A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following treatment options should the nurse include in the teaching?
Initiate hospice care services when the client has 6 months or less to live.
Improve cognitive status with transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Control anxiety with barbiturate medications.
Delay cognitive impairment with NMDA receptor antagonist medications.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Initiating hospice care services is generally considered when the client is in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease and has a life expectancy of 6 months or less. Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life, rather than curative treatments. It's an option when the disease has significantly progressed, not typically at the time of initial diagnosis.
Choice B reason: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain and is being studied as a potential treatment for improving cognitive status in Alzheimer's patients. However, it is not yet a standard treatment and is considered experimental.
Choice C reason: Barbiturate medications are not typically used to control anxiety in Alzheimer's patients due to the risk of dependency and the potential to worsen cognitive impairment. Other medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are generally preferred for managing anxiety in these patients⁷.
Choice D reason: NMDA receptor antagonists, such as memantine, are medications that can help delay cognitive symptoms in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. They work by regulating the activity of glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory, which may be overactive in Alzheimer's disease.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason: Hallucinations are a common symptom of schizophrenia and may not require immediate reporting to a provider unless they represent a change from the patient’s baseline or are causing distress.
Choice B Reason: The client’s temperature of 39.4° C (103° F) is significantly higher than the normal body temperature range of 36.5° C to 37.5° C (97.7° F to 99.5° F). This indicates a fever, which could suggest an infection or another acute health issue that requires immediate attention.
Choice C Reason: While weight gain is a concern for patients with schizophrenia, especially due to the potential side effects of medications like olanzapine, it is not typically an acute issue requiring immediate reporting unless it is rapid and significant, which could indicate other health problems.
Choice D Reason: The client’s blood pressure reading of 128/82 mm Hg falls within the normal range for adults, which is less than 120/80 mm Hg for normal blood pressure. Therefore, it does not need to be reported urgently.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Constant talking is a common indicator of mania in individuals with bipolar disorder. During manic episodes, clients may experience pressured speech, which is fast, incessant, and difficult to interrupt. This symptom reflects the increased energy and reduced need for sleep that are characteristic of mania.
Choice B reason: While memory loss is not a definitive indicator of mania, it can occur in bipolar disorder. However, it is more commonly associated with either depressive episodes or the aftermath of a manic episode, rather than the manic phase itself.
Choice C reason: Excessive sleep is typically not associated with mania. In fact, a decreased need for sleep is one of the diagnostic criteria for a manic episode. Clients in a manic phase often feel rested after only a few hours of sleep.
Choice D reason: Expressing feelings of inferiority is not typically indicative of mania. Such feelings are more commonly associated with depressive episodes. Manic episodes often involve inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
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