Nursing Elites

1. Which statement should the nurse include in the teaching plan for a patient being started on levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet) for newly diagnosed Parkinson�s disease?

• A. Take medication on a full stomach
• B. Change positions slowly
• C. The drug may cause the urine to be very dilute
• D. Carbidopa has many adverse effects

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Postural hypotension is common early in treatment, so the patient should be instructed to change positions slowly. Administration with meals should be avoided, if possible, because food delays the absorption of the levodopa component. If the patient is experiencing side effects of nausea and vomiting, administration with food may be considered. The levodopa component may darken urine. Carbidopa has no adverse effects of its own.

2. Marge is a 2-year-old girl who does not sit and eat at mealtimes but rather brings food to many rooms, eats a few bites, and drops it. Her parents report that she is a 'fussy eater.' Marge is significantly below weight for her age. She does not have any oral motor structure abnormalities, but eats only certain foods with the same texture. Which intervention strategy would be best to address the environmental context?

• A. Prolong mealtimes and eliminate all snacks
• B. Provide high-calorie snacks and meals at the table throughout the day
• C. Allow Marge to eat whenever and wherever she wants in the house
• D. Require Marge to eat everything on her plate and at snack

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the case of Marge, who exhibits selective eating habits and struggles with weight gain, providing high-calorie snacks and meals at the table throughout the day can be an effective intervention. This strategy can help increase her food intake in a structured environment, promoting healthier eating habits and potentially addressing her below-average weight status. Choice A, prolonging mealtimes and eliminating all snacks, may not be the best approach as it could lead to more food refusal and stress during meals. Choice C, allowing Marge to eat whenever and wherever she wants in the house, may further enable her selective eating behavior and hinder progress. Choice D, requiring Marge to eat everything on her plate and at snack, can create a negative mealtime environment and may not address the underlying causes of her eating habits. Therefore, providing high-calorie snacks and meals at designated times offers a balanced approach to support Marge's nutritional needs and overall well-being.

3. A nurse provides dietary teaching to the guardian of a school-age child with cystic fibrosis. Which statement should the nurse make?

• A. You should offer your child high-protein meals and snacks throughout the day.
• B. You should decrease your child's dietary fat intake to less than 10% of their caloric intake.
• C. You should restrict your child's calorie intake to 1,200 per day.
• D. You should give your child a multivitamin once weekly.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. High-protein meals and snacks are essential for children with cystic fibrosis due to their increased nutritional needs. Protein helps in maintaining muscle mass and overall health in individuals with cystic fibrosis, making it crucial to include in their diet. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because decreasing dietary fat intake to less than 10% of caloric intake, restricting calorie intake to 1,200 per day, and giving a multivitamin once weekly are not appropriate dietary recommendations for a child with cystic fibrosis.

4. The nurse is preparing to administer a daily dose of digoxin. What is the priority nursing intervention?

• A. Analyze HR and rhythm
• B. Assess for Homan�s sign
• C. Check BP
• D. Palpate the pedal pulses

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Before giving digoxin, the nurse will assess the HR and rhythm. The dosage will be held and the prescriber notified if the HR is below 60 bpm or if the cardiac rhythm has changes. Digoxin can cause bradycardia and electrical changes in the heart.

5. What is the goal of pharmacologic therapy in the treatment of Parkinson�s disease?

• A. To increase the amount of acetylcholine at the pre-synaptic neurons
• B. To reduce the amount of dopamine available in the substantia nigra
• C. To balance cholinergic and dopaminergic activity in the brain
• D. To block dopamine receptors in pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neurons

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Parkinson�s disease results from a decrease in dopaminergic (inhibitory) activity, leaving an imbalance with too much cholinergic (excitatory) activity. With an increase in dopamine, the neurotransmitter activity becomes more balanced, and symptoms are controlled.

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