likely emphasize?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acetylcholine (
B) is significantly reduced in Alzheimer?s disease due to degeneration of cholinergic neurons, contributing to cognitive decline. This is why cholinesterase inhibitors are used. Serotonin (
A), dopamine (
C), and norepinephrine (
D) play lesser roles in Alzheimer?s pathology.
Question 4 of 5
When assessing a client with dementia, the nurse identifies that the client is experiencing hallucinations. Based on the nurse?s understanding of this disorder, which type of hallucination would the nurse expect as most common?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Visual hallucinations (
B) are the most common in dementia, particularly in Alzheimer?s and Lewy body dementia, due to visual processing deficits. Auditory (
A), gustatory (
C), and olfactory (
D) hallucinations are less frequent.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is talking with the husband of a female client diagnosed with Alzheimer?s disease. During the conversation, the husband tells the nurse that she often begins to scream and curse for no apparent reason. The nurse interprets this as which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Screaming and cursing for no apparent reason in Alzheimer?s is indicative of disinhibition (
B), a loss of impulse control common in the disease. Hypersexuality (
A) involves inappropriate sexual behavior, hypervocalization (
C) is not a standard term, and apathy (
D) involves lack of emotion, not outbursts.