A patient is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Which assessment is the priority?

Respiratory status

Neurological function

Circulatory status

Gastrointestinal function

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: Obstructive sleep apnea causes airway collapse, leading to hypopnea, apnea, and hypoxia. Assessing respiratory status, including oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and snoring, is critical to detect life-threatening desaturations or respiratory failure. This priority ensures airway patency and adequate oxygenation, addressing the primary pathophysiology of the condition.

Choice B reason: Neurological function may be affected by hypoxia in severe sleep apnea, causing daytime sleepiness or cognitive issues. However, respiratory status is the priority, as airway obstruction directly threatens oxygenation. Neurological assessment is secondary, as it does not address the immediate risk of respiratory compromise.

Choice C reason: Circulatory status, like blood pressure, may be impacted by chronic sleep apnea due to hypoxia-induced hypertension. However, respiratory status takes precedence, as airway obstruction is the primary issue causing desaturation. Circulatory changes are secondary and less urgent than ensuring adequate ventilation.

Choice D reason: Gastrointestinal function is unrelated to obstructive sleep apnea’s primary effects. While reflux may contribute to sleep issues, it is not a priority compared to respiratory status, which

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Normal grief involves sadness and adjustment after loss, typically resolving within months. The nurse’s ongoing distress, sobbing, and poor performance 2 years post-loss suggest persistent, impairing grief, beyond normal expectations. This intensity and duration align with complicated grief, making normal grief incorrect.

Choice B reason: Complicated grief involves intense, prolonged symptoms that impair functioning, like the nurse’s deteriorating work and home life 2 years after spousal loss. Sobbing and feeling “falling apart” indicate unresolved grief, disrupting daily life, making this the correct type, as it reflects significant, ongoing emotional distress.

Choice C reason: Prolonged grief is a specific diagnosis with criteria like yearning or preoccupation persisting beyond 6-12 months. While similar, complicated grief is a broader term encompassing the nurse’s functional impairment and emotional collapse, making it more appropriate for the described severity and impact on work and home.

Choice D reason: Disenfranchised grief occurs when loss is not socially acknowledged, like a pet’s death. Spousal loss is recognized, and the nurse’s distress is overt, not hidden. The symptoms align with complicated grief’s intensity and duration, not disenfranchised grief, making this incorrect.

A. Naps shorter than 20 minutes. B. Takes antidepressant medications. C. Chews gum regularly. D. Sleeps in a hot, stuffy room.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Short naps (15-20 minutes) are recommended for narcolepsy to manage excessive daytime sleepiness without disrupting nighttime sleep. This aligns with evidence-based management, improving alertness. No intervention is needed, as this practice supports symptom control, enhancing daily function and reducing sleep attacks in narcolepsy patients.

Choice B reason: Taking antidepressants, like SSRIs or SNRIs, is standard for narcolepsy to manage cataplexy or sleep disturbances. This is appropriate and requires no intervention unless misuse occurs. The nurse would ensure proper dosing, as antidepressants support symptom control, improving quality of life without disrupting narcolepsy management strategies.

Choice C reason: Chewing gum regularly is benign and unrelated to narcolepsy management. It may help with alertness but doesn’t warrant intervention. Unlike environmental factors like room temperature, gum has no significant impact on sleep quality or narcolepsy symptoms, making it an irrelevant focus for nursing education or correction.

Choice D reason: Sleeping in a hot, stuffy room disrupts sleep quality, exacerbating narcolepsy symptoms like fragmented sleep or daytime sleepiness. The nurse intervenes to promote a cool, well-ventilated sleep environment, critical for optimizing rest. Poor sleep hygiene worsens narcolepsy, reducing treatment efficacy and increasing risks of sleep attacks or fatigue.

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A patient is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Which assessment is the priority?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is called into the supervisor’s office regarding deteriorating work performance since the loss of a spouse 2 years ago. The nurse begins sobbing and says, “I’m falling apart at home as well.” Which type of grief is the nurse experiencing?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The patient has just been diagnosed with narcolepsy. The nurse teaches the patient about management of the condition. Which information from the patient will cause the nurse to intervene?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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