A nurse is planning care for a client who has multiple sclerosis and is receiving methylprednisolone. Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse anticipate? (Select all that apply.)

Choice A Reason:

Client responds to name is incorrect. Responding to one's name is a positive sign indicating consciousness and orientation. It suggests that the client's level of consciousness is relatively intact.

Choice B Reason:

Eyes open to painful stimuli is correct. Opening the eyes in response to painful stimuli is a concerning sign, indicating a decrease in consciousness and potentially worsening neurological status. It suggests that the client's level of arousal is diminishing and may indicate a decline in condition.

Choice C Reason:

Client states day of the week is correct. Oriented behavior, such as knowing the day of the week, is a positive sign indicating intact cognition and orientation. It suggests that the client's mental status is relatively preserved.

Choice D Reason:

Client is confused is correct. Confusion is a concerning sign, indicating altered mental status and potentially worsening neurological function. It suggests that the client's cognition is impaired, which may be indicative of a decline in condition.

Choice E Reason:

Client mumbles inappropriate words is correct. Mumbling inappropriate words suggests disorientation and altered mental status, which are concerning signs indicating a decline in neurological function.

Choice F Reason:

Eyes do not open to name is incorrect. Failure to open the eyes in response to verbal stimuli, such as one's name, is a concerning sign indicating a decrease in consciousness and potentially worsening neurological status. It suggests that the client's level of arousal is diminished and may indicate a decline in condition.

Choice A Reason:

Flail chest is incorrect. Flail chest is a condition characterized by multiple rib fractures, causing instability in the chest wall. While it can lead to respiratory distress, it doesn't directly cause ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. Instead, it impairs the mechanics of breathing by compromising chest wall integrity.

Choice B Reason:

Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) where the alveolar walls are destroyed, leading to a loss of surface area for gas exchange. This results in areas of the lungs that are well-perfused but poorly ventilated, causing a V/Q mismatch. The damage to alveoli leads to impaired ventilation, while blood flow may still be adequate, leading to hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood).

Choice C Reason:

CHF primarily affects the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, leading to pulmonary congestion and impaired gas exchange. However, it typically causes diffusion defects rather than a direct ventilation-perfusion mismatch. V/Q mismatch may occur secondary to pulmonary edema, but it’s not the primary mechanism of respiratory failure in CHF.

Choice D Reason:

Guillain-Barré syndrome is incorrect. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a neurological disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. While respiratory muscle weakness can occur in GBS, it doesn't directly cause ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. GBS primarily affects nerve function rather than lung function.