Treatment for early PD in an otherwise healthy older patient without significant functional impairment should begin with:

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jarvis physical examination and health assessment test bank Questions

Question 1 of 9

Treatment for early PD in an otherwise healthy older patient without significant functional impairment should begin with:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Dopamine agonist. In early PD, dopamine agonists are preferred due to their lower risk of motor complications compared to levodopa. Dopamine agonists help improve motor symptoms by directly stimulating dopamine receptors. COMT inhibitors are usually used in combination with levodopa to prolong its effects. Levodopa is effective but can lead to motor complications with long-term use. Careful observation is not a treatment strategy and delays symptom management. Therefore, starting with a dopamine agonist is the most suitable option for early PD to manage symptoms effectively with minimal risk of motor complications.

Question 2 of 9

Which of the following is not a side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in older adults?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Extrapyramidal symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are not known to cause extrapyramidal symptoms, which are more commonly associated with antipsychotic medications. SSRIs can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, irritation, and hyponatremia in older adults due to their effects on serotonin levels and platelet function. Extrapyramidal symptoms involve movement disorders like tremors and muscle rigidity, which are not typically seen with SSRIs. Therefore, A is the correct answer.

Question 3 of 9

Jacob, a 33-year-old construction worker, complains of a "lump on his back" over his scapula. It has been there for about a year and is getting larger. He says his wife has been able to squeeze out a cheesy-textured substance on occasion. He worries this may be cancer. When gently pinched from the side, a prominent dimple forms in the middle of the mass. What is most likely?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: A sebaceous cyst. A sebaceous cyst typically presents as a lump underneath the skin that can be squeezed to release a cheesy substance, consistent with Jacob's description. The formation of a prominent dimple when gently pinched is characteristic of a cyst, indicating it is filled with fluid or semi-solid material. Sebaceous cysts are usually benign and can grow slowly over time. Incorrect choices: A: An enlarged lymph node - Unlikely as lymph nodes are typically not associated with cheesy discharge or the formation of a dimple when pinched. C: An actinic keratosis - Unlikely as actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin condition caused by sun exposure, not presenting with cheesy discharge or a dimple. D: A malignant lesion - Unlikely as malignant lesions usually do not produce cheesy discharge and are more aggressive in growth compared to a sebaceous cyst.

Question 4 of 9

What term describes the rhythmic, involuntary contractions of a muscle that can occur in patients with neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Clonus. Clonus is a series of rhythmic, involuntary muscle contractions and relaxations that occur due to an abnormal response in the stretch reflex. In patients with neurological conditions like cerebral palsy, clonus is often observed due to increased muscle tone. Tremor (A) is a rhythmic shaking movement, not specifically associated with muscle contractions. Spasm (C) is a sudden, involuntary muscle contraction that is not typically rhythmic. Fasciculation (D) is a brief, spontaneous contraction of a small number of muscle fibers, not the rhythmic pattern seen in clonus.

Question 5 of 9

On examination of the neck, a dome-shaped lesion in the dermis forming a benign closed firm sac attached to the epidermis is noted on the right lateral side of the neck. The type of lesion is known as:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Step 1: Identify the characteristics of the lesion described - dome-shaped, in dermis, benign, closed sac attached to epidermis. Step 2: A cutaneous cyst fits all these characteristics - it is a benign closed sac in the dermis with attachment to the epidermis. Step 3: Keloid (A) is an overgrowth of scar tissue, not a closed sac lesion. Tophi (B) are deposits of uric acid crystals, not a sac. Chondrodermatitis (D) is inflammation of cartilage and skin, not a closed sac lesion. Summary: A cutaneous cyst is the correct choice as it matches all the characteristics given, while the other options do not fit the description provided.

Question 6 of 9

A patient who is taking an oral glucocorticosteroid should be advised to

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Take it with food. Glucocorticosteroids can irritate the stomach lining, leading to gastritis or ulcers. Taking them with food helps reduce stomach irritation and the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Crushing it in applesauce (A) or chewing it prior to a high-fat meal (B) can exacerbate stomach irritation. Taking it on an empty stomach (C) can increase the risk of stomach upset and decrease absorption. Therefore, taking it with food (D) is the best option to minimize stomach irritation and improve medication effectiveness.

Question 7 of 9

An 86-year-old man with no ADL deficits who has stopped driving because of macular degeneration is evaluated for a urinary tract infection associated with urinary retention. The consulting urologist places a Foley catheter and sends a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level that comes back 12 ng/mL. Three months later after the Foley has been removed and he has had a good response to tamsulosin, his PSA is still 10 ng/mL. What is the appropriate next step in managing this man’s prostate problem?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Repeat PSA in 6 months. In this case, the patient's PSA levels have decreased from 12 ng/mL to 10 ng/mL after treatment with tamsulosin and removal of the Foley catheter. Given the improvement in PSA levels, it is reasonable to monitor for further changes before considering invasive procedures like transrectal ultrasound and biopsy (choice A), which may not be necessary at this time. Empiric finasteride (choice B) is not indicated as the patient is already responding well to tamsulosin. A bone scan (choice C) is not necessary at this stage as there are no indications of metastasis. Therefore, repeating the PSA in 6 months allows for continued monitoring of the patient's prostate health without subjecting him to unnecessary procedures.

Question 8 of 9

A patient presents with pain in the shoulder. The nurse practitioner knows that there are four rotator cuff muscles. The muscle that initiates abduction movement at the shoulder is known as the:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is A: Supraspinatus. This muscle is responsible for initiating abduction movement at the shoulder joint. It is located on the top of the shoulder blade and assists in lifting the arm away from the body. The other choices, B: Infraspinatus, C: Levator scapulae muscle, and D: Subscapularis, are not involved in initiating abduction movement at the shoulder. Infraspinatus is responsible for external rotation, Levator scapulae muscle elevates the scapula, and Subscapularis assists in internal rotation of the shoulder joint.

Question 9 of 9

An 85-year-old man with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation comes to the office for a follow-up. Which medication change would be most appropriate for reducing his stroke risk?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Stop aspirin and begin apixaban 5 mg twice a day. The rationale is that for stroke risk reduction in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation therapy with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) like apixaban is preferred over antiplatelet therapy like aspirin. DOACs have been shown to be more effective in reducing stroke risk with a lower bleeding risk compared to warfarin. Choice A is incorrect as aspirin alone is not sufficient for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Choice B is incorrect as warfarin has more monitoring requirements and potential drug interactions compared to DOACs like apixaban. Choice D is incorrect as aspirin and apixaban together are not recommended due to increased bleeding risk.

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