A patient complains, "I feel like the whole room is spinning around me." What term should the nurse use to document this symptom?
Tinnitus
Dizziness
Vertigo
Otalgia
The Correct Answer is C
Vertigo is a subjective sensation of illusory motion resulting from an imbalance in the vestibular system. It is often classified as peripheral, involving the semicircular canals, or central, involving the brainstem. The sensation of the environment spinning differentiates it from simple disequilibrium and is often triggered by changes in head position.
A. Tinnitus: This term refers to the perception of sound, such as ringing, buzzing, or hissing, in the absence of an external acoustic stimulus. While it often occurs alongside vestibular issues, it describes an auditory sensation rather than the perception of spinning or movement of the room.
B. Dizziness: Dizziness is a non-specific, umbrella term that can include lightheadedness, faintness, or unsteady feelings. While patients often use this word, the nurse must clarify the exact nature of the sensation. It is less specific than the term required to describe a spinning sensation.
C. Vertigo: This is the precise medical term used to document the sensation that the room or the patient is spinning. It indicates a vestibular or neurological origin for the patient's complaint. Documentation of vertigo helps clinicians narrow down the differential diagnosis to inner ear or cerebellar issues.
D. Otalgia: Otalgia is the medical term for ear pain, which can be primary (originating in the ear) or referred (from the jaw or throat). While ear pathology can cause vertigo, otalgia itself does not describe the sensation of motion. It is a sensory report of discomfort, not imbalance.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the loss of articular cartilage and the formation of new bone at the joint margins. Heberden nodules occur at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints, while Bouchard nodules appear at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. These hard, bony overgrowths are permanent structural changes resulting from chronic osteophyte development.
A. Osteoporosis: This is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration, leading to increased bone fragility. It typically presents with vertebral or hip fractures. It does not cause the localized, bony nodular swellings in the finger joints described.
B. Carpal tunnel syndrome: This is a compressive neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist. It presents with paresthesia, numbness, and potential thenar atrophy. It is a soft tissue and nerve entrapment issue and does not involve the formation of bony nodules on the finger joints.
C. Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine. While it is a musculoskeletal deformity, it does not have any clinical association with the small joints of the hands. It is a disorder of the axial skeleton rather than the peripheral joints.
D. Osteoarthritis: The presence of Heberden and Bouchard nodules is a classic diagnostic sign of nodal osteoarthritis. These represent the body's attempt to repair joint damage through bone proliferation. They are the characteristic physical findings for this degenerative joint condition.
Correct Answer is {"A":{"answers":"A"},"B":{"answers":"A"},"C":{"answers":"B"},"D":{"answers":"B"}}
Explanation
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune condition characterized by chronic synovial inflammation and symmetrical joint destruction. In contrast, Osteoarthritis (OA) is a localized degenerative process resulting from mechanical wear and tear of the articular cartilage. These conditions are differentiated clinically by the duration of morning stiffness and the specific joints affected.
Osteoarthritis (OA): This wear-and-tear disease typically affects weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees (D). Morning stiffness is brief, usually resolving in less than 30 minutes once the joint is moved (B). These findings reflect the non-inflammatory, mechanical nature of the cartilaginous breakdown in OA.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): As an autoimmune disease (C), the body's immune system attacks the joint linings, causing significant systemic symptoms. This inflammation leads to prolonged morning stiffness that lasts more than 1 hour (A). The stiffness is often widespread and requires significant activity to alleviate.
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