ATI RN
Psychotropic Medication Side Effects Questions
Question 1 of 5
In obtaining a health history on a 74-year-old patient, the nurse notes that he drinks alcohol daily and that he has noticed a tremor in his hands that affects his ability to hold things. With this information, what response should the nurse make?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step 1: Assess if alcohol consumption is related to tremor by asking if the tremor changes when drinking. Step 2: Tremors can be alcohol-related or caused by other factors, hence a targeted question is crucial. Step 3: Addressing alcohol consumption and tremor relationship helps in understanding the patient's condition. Step 4: Other choices are incorrect as they do not directly address the potential relationship between alcohol consumption and tremor.
Question 2 of 5
To assess the head control of a 4-month-old infant, the nurse lifts up the infant in a prone position while supporting his chest. The nurse looks for what normal response? The infant:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because at 4 months old, infants typically demonstrate head control by lifting their head and arching their back when placed in a prone position. This response indicates developing neck and back muscles strength. Option B is incorrect as extending the arms and dropping down the head does not demonstrate proper head control. Option C is incorrect as flexing the knees and elbows with a straight back is not indicative of head control. Option D is incorrect as holding the head at 45 degrees and keeping the back straight is not the expected response for assessing head control in a 4-month-old infant.
Question 3 of 5
During an assessment of a 62-year-old man, the nurse notices the patient has a stooped posture, shuffling walk with short steps, flat facial expression, and pill-rolling finger movements. These findings would be consistent with:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Parkinsonism. These symptoms are classic signs of Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. Stooped posture, shuffling walk, flat facial expression (hypomimia), and pill-rolling finger movements are commonly seen in patients with Parkinson's disease. Other choices are incorrect because: B: Cerebral palsy presents with motor dysfunction from early childhood due to brain damage, not typically seen in adults. C: Cerebellar ataxia involves incoordination, tremors, and unsteady gait but does not typically present with the specific symptoms described. D: Muscular dystrophy is a genetic muscle disorder leading to muscle weakness and wasting, not typically associated with the specific motor symptoms described.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse knows that testing kinesthesia is a test of a person's:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Position sense. Kinesthesia is the awareness of the position and movement of body parts. Testing kinesthesia involves assessing a person's ability to sense the position of their limbs without looking. This test specifically evaluates the proprioceptive sense, which is crucial for maintaining balance and coordinating movements. Fine touch (A) refers to the sense of touch that detects pressure and texture. Motor coordination (C) involves the ability to perform smooth and precise movements. Perception of vibration (D) assesses the ability to sense vibrations and is not directly related to kinesthesia.
Question 5 of 5
A 56-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital with complaints of dizziness, visual changes, and difficulty speaking. The nurse should suspect a diagnosis of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Transient ischemic attack (TIA). Given the patient's symptoms of dizziness, visual changes, and difficulty speaking, TIA is the most likely diagnosis. TIAs are temporary episodes of decreased blood flow to the brain, causing these symptoms. Other choices are incorrect because migraines typically present with headache, multiple sclerosis with neurological deficits over time, and brain tumors with progressive symptoms. In this case, the sudden onset and transient nature of symptoms point towards TIA.