ATI RN
Psychotropic Medication Side Effects Questions
Question 1 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 2 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 3 of 5
The assessment of a 60-year-old patient has taken longer than anticipated. In testing his pain perception, the nurse decides to complete the test as quickly as possible. When the nurse applies the sharp point of the pin on his arm several times, he is only able to identify these as one 'very sharp prick.' What would be the most accurate explanation for this?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: This response is most likely the result of the summation effect. This phenomenon occurs when multiple stimuli are perceived as one due to rapid succession. In this case, the nurse applied the sharp point of the pin several times quickly, causing the patient to perceive them as one sharp prick. This is a normal physiological response and does not indicate hyperesthesia, inadequate poking force, or variations in pain perception across different areas of the arm.
Question 4 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 5 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.