Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A client experiencing an acute dystonic reaction presents with a laryngeal spasm. Which treatment should the nurse prepare?
A. Intravenous administration of benztropine.
Correct - Acute dystonic reactions are involuntary muscle spasms caused by certain medications, including antipsychotic drugs. These reactions can sometimes affect the muscles of the face and neck, including the larynx. Benztropine is an anticholinergic medication commonly used to treat acute dystonic reactions. It works by blocking certain neurotransmitters that contribute to muscle spasms, helping to relieve the symptoms.
B. Oral administration of divalproex.
Incorrect - Divalproex is an anticonvulsant medication primarily used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is not the appropriate treatment for acute dystonic reactions. These reactions are usually caused by certain antipsychotic medications and are characterized by sudden and involuntary muscle contractions. Divalproex does not have the specific mechanism of action needed to alleviate the symptoms of acute dystonic reactions.
C. Intravenous administration of isotonic crystalloid fluid.
Incorrect - Isotonic crystalloid fluids are used for various purposes, such as fluid resuscitation, maintaining hydration, and balancing electrolytes. However, they are not a treatment for acute dystonic reactions. These reactions are neurological and musculoskeletal in nature and require medications with specific anticholinergic properties, like benztropine, to address the underlying issue.
D. Oral administration of lorazepam.
Incorrect - Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine commonly used for anxiety, sedation, and seizure control. While it can have a relaxing effect on muscles, it is not the first-line treatment for acute dystonic reactions. Anticholinergic medications like benztropine are more appropriate because they directly counteract the neurotransmitter imbalances that lead to muscle spasms in these reactions.
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Full Explanation
A) Correct - Acute dystonic reactions are involuntary muscle spasms caused by certain medications, including antipsychotic drugs. These reactions can sometimes affect the muscles of the face and neck, including the larynx. Benztropine is an anticholinergic medication commonly used to treat acute dystonic reactions. It works by blocking certain neurotransmitters that contribute to muscle spasms, helping to relieve the symptoms.
B) Incorrect - Divalproex is an anticonvulsant medication primarily used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is not the appropriate treatment for acute dystonic reactions. These reactions are usually caused by certain antipsychotic medications and are characterized by sudden and involuntary muscle contractions. Divalproex does not have the specific mechanism of action needed to alleviate the symptoms of acute dystonic reactions.
C) Incorrect - Isotonic crystalloid fluids are used for various purposes, such as fluid resuscitation, maintaining hydration, and balancing electrolytes. However, they are not a treatment for acute dystonic reactions. These reactions are neurological and musculoskeletal in nature and require medications with specific anticholinergic properties, like benztropine, to address the underlying issue.
D) Incorrect - Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine commonly used for anxiety, sedation, and seizure control. While it can have a relaxing effect on muscles, it is not the first-line treatment for acute dystonic reactions. Anticholinergic medications like benztropine are more appropriate because they directly counteract the neurotransmitter imbalances that lead to muscle spasms in these reactions.
Similar Questions
Prior to administering pain medication to an adult postoperative client, what information should the practical nurse (PN) obtain? (Select all that apply.)
A. Height and weight of client prior to admission
Height and weight of the client prior to admission may be part of the client's medical history but are not typically required information just before administering pain medication.
B. Client's pain rating on a scale of 1 to 10
This information helps assess the client's current pain level and determine the need for pain medication.
C. Time of last administration of pain medication
This is important to avoid overdosing or administering pain medication too frequently. It helps ensure that pain medication is given at the appropriate time intervals.
D. Effectiveness of last pain medication administered
Understanding whether the previous dose provided relief or not helps guide the choice of the next medication or dosage.
E. History of pain medication use during the past year
A history of pain medication use during the past year is important information but may be already documented in the client's medical records and not necessary to obtain immediately before administration.
F. History of pain medication use during the past year
Full Explanation
Client's pain rating on a scale of 1 to 10: This information helps assess the client's current pain level and determine the need for pain medication.
Time of the last administration of pain medication: This is important to avoid overdosing or administering pain medication too frequently. It helps ensure that pain medication is given at the appropriate time intervals.
Effectiveness of the last pain medication administered: Understanding whether the previous dose provided relief or not helps guide the choice of the next medication or dosage.
The other options are not directly related to the immediate decision of administering pain medication:
Height and weight of the client prior to admission may be part of the client's medical history but are not typically required information just before administering pain medication.
A history of pain medication use during the past year is important information but may be already documented in the client's medical records and not necessary to obtain immediately before administration.
The practical nurse (PN) and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) enter a client's room and find the client lying on the bed. The PN determines that the client is unresponsive. Which instruction should the PN give the UAP first?
A. Obtain emergency help.
Obtain emergency help. - This is the most urgent action as the client is unresponsive, and getting emergency assistance is crucial to providing immediate care.
B. Feel for a carotid pulse.
Feel for a carotid pulse. - While assessing the pulse is important, if the client is unresponsive, the first step is to get emergency assistance.
C. Bring a glucometer to the room.
Bring a glucometer to the room. - This action might be relevant for assessing specific conditions, but in this scenario, the priority is to seek immediate emergency assistance.
D. Check the blood pressure.
Check the blood pressure. - Assessing blood pressure is important, but in the case of an unresponsive client, seeking emergency help takes precedence for immediate assistance and care.
Full Explanation
A. Obtain emergency help. - This is the most urgent action as the client is unresponsive, and getting emergency assistance is crucial to providing immediate care.
B. Feel for a carotid pulse. - While assessing the pulse is important, if the client is unresponsive, the first step is to get emergency assistance.
C. Bring a glucometer to the room. - This action might be relevant for assessing specific conditions, but in this scenario, the priority is to seek immediate emergency assistance.
D. Check the blood pressure. - Assessing blood pressure is important, but in the case of an unresponsive client, seeking emergency help takes precedence for immediate assistance and care.
A client is receiving mesalamine 800 mg by mouth three times a day. Which assessment should the nurse perform to assess the effectiveness of the medication?
A. Pupillary response.
Incorrect- Pupillary response is not relevant to the assessment of mesalamine's effectiveness.Pupillary response is often assessed in neurological or ophthalmic evaluations and is not a direct measure of gastrointestinal function or the response to mesalamine therapy.
B. Peripheral pulses.
Incorrect- Peripheral pulses are not directly affected by mesalamine therapy, and monitoring them would not provide insight into the medication's effectiveness. Peripheral pulses are typically assessed to evaluate circulatory status and are not specific to the evaluation of gastrointestinal conditions.
C. Bowel patterns.
Correct- Mesalamine is a medication commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It helps to reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Monitoring bowel patterns is important to assess the effectiveness of mesalamine in managing the symptoms of these conditions.
D. Oxygen saturation.
Incorrect- Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen in the blood and is used to assess respiratory function. While oxygen saturation is important for overall patient assessment, it is not directly related to mesalamine's effectiveness in treating inflammatory bowel disease.
Full Explanation
A) Incorrect- Pupillary response is not relevant to the assessment of mesalamine's effectiveness.
Pupillary response is often assessed in neurological or ophthalmic evaluations and is not a direct measure of gastrointestinal function or the response to mesalamine therapy.
B) Incorrect- Peripheral pulses are not directly affected by mesalamine therapy, and monitoring them would not provide insight into the medication's effectiveness. Peripheral pulses are
typically assessed to evaluate the circulatory status and are not specific to the evaluation of gastrointestinal conditions.
C) Correct- Mesalamine is a medication commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It helps to reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Monitoring bowel patterns is important to assess the effectiveness of mesalamine in managing the symptoms of these conditions.
D) Incorrect- Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen in the blood and is used to assess respiratory function. While oxygen saturation is important for overall patient assessment, it is not directly related to mesalamine's effectiveness in treating inflammatory bowel disease.