Chapter 54: Ear and Hearing Disorders

Chapter 54: Ear and Hearing Disorders

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. A nurse reads in a patient’s history that the patient has experienced otalgia. How should the nurse interpret this term?

a.	Difficulty hearing
b.	Buildup of cerumen
c.	Ear pain
d.	Ringing in the ears

 

 

ANS:  C

Otic- is the root word for ear, and -algia is the root term for pain of any type.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Knowledge            REF:   p. 1252           OBJ:   5

TOP:   Definitions     KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation

 

2. A nurse is assisting with a caloric test and notes that the specific patient response that indicates a hearing disorder is a problem in the labyrinth. Which response did the nurse witness?

a.	Blinking
b.	Grimacing
c.	Headache
d.	Nystagmus

 

 

ANS:  D

When warm or cold water is introduced into the ear, the appearance of nystagmus is a positive indication that the hearing problem has its cause in the labyrinth.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension     REF:   p. 1256           OBJ:   2

TOP:   Caloric Test    KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection of Disease

 

3. A 75-year-old patient has normal age-related changes in his ear. What change should not be considered a normal change in the aging patient?

a.	Dry and wrinkled skin on the auricle
b.	Otitis externa
c.	Dry cerumen
d.	Hair in the ear canal

 

 

ANS:  B

Otitis externa is an outer ear infection and therefore an exception. The other three options are normal age-related changes.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension     REF:   p. 1251           OBJ:   5

TOP:   Age-Related Changes                      KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation

 

4. When making an initial assessment on a patient with a hearing deficit, the patient reports that he often feels off balance and is dizzy when he stands up. Which diagnosis might explain these symptoms?

a.	Sinus infection
b.	Rubella
c.	Otalgia
d.	Presbycusis

 

 

ANS:  A

A sinus infection can be an acute cause of hearing deficits and can create problems with balance.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension     REF:   p. 1252           OBJ:   5

TOP:   Hearing Assessment: Medical History

KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection of Disease

 

5. A 94-year-old patient is receiving gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin) in a continuous intravenous (IV) infusion. The nurse adds to the nursing care plan the diagnosis “Risk for injury.” What nursing action should be implemented?

a.	Pull side rails in place.
b.	Assist with ambulation.
c.	Measure intake and output.
d.	Provide for a possible seizure.

 

 

ANS:  C

Reduced urine output would cause the drug to stay in the system rather than being excreted, which could result in a drug saturation. Gentamicin is ototoxic and can cause hearing impairment.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application           REF:   p. 1253           OBJ:   7

TOP:   Gentamicin     KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies