Question

Your assigned client has been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease. The son asks, "What is the duration from onset of symptoms to death with this disease"? What is the nurse response to this question?

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

Average duration from onset of symptoms to death is 8 to 10 years.

Rationale :

🔷 The typical progression of Alzheimer’s disease spans over 8 to 10 years, although some patients may live up to 20 years after onset.

🔷 The disease gradually worsens, beginning with short-term memory loss, followed by cognitive decline and functional dependence.

🔷 Life expectancy depends on age at diagnosis, overall health, and comorbidities, but 8–10 years is the clinical average.

🔷 The terminal phase involves severe cognitive deficits, difficulty swallowing, and vulnerability to infections.

🔷 Early diagnosis and supportive care can modestly improve quality of life, but not prognosis.

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Answer 2

Correct Answers:

Delirium.

Rationale :

🔶 Delirium is a sudden, acute change in cognition, commonly reversible, and often triggered by medical conditions like infection, dehydration, or fever.

🔶 The fluctuating mental status and sudden onset of confusion are hallmark signs of delirium, unlike dementia which is progressive.

🔶 Improvement in cognition after treatment confirms the diagnosis of delirium, not dementia.

🔶 Older adults are particularly vulnerable to delirium, especially during acute illness or heat stress.

🔶 Prompt recognition and treatment of the underlying cause often leads to full recovery.

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Answer 3

Correct Answers:

Overuse of laxatives, diet pills or diuretics.
Compulsive eating.
Recurrent vomiting.

Rationale :

Overuse of laxatives, diet pills or diuretics

Clients with bulimia nervosa often engage in purging behaviors to prevent weight gain after binge eating.
This includes frequent misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills as compensatory mechanisms.
These behaviors are dangerous and can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and GI complications.
The overuse reflects a cycle of binge–purge pattern, which defines bulimia nervosa.
Nurses must assess fluid status and renal function in these clients routinely.

Compulsive eating

Bulimia is marked by recurrent episodes of binge eating, often done in secret due to guilt or shame.
These episodes involve consuming large amounts of food in a short period, feeling out of control during the episode.
The compulsion to binge is usually followed by distress and attempts to undo the eating (purging).
Emotional triggers such as stress or anxiety often lead to binge eating episodes.
Addressing underlying psychological causes is critical in managing bulimia.

Recurrent vomiting

Self-induced vomiting is the most common purging method used in bulimia to control weight.
Frequent vomiting leads to acid-base imbalances, dental erosion, and esophageal damage.
The vomiting is often followed by feelings of guilt or shame, contributing to the cycle.
Nurses must monitor for signs like callused knuckles (Russell’s sign) and parotid gland enlargement.
Education on safe coping mechanisms and therapy referrals are key interventions.

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Answer 4

Correct Answers:

Benzodiazepines

Rationale :

🟣 Delirium tremens (DTs) is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that is life-threatening and requires benzodiazepines as the first-line treatment.

🟣 Benzodiazepines help prevent seizures, reduce agitation, and stabilize vital signs during withdrawal.

🟣 Medications like lorazepam or diazepam are commonly used for their sedative and anticonvulsant properties.

🟣 The goal is to calm the CNS and prevent complications like seizures and death.

🟣 Monitoring of withdrawal symptoms is done using tools like CIWA-Ar.

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Answer 5

Correct Answers:

“Individuals With somatic symptom disorder experience real physical effects due to emotional causes rather than physical ones.”

Rationale :

🟢 In somatic symptom disorder, clients experience real and distressing physical symptoms, even though no physical cause is found.

🟢 The symptoms are not intentionally produced, unlike factitious disorder.

🟢 Emotional distress or psychological factors lead to bodily symptoms, often chronic and functionally impairing.

🟢 Effective treatment involves supportive therapy, and addressing underlying psychological concerns.

🟢 Education helps reduce stigma and improve family understanding of the disorder.

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Answer 6

Correct Answers:

Factitious disorder.

Rationale :

⚪ Factitious disorder involves intentional falsification or induction of symptoms without external rewards (unlike malingering).

⚪ The client's bizarre behavior, toxic ingestion, and elaborate delusions about a "TV show" point toward intentional symptom fabrication.

⚪ The condition is often associated with attention-seeking behavior and emotional need to assume a sick role.

⚪ It is different from somatic symptom disorder, which is not consciously produced.

⚪ Treatment involves psychiatric evaluation and long-term behavioral therapy.

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Answer 7

Correct Answers:

Tacrine (Cognex).

Rationale :

⚫ Tacrine is known for its hepatotoxicity, and thus not recommended for clients with elevated liver enzymes.

⚫ Liver function must be closely monitored during its use, which limits its practical application.

⚫ Other dementia medications such as memantine and quetiapine have safer hepatic profiles.

⚫ Safer alternatives are preferred in clients with existing hepatic impairment.

⚫ Tacrine is rarely prescribed due to the risk-benefit ratio.

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Answer 8

Correct Answers:

“We will work with you to help develop ways to manage your symptoms that are caused by the disorder."

Rationale :

🟤 This response is therapeutic and collaborative, addressing the client’s emotional concern while validating their symptoms.

🟤 Somatic symptom disorder involves real symptoms with no detectable medical cause, and requires coping-based strategies.

🟤 Nurses must avoid minimizing the client’s symptoms and instead empower them to manage distress.

🟤 Fostering self-efficacy and involving the client in their care plan promotes better outcomes.

🟤 Support and structured approaches are vital to reduce health-related anxiety.

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Answer 9

Correct Answers:

“A relapse plan helps your recovery by recognizing symptoms of schizophrenia and provides steps to follow If symptoms are getting worse."

Rationale :

🟥 A relapse prevention plan identifies early warning signs, helping the client manage triggers and reduce hospitalizations.

🟥 Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness, and recognizing early deterioration is key to maintaining stability.

🟥 Plans typically include strategies like medication adherence, contacting support systems, and crisis plans.

🟥 It promotes self-management and empowers clients in their recovery.

🟥 This intervention supports continuity of care after discharge.

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Answer 10

Correct Answers:

Uncontrolled movements around the mouth.

Rationale :

🟩 Tardive dyskinesia is a long-term adverse effect of antipsychotic medications, characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements, especially of the mouth, tongue, or jaw.

🟩 These movements are irreversible in many cases, making early detection important.

🟩 Caused by prolonged dopamine receptor blockade, especially with first-generation antipsychotics.

🟩 Monitoring tools like AIMS (Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale) help in early identification.

🟩 If detected, medication dose adjustment or switching to an atypical antipsychotic may be considered.

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Custom: NURS 2120 Mental Health Exam 4 summer 2025

No.

1 :
Your assigned client has been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease. The son asks, "What is the duration from onset of symptoms to death with this disease"? What is the nurse response to this question?

3 :
Clients with the eating disorder bulimia would exhibit which of the following: (Select all that apply.)

4 :
Delirium induced by alcohol withdrawal is usually treated with which of the following type of medications?

5 :
A nurse is providing education about somatic symptom disorder to a client's family. Which of the following pieces of information should the nurse include in the education?

7 :
Which of the following medication would not be a medication prescribed for a client diagnosed with dementia and have elevated liver enzymes?

8 :
A nurse is caring for a client who was recently diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder. The client says to the nurse. "l don't understand, they can't find anything medically wrong with me. I guess I will never feel better." Which of the following responses is the most therapeutic?

9 :
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The client asks, "I am not sure why I need to have a relapse plan." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

10 :
A nurse is caring for a client who has a serious mental illness and has developed tardive dyskinesia from anti-psychotic medication long-term use. Which of the following is a primary adverse effects from anti-psychotic medication use would be expected for the client?

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Custom: NURS 2120 Mental Health Exam 4 summer 2025

No.

1 : Your assigned client has been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease. The son asks, "What is the duration from onset of symptoms to death with this disease"? What is the nurse response to this question?

3 : Clients with the eating disorder bulimia would exhibit which of the following: (Select all that apply.)

4 : Delirium induced by alcohol withdrawal is usually treated with which of the following type of medications?

5 : A nurse is providing education about somatic symptom disorder to a client's family. Which of the following pieces of information should the nurse include in the education?

7 : Which of the following medication would not be a medication prescribed for a client diagnosed with dementia and have elevated liver enzymes?

8 : A nurse is caring for a client who was recently diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder. The client says to the nurse. "l don't understand, they can't find anything medically wrong with me. I guess I will never feel better." Which of the following responses is the most therapeutic?

9 : A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The client asks, "I am not sure why I need to have a relapse plan." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

10 : A nurse is caring for a client who has a serious mental illness and has developed tardive dyskinesia from anti-psychotic medication long-term use. Which of the following is a primary adverse effects from anti-psychotic medication use would be expected for the client?

1 :
Your assigned client has been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease. The son asks, "What is the duration from onset of symptoms to death with this disease"? What is the nurse response to this question?

3 :
Clients with the eating disorder bulimia would exhibit which of the following: (Select all that apply.)

4 :
Delirium induced by alcohol withdrawal is usually treated with which of the following type of medications?

5 :
A nurse is providing education about somatic symptom disorder to a client's family. Which of the following pieces of information should the nurse include in the education?

7 :
Which of the following medication would not be a medication prescribed for a client diagnosed with dementia and have elevated liver enzymes?

8 :
A nurse is caring for a client who was recently diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder. The client says to the nurse. "l don't understand, they can't find anything medically wrong with me. I guess I will never feel better." Which of the following responses is the most therapeutic?

9 :
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The client asks, "I am not sure why I need to have a relapse plan." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

10 :
A nurse is caring for a client who has a serious mental illness and has developed tardive dyskinesia from anti-psychotic medication long-term use. Which of the following is a primary adverse effects from anti-psychotic medication use would be expected for the client?