ATI RN
Psychotropic Medication Quiz Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 50-year-old woman is in the clinic for weakness in her left arm and leg that she has noticed for the past week. The nurse should perform which type of neurologic examination?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, Complete neurologic examination. This is because the patient's symptoms of weakness in the left arm and leg require a thorough assessment of all components of the nervous system to determine the cause accurately. A Glasgow Coma Scale (A) assesses level of consciousness, not focal weakness. A Neurologic recheck examination (B) is not appropriate as it assumes a previous neurological exam. A Screening neurologic examination (C) is too basic and may not provide enough information to diagnose the cause of the symptoms.
Question 2 of 5
While assessing a 7-month-old infant, the nurse makes a loud noise and notices the following response: abduction and flexion of the arms and legs; fanning of the fingers, and curling of the index finger and thumb in a C position, followed by the infant bringing in the arms and legs to the body. What does the nurse know about this response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the described response is the Moro reflex, an expected startle reflex seen in infants around 7 months of age. The Moro reflex involves the abduction and flexion of the arms and legs, fanning of the fingers, and curling of the index finger and thumb in a C position, followed by bringing in the arms and legs. This reflex typically appears around birth and peaks at 2 months, then diminishes as the baby grows. It is a primitive reflex that serves as a protective response to a sudden loss of support or loud noise. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the response described is not indicative of brachial nerve palsy, should not have disappeared by 1-4 months, and does not need to be bilaterally symmetric to be considered normal.
Question 3 of 5
During an assessment of a 32-year-old patient with a recent head injury, the nurse notices that the patient responds to pain by extending, adducting, and internally rotating his arms. His palms pronate, and his lower extremities extend with plantar flexion. Which statement concerning these findings is most accurate? This patient's response:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. These decerebrate posturing responses are indicative of dysfunction in the brainstem. Specifically, the abnormal posturing seen in the patient suggests damage to the midbrain or pons. This type of response is considered a more severe sign compared to decorticate posturing, which typically indicates damage to the cerebral cortex. Decerebrate posturing is associated with a poorer prognosis and can be a sign of significant neurological injury. The other choices are incorrect: A: Indicates a lesion of the cerebral cortex - This is incorrect because the patient's response is indicative of brainstem, not cortical, dysfunction. B: Indicates a completely nonfunctional brainstem - This is an extreme and inaccurate statement. The patient is exhibiting specific posturing responses, indicating some brainstem function. C: Is normal and will go away in 24 to 48 hours - This is incorrect as the described response is a pathological sign, not a normal one, and requires medical attention.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is reviewing a patient's medical record and notes that he is in a coma. Using the Glasgow Coma Scale, which number indicates that the patient is in a coma?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A (6) because a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6 indicates severe brain injury and coma. The GCS assesses a patient's level of consciousness based on eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, with a total score ranging from 3 to 15. A score of 6 means the patient is in a deep coma with minimal to no responsiveness. Choice B (12) and C (15) indicate normal consciousness levels, while D (24) is not a possible GCS score.
Question 5 of 5
A patient asks a nurse, 'What are neurotransmitters? My doctor says mine are out of balance.' The best reply would be:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because it provides a clear and accurate definition of neurotransmitters as chemicals that pass messages between brain cells. This response addresses the patient's question directly and in a simple, understandable manner. The other choices are incorrect because: A: This choice assumes the patient's emotional state without addressing the question about neurotransmitters. C: This choice deflects the question back to the doctor without providing any useful information to the patient. D: This choice provides incorrect information about neurotransmitters, as they are not substances we eat daily but rather chemicals in the brain.