ATI RN
Psychotropic Medication Quiz Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which statement concerning the areas of the brain is true?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the hypothalamus is indeed responsible for controlling body temperature and regulating sleep. It plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. The other choices are incorrect because: A: The cerebellum is primarily involved in coordination and balance, not speech and emotions. C: The basal ganglia are involved in motor control and not voluntary movements. D: Motor pathways typically synapse in the brainstem or spinal cord, not the thalamus.
Question 2 of 5
A 50-year-old woman is in the clinic for weakness in her left arm and leg that she has noticed for the past week. The nurse should perform which type of neurologic examination?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, Complete neurologic examination. This is because the patient's symptoms of weakness in the left arm and leg require a thorough assessment of all components of the nervous system to determine the cause accurately. A Glasgow Coma Scale (A) assesses level of consciousness, not focal weakness. A Neurologic recheck examination (B) is not appropriate as it assumes a previous neurological exam. A Screening neurologic examination (C) is too basic and may not provide enough information to diagnose the cause of the symptoms.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on a 41-year-old woman with a history of diabetes. When testing her ability to feel the vibrations of a tuning fork, the nurse notices that the patient is unable to feel vibrations on the great toe or ankle bilaterally, but she is able to feel vibrations on both patellae. Given this information, what would the nurse suspect?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Peripheral neuropathy. In this case, the patient's inability to feel vibrations on the great toe or ankle bilaterally but being able to feel vibrations on both patellae indicates a sensory nerve dysfunction affecting distal lower extremities. This pattern of sensory loss is consistent with peripheral neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes leading to nerve damage. Hyperalgesia (choice A) is increased sensitivity to pain, which is not reflective of the patient's symptoms. Hyperesthesia (choice B) is increased sensitivity to touch, which is also not consistent with the patient's findings. Lesion of the sensory cortex (choice D) would typically present with more widespread sensory deficits rather than the specific pattern described in the question.
Question 4 of 5
While assessing a 7-month-old infant, the nurse makes a loud noise and notices the following response: abduction and flexion of the arms and legs; fanning of the fingers, and curling of the index finger and thumb in a C position, followed by the infant bringing in the arms and legs to the body. What does the nurse know about this response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the described response is the Moro reflex, an expected startle reflex seen in infants around 7 months of age. The Moro reflex involves the abduction and flexion of the arms and legs, fanning of the fingers, and curling of the index finger and thumb in a C position, followed by bringing in the arms and legs. This reflex typically appears around birth and peaks at 2 months, then diminishes as the baby grows. It is a primitive reflex that serves as a protective response to a sudden loss of support or loud noise. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the response described is not indicative of brachial nerve palsy, should not have disappeared by 1-4 months, and does not need to be bilaterally symmetric to be considered normal.
Question 5 of 5
During an assessment of a 32-year-old patient with a recent head injury, the nurse notices that the patient responds to pain by extending, adducting, and internally rotating his arms. His palms pronate, and his lower extremities extend with plantar flexion. Which statement concerning these findings is most accurate? This patient's response:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. These decerebrate posturing responses are indicative of dysfunction in the brainstem. Specifically, the abnormal posturing seen in the patient suggests damage to the midbrain or pons. This type of response is considered a more severe sign compared to decorticate posturing, which typically indicates damage to the cerebral cortex. Decerebrate posturing is associated with a poorer prognosis and can be a sign of significant neurological injury. The other choices are incorrect: A: Indicates a lesion of the cerebral cortex - This is incorrect because the patient's response is indicative of brainstem, not cortical, dysfunction. B: Indicates a completely nonfunctional brainstem - This is an extreme and inaccurate statement. The patient is exhibiting specific posturing responses, indicating some brainstem function. C: Is normal and will go away in 24 to 48 hours - This is incorrect as the described response is a pathological sign, not a normal one, and requires medical attention.