Chapter 23: Neurocognitive Disorders

Chapter 23: Neurocognitive Disorders

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. An older adult patient takes multiple medications daily. Over 2 days, the patient developed confusion, slurred speech, an unsteady gait, and fluctuating levels of orientation. These findings are most characteristic of:

ANS:  A

Delirium is characterized by an abrupt onset of fluctuating levels of awareness, clouded consciousness, perceptual disturbances, and disturbed memory and orientation. The onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia, is more insidious. Amnestic syndrome involves memory impairment without other cognitive problems.

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)

REF:   Page 432        TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:  Client Needs: Physiological Integrity

2. A patient with fluctuating levels of awareness, confusion, and disturbed orientation shouts, “Bugs are crawling on my legs. Get them off!”  Which problem is the patient experiencing?

ANS:  C

The patient feels bugs crawling on both legs, even though no sensory stimulus is actually present. This description meets the definition of a hallucination, a false sensory perception. Tactile hallucinations may be part of the symptom constellation of delirium. Aphasia refers to a speech disorder. Dystonia refers to excessive muscle tonus. Mnemonic disturbance is associated with dementia rather than delirium.

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)

REF:   Page 432-434                                  TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:  Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

3. A patient with fluctuating levels of consciousness, disturbed orientation, and perceptual alteration begs, “Someone get these bugs off me.” What is the nurse’s best response?

ANS:  D

When hallucinations are present, the nurse should acknowledge the patient’s feelings and state the nurse’s perception of reality, but not argue. Staying with the patient increases feelings of security, reduces anxiety, offers the opportunity for reinforcing reality, and provides a measure of physical safety. Denying the patient’s perception without offering help does not support the patient emotionally. Telling the patient to relax makes the patient responsible for self-soothing. Telling the patient that someone will brush the bugs away supports the perceptual distortions.

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)

REF:   Page 436 (Box 23-1)                       TOP:   Nursing Process: Implementation

MSC:  Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

4. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient with fluctuating levels of consciousness, disturbed orientation, and visual and tactile hallucinations?

ANS:  A

The physical safety of the patient is of highest priority among the diagnoses given. Many opportunities for injury exist when a patient misperceives the environment as distorted, threatening, or harmful or when the patient exercises poor judgment or when the patient’s sensorium is clouded. The other diagnoses may be concerns, but are lower priorities.

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)

REF:   Page 435 | Page 442-443 | Page 452 (Nursing Care Plan 23-1)

TOP:   Nursing Process: Diagnosis/Analysis

MSC:  Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment

5. What is the priority intervention for a patient diagnosed with delirium who has fluctuating levels of consciousness, disturbed orientation, and perceptual alterations?

ANS:  B

Careful observation and supervision are of ultimate importance because an appropriate outcome would be that the patient will remain safe and free from injury. Physical contact during care cannot be avoided.  Activating a bed alarm is only one aspect of providing for the patient’s safety.

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)

REF:   Page 436 (Box 23-1) | Page 452 (Nursing Care Plan 23-1)

TOP:   Nursing Process: Implementation     MSC:  Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment