Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing A Clinical Approach

B. “It is a rather high-level concept to explain. Perhaps you should ask the doctor to tell you more.” C. “Neurotransmitters are substances we eat daily that influence the brain functions of memory and mood.” D. “Neurotransmitters are chemicals manufactured in the brain that are responsible for passing messages between brain cells.” ANS: D Option D gives the most accurate information. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that function as neuromessengers. They are released from the axon terminal and diffuse across the synapse and attach to specialized receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. Option A does not answer the client’s question. Option B does not answer the client’s question and is somewhat demeaning. Option C provides untrue, misleading information. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Text Page: 38, Text Page: 39, Text Page: 40 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 2) The mother of an adolescent client with obsessive-compulsive disorder tells the nurse, “My daughter’s doctor wants her to be in a research study and to have a PET [positron emission tomography] scan. I do not want her to have to go through any tests that are painful. What should I do?” The best reply for the nurse would be A. “The doctor has made the diagnosis, but having a PET scan would confirm it.” B. “You might want to ask who will pay for the PET scan because they are very expensive.” C. “PET scans involve an injection and lying still while a machine visualizes brain activity.” D. “PET scans involve passing an electrical current through the brain and can be uncomfortable.” ANS: C The mother is seeking information about PET scans. Option C is the only option that provides factual information on which the mother can base a decision. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Text Page: 44, Text Page: 45, Text Page: 46 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 3) The physician mentions that a client’s dementia may be associated with either Alzheimer’s disease or multiple infarcts. For the physician to make a differential diagnosis with the least expensive test, the nurse should expect to prepare the client for a A. computed tomography (CT) scan. B. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. C. PET scan. D. single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan. ANS: A The CT scan could be expected to show the presence or absence of cortical atrophy, ventricular enlargement, and areas of infarct, information that would be helpful to the physician. The CT scan is the least expensive of the imaging techniques listed. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Text Page: 44 TOP: Nursing