The nurse is caring for an adolescent client diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who is prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin) therapy. The client reports and questions the nurse why they have lost 10 pounds in 2-months. Which of the following should be the appropriate response by the nurse?

The pharmacological action of Ritalin causes a decrease in appetite.

Side effects of Ritalin cause nausea; therefore, caloric intake is decreased.

Increased ability to concentrate allows the client to focus on activities rather than food.

Hyperactivity seen in ADHD causes increased caloric expenditure.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. The pharmacological action of Ritalin causes a decrease in appetite. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a stimulant medication commonly prescribed for ADHD. One of its well-documented side effects is appetite suppression, which can lead to weight loss. This is the most accurate and direct explanation for the weight loss observed in the adolescent client.

B. Side effects of Ritalin cause nausea; therefore, caloric intake is decreased. While nausea can occur with methylphenidate, it is not the primary reason for weight loss. The main mechanism is appetite suppression rather than a direct reduction in caloric intake due to nausea. This response is less accurate than option A.

C. Increased ability to concentrate allows the client to focus on activities rather than food: While methylphenidate can improve concentration, this explanation does not directly address the physiological cause of weight loss. It is the decrease in appetite due to the drug's effects on neurotransmitters that leads to weight loss, not the increased focus on activities .

D. Hyperactivity seen in ADHD causes increased caloric expenditure: Hyperactivity itself can lead to higher caloric expenditure, but this is not directly related to the weight loss caused by methylphenidate. The primary reason for the weight loss in this case is the appetite suppression due to the medication, not increased activity .

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Echolalia: Echolalia, the repetition of words or phrases spoken by others, is a common characteristic of autism spectrum disorder. It can be part of the individual’s attempt to communicate or self-stimulate and may be indicative of difficulties in expressive language development.

B. Ambivalence: Ambivalence, the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone, is more commonly associated with conditions like schizophrenia, not ASD.

C. Expressive affect: Individuals with ASD often have difficulties with expressive affect, meaning they may show limited emotional expression, which contrasts with the term "expressive affect" suggesting full emotional expression.

D. Associative looseness: Associative looseness, a symptom where a person’s thoughts are disconnected and fragmented, is more characteristic of schizophrenia than ASD.

A. Phase I B. Phase III C. Phase II D. Phase IV

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Phase I: This is the tension-building phase, where minor incidents of abuse occur, and the victim often tries to placate the abuser to avoid escalation.

B. Phase III: This is the honeymoon phase, where the abuser may apologize, show remorse, and promise that the abuse will not happen again. The victim may also experience a period of denial and hope for change.

C. Phase II: This is the acute battering incident, where the abuse reaches a peak and the victim is physically harmed. The client's statement and the injury indicate they are in this phase.

D. Phase IV: There is no recognized "Phase IV" in the cycle of abuse. The standard model includes tension-building, acute battering, and the honeymoon phases.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse recognize to be associated with ASD?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A client comes into the Emergency Department diagnosed with a fractured right wrist and states, "I am fine, really, because it is all my fault. I knew he was in a bad mood and I got in his way." The nurse should recognize which cycle of battery is this client in?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The Nurse Educator is leading a support group for survivors of rape at the local community hospital, which of the following information is evidence-based and should be included in the teaching session?

A nurse is caring for a client who screams, "I can read your minds!" The nurse should identify this finding as a manifestation of which of the following personality disorders?

The Nurse Educator in the Emergency Department is explaining to a group of student nurses, "What the primary role of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is when intervening with a victim of violence?" Student nurses reply that the primary role of the SANE nurse is:

The nurse is preparing to discharge a client home from a mental health institution. The nurse should recognize that in order for a mental health client to receive home-bound health care, which of the following criteria must be met?

The Nursing Instructor is attempting to describe to their student nurses the concept of trauma-informed care. Which of the following statements best describes this concept?

The nurse is teaching nursing students about the risk factors for developing delirium in older adults. Which student statement indicates understanding of the risk factors of delirium?

A nurse is caring for a client with an eating disorder. The nurse is aware which findings are commonly associated with clients who have anorexia? (Select All that Apply.)

A nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with Separation Anxiety Disorder. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse recognize to be associated with Separation Anxiety Disorder?