The client reports a decreased sense of smell for the past week. Which condition would the nurse assess for?

Bell palsy

Leukoplakia

Nasal polyps

Lesion of cranial nerve V

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: Bell palsy affects cranial nerve VII, causing facial paralysis, not smell, which is cranial nerve I’s domain. A week of anosmia doesn’t align with this motor nerve issue, ruling it out as a cause of olfactory dysfunction here.

Choice B reason: Leukoplakia involves oral white patches, unrelated to smell, which cranial nerve I governs. It’s a mucosal condition, not nasal, missing the anatomical link to olfactory loss reported by the client over the past week entirely.

Choice C reason: Nasal polyps, benign growths in nasal passages, obstruct airflow, impairing cranial nerve I’s smell function. A week-long decrease fits this common cause, making it the priority to assess for physical blockage or inflammation in the nasal cavity accurately.

Choice D reason: Cranial nerve V (trigeminal) handles facial sensation, not smell, which is cranial nerve I’s role. A lesion here causes pain or numbness, not anosmia, excluding it as a relevant condition for this olfactory complaint specifically and fully.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Thick, white plaques suggest oral thrush, often Candida, linked to HIV immunosuppression. Facilitating HIV testing addresses a potential underlying cause, as CD4 decline allows opportunistic infections, making this the critical next step for diagnosis and management here.

Choice B reason: Referral for medication treats thrush symptomatically but misses underlying HIV risk. Antifungals help, yet without addressing immunosuppression, recurrence persists, making this less urgent than testing for a systemic condition driving the plaques in this scenario fully.

Choice C reason: Jaundice causes yellowing, not white plaques, which are fungal, not hepatic. Assessing for this misaligns with the finding’s etiology, as thrush ties to immunity, not liver function, rendering it irrelevant to the client’s oral presentation entirely here.

Choice D reason: Zinc deficiency causes taste loss or ulcers, not thick plaques like thrush. Lab review for this overlooks the infectious, possibly HIV-related cause, missing the immunological context critical to addressing the client’s specific oral condition accurately and promptly.

A. Acute otitis media B. Serous otitis media C. Scarring from previous infections D. Intact tympanic membrane

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Acute otitis media shows a red, bulging tympanic membrane due to bacterial infection and pus. A pearly gray, shiny appearance contrasts this, indicating no acute inflammation or fluid, ruling out this active middle ear condition entirely.

Choice B reason: Serous otitis media presents with amber fluid behind a retracted or neutral tympanic membrane, not pearly gray and shiny. This suggests no sterile effusion, distinguishing it from the normal, healthy membrane observed in this inspection clearly.

Choice C reason: Scarring from past infections appears as white, opaque patches on the tympanic membrane, not uniform pearly gray shininess. This finding lacks the irregular, thickened look of scar tissue, pointing to an unscathed membrane instead here.

Choice D reason: A pearly gray, shiny tympanic membrane is normal, reflecting light off an intact, healthy eardrum. This lacks signs of infection or fluid, aligning with standard anatomy where the membrane’s cone of light confirms its integrity fully.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

The client reports a decreased sense of smell for the past week. Which condition would the nurse assess for?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse assesses thick, white plaques on a client's tongue and hard palate. Which of the following nursing actions should the nurse do next?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

While inspecting the tympanic membrane the nurse notes a pearly gray and shiny appearance. What would this finding indicate?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse has placed her hands behind the client's head and flexed his neck forward as far as he can tolerate. During the test the client experiences leg pain and bends his knees. In addition, he complains of neck pain. This assessment finding is suggestive of what health problem?

While examining a client's mouth the nurse notes the presence of fasciculations, fine tremors of the client's tongue. How should the nurse best respond to the assessment finding?

The nurse is assessing cranial nerves 3, 4 and 6 (oculomotor, trochlear and abducens). Which technique might the nurse use to assess all three in one technique?

An older adult client has been admitted due to decreased cognition. What assessment finding is most suggestive of delirium as the cause of the client's cognitive impairment?

The nursing preceptor is observing the nursing student providing a neurological assessment focusing on various tests for cerebellar function. What would be the priority test the preceptors should expect the student to perform on their client?

The client reports a decreased sense of smell for the past week. Which condition would the nurse assess for?