ATI RN
Psychotropic Medication Side Effects Questions
Question 1 of 5
An 85-year-old patient comments during his annual physical examination that he seems to be getting shorter as he ages. The nurse should explain that decreased height occurs with aging because:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: The vertebral column shortens. As we age, the intervertebral discs lose water content and elasticity, leading to compression and degeneration, causing the spine to shorten. This process is known as age-related spinal degeneration. Long bones do not typically shorten with age; they may lose density but do not significantly shorten. Subcutaneous fat loss may contribute to a perception of height loss but is not the primary reason. Thickening of intervertebral discs does not lead to height loss; in fact, it can cause an increase in height due to disc herniation and spinal stenosis.
Question 2 of 5
A young swimmer comes to the sports clinic complaining of a very sore shoulder. He was running at the pool, slipped on some wet concrete, and tried to catch himself with his outstretched hand. He landed on his outstretched hand and has not been able to move his shoulder since. The nurse suspects:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Dislocated shoulder. The mechanism of injury described, falling on an outstretched hand with inability to move the shoulder, is suggestive of a dislocated shoulder. Dislocation commonly occurs when the humeral head is forced out of the glenoid cavity due to trauma. Other choices are not consistent with the mechanism of injury. Joint effusion typically presents with swelling and decreased range of motion. Rotator cuff tear usually results from repetitive overhead motions. Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, involves gradual onset of stiffness and pain. Therefore, based on the presented scenario, a dislocated shoulder is the most likely diagnosis.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is assessing a 1-week-old infant and is testing his muscle strength. The nurse lifts the infant with hands under the axillae and notices that the infant starts to 'slip' between the hands. The nurse should:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for Choice C: 1. At 1 week old, infants should exhibit some resistance when lifted under the axillae. 2. If the infant "slips" between the hands, it suggests weakness in the shoulder muscles. 3. This weakness could indicate a potential neuromuscular issue or developmental delay. 4. Further assessment and monitoring of the infant's muscle strength are necessary. Summary of Other Choices: A. A fractured clavicle would present with localized pain and tenderness, not slipping when lifted. B. Spinal deformities would not typically cause slipping between the hands when lifted. D. While infant musculature is undeveloped, slipping when lifted under the axillae is not a normal finding and should be further investigated.
Question 4 of 5
The wife of a 65-year-old man tells the nurse that she is concerned because she has noticed a change in her husband's personality and ability to understand. He also cries very easily and becomes angry. The nurse recalls that the cerebral lobe responsible for these behaviors is the __________ lobe.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is responsible for personality, emotional control, decision-making, and understanding. Changes in personality, emotional lability, and difficulty in understanding are associated with frontal lobe dysfunction. Parietal lobe (B) is mainly responsible for sensory processing and spatial awareness. Occipital lobe (C) is responsible for visual processing. Temporal lobe (D) is involved in auditory processing and memory. Therefore, in this case, the symptoms described by the wife point towards dysfunction in the frontal lobe.
Question 5 of 5
A patient has a severed spinal nerve as a result of trauma. Which statement is true in this situation?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step 1: Spinal nerves carry both sensory and motor information. Step 2: When a spinal nerve is severed, the sensory input from that specific dermatome is lost. Step 3: The adjacent spinal nerves do not compensate for the severed nerve's sensory function. Step 4: Therefore, the correct answer is C, as sensations for the dermatome served by the severed nerve are lost. Summary: A: Incorrect - Severing a spinal nerve affects sensory and motor functions, not just motor. B: Incorrect - Sensation is lost in the dermatome served by the severed nerve. D: Incorrect - Spinal nerves contain both sensory and motor components, so a severed nerve affects both functions.