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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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