A child with cerebral palsy (CP) is taking baclofen, a relaxant. Which assessment finding indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that the drug is effective?
Increased appetite.
Sufficient urinary output.
Fewer temper outbursts.
Decreased muscular spasticity.
The Correct Answer is D
Rationale:
A. Increased appetite is not a direct therapeutic indicator of baclofen efficacy. While improved comfort from muscle relaxation might indirectly support better intake, the drug does not possess orexigenic properties. Nutritional status is monitored in cerebral palsy patients, but it remains unrelated to the specific pharmacological mechanism of this skeletal muscle relaxant.
B. Sufficient urinary output is a vital assessment of general physiological and renal function, yet it is not the target of baclofen therapy. Baclofen acts primarily on the central nervous system to inhibit monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes at the spinal level. Urinary monitoring ensures adequate drug clearance, but output levels do not reflect the medication's clinical success.
C. Fewer temper outbursts might suggest a reduction in physical discomfort, but baclofen is not an antianxiety or antipsychotic medication. Cerebral palsy may involve behavioral challenges, but the primary goal of this therapy is physical rather than psychological. Behavioral changes are subjective and do not provide a scientific measure of the drug’s specific muscle-relaxing influence.
D. Decreased muscular spasticity is the primary therapeutic goal for a client with cerebral palsy receiving baclofen. This medication functions as a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue, effectively reducing the transmission of excitatory signals that cause hypertonia and involuntary muscle contractions. A reduction in resistance to passive movement confirms that the drug is achieving its intended neuromuscular effect.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A positive indirect Coombs' test indicates that the mother has developed Rh antibodies against the baby's Rh-positive blood. This finding can result in hemolytic disease of the newborn, which is a condition in which the mother's Rh antibodies atack the baby's red blood cells, causing destruction and potential anemia.
The baby may require phototherapy for physiologic jaundice, but the Coombs' test result indicates a different issue.
The presence of an infectious blood-borne disease cannot be determined from this test.
The mother may still need Rho (D) immune globulin injections after delivery of an Rh-positive baby.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Iron supplements are often recommended for pregnant women to prevent or treat anemia and to improve the iron status of both the mother and the baby ¹. During pregnancy, you need 27 milligrams of iron a day ². Iron is also found in some foods, such as meat, beans, and leafy greens ¹. So, it is recommended to increase dietary iron-rich foods.
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