A nurse is providing care for a patient in the emergency department who has been preliminarily diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Which diagnostic test should the nurse expect the healthcare provider to order?

Choice A rationale

Respiratory therapy is primarily concerned with the treatment and management of a patient’s breathing. While swallowing difficulties can potentially lead to respiratory issues such as aspiration pneumonia, the primary role of evaluating and treating swallowing difficulties falls outside the scope of respiratory therapy.
Choice B rationale
Nutritional therapy would be involved in managing the dietary needs of a patient with Parkinson’s disease, including modifications to food texture and liquid consistency if swallowing difficulties are present. However, the evaluation and treatment of the swallowing difficulty itself would be managed by a speech therapist.
Choice C rationale
Occupational therapy could assist with adaptations to enhance the patient’s feeding skills and independence during meals. However, the specific evaluation and treatment of swallowing function is typically within the scope of a speech therapist.
Choice D rationale
Speech therapists, or speech-language pathologists, are the professionals specifically trained to evaluate and treat individuals with speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. This would include a patient with Parkinson’s disease experiencing difficulty swallowing.

Choice A rationale
A Computerized Tomography Angiography (CTA) scan is often used to diagnose a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). This imaging test can provide detailed images of blood vessels in the brain and neck, allowing healthcare providers to identify blockages or other abnormalities that could have caused the TIA12.
Choice B rationale
A Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) is a type of echocardiogram that uses a probe passed down the esophagus to obtain detailed images of the heart. While it can be useful in diagnosing certain heart conditions, it is not typically the first-line diagnostic test for a TIA12.
Choice C rationale
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a blood test that measures different components of the blood, including red and white blood cells and platelets. While it can provide useful information about a person’s overall health, it is not typically used to diagnose a TIA12.
Choice D rationale
Prothrombin Time (PT) is a blood test that measures how long it takes for your blood to clot. While it can provide information about clotting disorders, it is not typically used to diagnose a