ATI RN
Age Specific Considerations in Patient Care Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 75-year-old patient comes to the clinic reporting frequent headaches. As the nurse begins the interaction, which action is most important?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct Answer: B. Determine whether the patient can hear as the nurse speaks. Rationale: 1. Hearing assessment is crucial to ensure patient understanding and communication. 2. Hearing loss may affect compliance with treatment and safety. 3. Identifying hearing deficits early can prevent misunderstandings and improve patient outcomes. Summary: - A: While a neurological assessment may be necessary, addressing hearing first is more immediate. - C: Suggesting rest may help with headache management, but addressing hearing is more critical. - D: Administering medication is premature without assessing hearing first.
Question 2 of 5
A patient has recently been under significant stress and worked long hours. At home, the patient watches television and eats until going to bed. The patient is too tired to exercise and has gained 25 pounds in 1 month. A desired outcome for the patient is to recognize anxiety that precedes binge eating and reduce it. Which intervention addresses the outcome
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Teach stress-reduction techniques such as relaxation and imagery. This intervention directly addresses the desired outcome of recognizing anxiety that precedes binge eating and reducing it. By teaching stress-reduction techniques, the patient can learn to identify triggers, manage stress, and reduce the likelihood of turning to binge eating. Relaxation and imagery can help the patient relax and focus on positive thoughts, thus breaking the cycle of stress-induced binge eating. Option B is incorrect because while exercise is beneficial for overall health, it does not directly address recognizing and reducing anxiety that leads to binge eating. Option C is incorrect as feeling more in control of the environment may help, but it does not specifically target anxiety reduction related to binge eating. Option D is incorrect as attending a support group may be helpful for some aspects of recovery, but it does not focus on recognizing and reducing anxiety specifically.
Question 3 of 5
A patient has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging would most likely show dysfunction in which part of the brain?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Frontal lobe. Disorganized thinking in schizophrenia is often associated with executive function deficits, which are primarily controlled by the frontal lobe. This area is responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, and reasoning. Dysfunction here can lead to disorganized thoughts and behaviors. The other choices, such as the hippocampus (A), involved in memory, the cerebellum (C), involved in motor coordination, and the brainstem (D), involved in basic life functions, are less likely to be directly related to disorganized thinking in schizophrenia.
Question 4 of 5
A patient being treated for major depression is the CEO of her own business. She has shown significant improvement and is about to be discharged after completing a course of 15 electroconvulsive therapy sessions. She will continue on SSRI medications. The patient has been counseled not to make a major business decision for a month. The rationale for this is that:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: ECT often causes temporary memory impairment. This is because electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is known to have side effects, including temporary memory loss and confusion. As the patient has just completed a course of 15 ECT sessions, it is important to allow time for the effects of ECT to subside before making major decisions, especially in a high-pressure role like being a CEO. Choices A and C are incorrect as SSRIs do not typically cause confusion and lingering depression alone does not necessarily make a patient incompetent. Choice D is incorrect as there is no indication that the patient needs months to readjust to work pressures; the primary concern here is the potential memory impairment from ECT.
Question 5 of 5
A patient with acute mania approaches the nurse, waves a newspaper, and says, "I want the phone right now. I need to call this store while their sale is going on. I need ten dresses and four pairs of shoes." Select the nurse's best intervention.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the patient's behavior is impulsive and reflects poor judgment, which are common symptoms of acute mania. By telling the patient that phone use is not allowed until self-control is improved, the nurse is setting a boundary to prevent further impulsive actions. This intervention prioritizes safety and helps maintain a therapeutic environment. A: This option does not address the immediate need to manage the patient's impulsive behavior and may put the friend in a potentially risky situation. B: Inviting the patient to look at fashion magazines does not address the impulsivity and may even reinforce the behavior. D: Asking about the patient's financial situation is not the most appropriate intervention at this time.