ATI RN
Psychotropic Medication Questions
Question 1 of 5
While obtaining a health history of a 3-month-old infant from the mother, the nurse asks about the infant's ability to suck and grasp the mother's finger. What is the nurse assessing?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Reflexes. At 3 months, infants have primitive reflexes such as sucking and grasping, controlled by the brainstem and spinal cord. The nurse is assessing the infant's normal neurological development. Choice B, intelligence, is not appropriate to assess in a 3-month-old. Choice C, CNs (cranial nerves), is too specific for this assessment. Choice D, cerebral cortex function, is not fully developed at this age to control sucking and grasping.
Question 2 of 5
Which of these tests would the nurse use to check the motor coordination of an 11-month-old infant?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse would use the Denver II test to check the motor coordination of an 11-month-old infant. This test assesses developmental milestones, including motor skills appropriate for the child's age. The Denver II test specifically evaluates gross and fine motor skills, which are crucial components of motor coordination in infants. The other choices are not appropriate for assessing motor coordination in infants. Stereognosis tests the ability to recognize objects by touch, deep tendon reflexes assess the integrity of the neuromuscular system, and rapid alternating movements evaluate cerebellar function, none of which directly measure motor coordination in infants.
Question 3 of 5
A 32-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has noticed 'very sudden, jerky movements' mainly in her hands and arms. She says, 'They seem to come and go, primarily when I am trying to do something. I haven't noticed them when I'm sleeping.' This description suggests:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Chorea. Chorea is characterized by sudden, jerky, involuntary movements that tend to be random and unpredictable. The description provided by the patient matches the hallmark features of chorea, such as the sudden and irregular movements mainly in the hands and arms that occur during voluntary actions. Tics (choice A) are repetitive, stereotyped movements or vocalizations. Athetosis (choice B) is characterized by slow, writhing, involuntary movements. Myoclonus (choice C) involves sudden, brief muscle contractions. Therefore, based on the patient's description, chorea is the most likely diagnosis.
Question 4 of 5
During an examination, the nurse notices severe nystagmus in both eyes of a patient.. Which conclusion by the nurse is correct? Severe nystagmus in both eyes:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Severe nystagmus in both eyes may indicate disease of the cerebellum or brainstem. Nystagmus is an involuntary eye movement that can be a sign of neurological issues. The cerebellum and brainstem are responsible for coordinating eye movements, so abnormalities in these areas can lead to nystagmus. Other choices are incorrect because severe nystagmus is not a normal occurrence, not solely caused by nervousness, and does not indicate a visual problem requiring an ophthalmologist.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is performing a neurological assessment on a 40-year-old male patient who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Which of the following symptoms would be expected for a patient with MS?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Loss of coordination and balance. In multiple sclerosis (MS), demyelination of nerve fibers impairs communication between the brain and the body, leading to symptoms such as loss of coordination and balance. This is due to disrupted signals affecting motor control. Unilateral weakness or paralysis (A) is more characteristic of a stroke or nerve injury, not MS. Memory loss and dementia (C) are not typical symptoms of MS, as it primarily affects the central nervous system. Sensation of pins and needles in both legs (D) is more commonly associated with peripheral nerve issues like peripheral neuropathy, not MS.