joseph a 12 year old child complains to the school nurse about nausea and dizziness while assessing the child the nurse notices a black eye that looks

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Pathophysiology Practice Questions

1. Joseph, a 12-year-old child, complains to the school nurse about nausea and dizziness. While assessing the child, the nurse notices a black eye that looks like an injury. This is the third time in 1 month that the child has visited the nurse. Each time, the child provides vague explanations for various injuries. Which of the following is the school nurse’s priority intervention?

A. Contact the child’s parents and ask about the child’s injuries.
B. Encourage the child to be honest about the injuries.
C. Question the teacher about the child's injuries.
D. Report suspicion of abuse to the proper authorities.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The school nurse's priority intervention in this situation is to report suspicion of abuse to the proper authorities. Given the pattern of unexplained injuries and vague explanations provided by the child, it raises significant concerns for possible abuse. Reporting to the appropriate authorities is crucial to ensure the child's safety and well-being. Contacting the child's parents (Choice A) may not be appropriate if abuse is suspected, as it could potentially put the child at further risk. Merely encouraging the child to be honest (Choice B) does not address the immediate safety concerns. Questioning the teacher (Choice C) is not the appropriate initial action when abuse is suspected; reporting to authorities should take precedence.

2. Which of the following eye disorders manifests with red eye, pain, and visual acuity changes?

A. Bacterial conjunctivitis
B. Acute closed-angle glaucoma
C. Chronic open-angle glaucoma
D. Blepharitis

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Acute closed-angle glaucoma presents with symptoms such as a red eye, severe pain, and rapid visual acuity changes due to increased intraocular pressure. This condition is considered an ophthalmologic emergency. Bacterial conjunctivitis typically presents with redness, discharge, and irritation but is not associated with severe pain or visual changes. Chronic open-angle glaucoma is usually asymptomatic until advanced stages and does not typically present with acute pain. Blepharitis involves inflammation of the eyelid margins and is characterized by redness and irritation, but it does not cause severe pain or acute visual changes.

3. A female patient has been diagnosed with tuberculosis and begun multiple-drug therapy. The woman has asked the nurse why it is necessary for her to take several different drugs instead of one single drug. How should the nurse best respond to the patient's question?

A. “Multiple drugs are used because doctors need to combat the TB bacteria from different angles to effectively treat the infection.”
B. “The use of multiple drugs prevents the development of drug-resistant TB.”
C. “Multiple drugs are prescribed because the final testing results for TB can take up to 3 weeks to confirm the most effective treatment.”
D. “Multiple drugs are used in order to speed up the course of treatment.”

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Using multiple drugs in tuberculosis treatment helps prevent the development of drug-resistant TB. This approach is crucial because if the infection is not completely eradicated, the remaining bacteria may become resistant to the single drug used, making future treatments less effective. Choice A is incorrect because the use of multiple drugs is not due to uncertainty about which drug will work, but rather to address the bacteria from different angles. Choice C is incorrect as it misleads the patient about the reason for using multiple drugs. Choice D is also incorrect because the primary purpose of using multiple drugs is not to speed up treatment but to ensure effectiveness and prevent resistance.

4. What is the characteristic of the condition of leukemia?

A. A benign growth of skin cells
B. A malignant growth of skin cells
C. A malignant growth of white blood cells
D. A benign growth of white blood cells

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'A malignant growth of white blood cells.' Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, leading to an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. These cells are malignant and impair the normal function of healthy blood cells. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because leukemia does not involve skin cells or benign growths; instead, it specifically refers to the abnormal proliferation of white blood cells.

5. A 22-year-old was recently diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Which decreased lab finding would be expected to accompany this virus?

A. CD4 helper T cells
B. CD8 helper T cells
C. CDC cells
D. CDC10 cells

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a person diagnosed with AIDS, a decrease in CD4 helper T cells is expected. These cells are critical for the immune system's proper functioning, and their reduction weakens the body's ability to fight infections. CD8 helper T cells (Choice B) are not typically decreased in AIDS. CDC cells (Choice C) and CDC10 cells (Choice D) are not relevant terms in this context, making them incorrect choices.