A nurse is caring for a patient who is recovering from surgery and is exhibiting signs of delirium. Which factor should the nurse consider as a potential cause?
Patient’s diet post-surgery
Patient’s family history of mental illness
Pain medication management
Room temperature and comfort
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Diet post-surgery may affect recovery but is unlikely to cause delirium. Scientifically, nutritional deficiencies contribute to long-term cognitive issues, not acute delirium, which involves acetylcholine deficits or neuroinflammation. Other factors, like medication, are more immediate triggers for post-surgical confusion and agitation.
Choice B reason: Family history of mental illness is irrelevant to acute delirium, which stems from physiological triggers. Scientifically, delirium involves temporary neurochemical imbalances, like acetylcholine or dopamine disruptions, not genetic predispositions. Focusing on history misses immediate causes, delaying effective intervention for post-surgical cognitive changes.
Choice C reason: Pain medications, like opioids, are common delirium causes post-surgery. Scientifically, they disrupt acetylcholine and dopamine pathways, causing confusion and agitation. Evaluating medication management identifies reversible triggers, stabilizing neural function and ensuring safety by addressing delirium’s neurobiological basis effectively in post-surgical care.
Choice D reason: Room temperature may affect comfort but rarely causes delirium. Scientifically, delirium stems from neurochemical imbalances, like acetylcholine deficits, not environmental factors. While comfort supports recovery, it’s secondary to medication or physiological triggers, which directly impact cognitive function post-surgery.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Educational materials inform but don’t address hopelessness directly. Substance use disorder involves dopamine-driven reward issues, and hopelessness may reflect psychological barriers. Scientifically, without assessing triggers, education alone fails to engage the prefrontal cortex for motivation, limiting recovery by not addressing emotional or neurobiological factors.
Choice B reason: Encouraging group therapy despite hopelessness may increase disengagement. Scientifically, forcing participation heightens stress, elevating cortisol and reinforcing reward-seeking behaviors in addiction. Assessing emotional barriers first ensures readiness, as group settings may overwhelm, delaying recovery from substance use disorder’s psychological impact.
Choice C reason: Requesting psychiatric evaluation is premature without assessing hopelessness. Scientifically, hopelessness in addiction may stem from dopamine dysregulation or psychological triggers. Assessment identifies specific needs, guiding interventions, while premature referral risks misaligned treatment, delaying stabilization of the client’s mental state and recovery efforts.
Choice D reason: Assessing hopelessness and triggers identifies psychological barriers in substance use disorder. Scientifically, this evaluates dopamine-driven reward issues and stress responses, guiding tailored interventions. Engaging the prefrontal cortex through discussion enhances motivation, stabilizing emotional regulation and supporting recovery by addressing addiction’s neurobiological and psychological components.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: A safety plan ensures protection from ongoing intimate partner violence, addressing immediate risks. Scientifically, it reduces cortisol-driven stress responses by providing escape strategies, stabilizing emotional regulation. This mitigates trauma’s neurobiological impact, like amygdala hyperactivity, fostering safety and supporting psychological recovery from abuse-related disorders.
Choice B reason: Assessing and documenting injuries confirms abuse and guides care. Physical trauma elevates stress hormones, impacting mental health. Scientifically, thorough evaluation identifies injury severity, supporting legal and medical interventions. This addresses trauma’s physiological and psychological effects, ensuring comprehensive care for abuse survivors.
Choice C reason: Providing resources like shelters and support groups ensures safety and emotional support. Scientifically, access to safe environments lowers cortisol and stabilizes amygdala-driven fear responses. This empowers clients, reducing trauma’s psychological impact and fostering resilience, critical for recovery from intimate partner violence’s long-term effects.
Choice D reason: Keeping a journal may document abuse but isn’t a priority, as it doesn’t ensure immediate safety. Scientifically, focusing on documentation without safety measures risks ongoing trauma, as unaddressed abuse elevates cortisol and amygdala activity, delaying psychological stabilization and recovery from violence-related stress disorders.
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