ATI LPN
Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition
Chapter 38 : Neurocognitive Disorders Questions
Question 1 of 5
A group of nursing students is reviewing information about delirium and dementia. The students demonstrate a need for additional review when they identify which of the following as characteristics of dementia?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Fluctuating changes within a 24-hour period (
A) are characteristic of delirium, not dementia, which has a gradual onset and stable symptoms. Possible hallucinations (
B), normal psychomotor activity (
C), and globally impaired cognition (
D) are consistent with dementia, indicating the students? error in selecting A.
Question 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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.