ATI RN
Use of Psychotropic Medications Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient's annual physical examination reveals a lateral curvature of the thoracic and lumbar segments of his spine; however, this curvature disappears with forward bending. The nurse knows that this abnormality of the spine is called:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Functional scoliosis. This type of scoliosis is characterized by a lateral curvature of the spine that disappears with forward bending. The key characteristic here is the reversibility of the curve upon bending, indicating that the curvature is not fixed but rather due to factors such as muscle imbalance or leg length discrepancy. Structural scoliosis (A) involves fixed curvature that does not correct with bending. Herniated nucleus pulposus (C) refers to a spinal disc issue, not a curvature of the spine. Dislocated hip (D) is a separate condition involving the hip joint, not related to spinal curvature.
Question 2 of 5
A patient with a lack of oxygen to his heart will have pain in his chest and possibly in the shoulder, arms, or jaw. The nurse knows that the best explanation why this occurs is which one of these statements?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the sensory cortex does not have the ability to localize pain in the heart. When the heart lacks oxygen, pain signals are perceived in other areas like the chest, shoulder, arms, or jaw due to a phenomenon called referred pain. The heart and these other areas share nerve pathways, leading to the brain interpreting the pain as originating from these other regions. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not address the specific mechanism of referred pain and the role of the sensory cortex in interpreting pain signals from different parts of the body.
Question 3 of 5
A 70-year-old woman tells the nurse that every time she gets up in the morning or after she's been sitting, she gets 'really dizzy' and feels like she is going to fall over. The nurse's best response would be:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because the symptoms described by the patient suggest orthostatic hypotension, a condition where blood pressure drops when changing positions. Instructing the patient to get up slowly can help prevent dizziness and falls. Choice A is incorrect as tiredness does not directly address the dizziness upon standing. Choice B is incorrect as dehydration is not the likely cause of the symptoms described. Choice C is incorrect because a complete neurologic examination is not the first step for addressing orthostatic hypotension.
Question 4 of 5
During the neurologic assessment of a 'healthy' 35-year-old patient, the nurse asks him to relax his muscles completely. The nurse then moves each extremity through full range of motion. Which of these results would the nurse expect to find?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mild, even resistance to movement. In a healthy individual, when asked to relax muscles completely, there should be mild, even resistance to movement as the nurse moves each extremity through full range of motion. This signifies normal muscle tone and functioning. A: Firm, rigid resistance to movement would indicate increased muscle tone or spasticity, which is not expected in a healthy individual. C: Hypotonic muscles would be flaccid and weak, which is not expected in a relaxed healthy individual. D: Slight pain with movement is not a normal finding during a neurologic assessment in a healthy individual.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is testing the deep tendon reflexes of a 30-year-old woman who is in the clinic for an annual physical examination. When striking the Achilles heel and quadriceps muscle, the nurse is unable to elicit a reflex. The nurse's next response should be to:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because asking the patient to lock her fingers and pull engages the upper motor neurons, potentially facilitating the reflex response. This technique, known as Jendrassik maneuver, can help in eliciting reflexes that were initially absent. It is important to try this before proceeding with further testing or documenting reflexes as 0. Choice B is incorrect as retesting immediately after the maneuver may yield a different result. Choice C is premature as further testing may not be necessary after trying the Jendrassik maneuver. Choice D is incorrect as documenting reflexes as 0 without attempting the Jendrassik maneuver could lead to an inaccurate assessment.