The nurse is conducting an admission assessment on a patient.
When collecting data relating to the medications, the nurse asks “What medications are you taking?” After collecting that information, what other queries should the nurse ask? Select all that apply.

Choice A rationale

Magnesium plays a role in muscle relaxation but is not primarily responsible for muscle contraction. It helps in stabilizing the muscle membrane by acting as a natural calcium blocker. Deficiency in magnesium can lead to muscle cramps and spasms, but it does not directly cause muscle contraction and relaxation processes.

Choice B rationale

Chloride is an essential electrolyte involved in maintaining fluid balance and acid-base balance, but it does not directly influence muscle contraction and relaxation. It works in conjunction with sodium to regulate osmotic pressure and acid-base balance.

Choice C rationale

Calcium is crucial for muscle contraction. It is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum within the muscle cells and binds to troponin, causing a conformational change that allows actin and myosin to interact and generate contraction. During relaxation, calcium ions are pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Choice D rationale

Hydrogen ions are involved in pH balance and acid-base regulation but do not directly affect muscle contraction and relaxation. Excess hydrogen ions (acidosis) can impair muscle function, but they are not the primary factor in muscle contraction processes.

Choice A rationale

Parkinson's disease is characterized by an imbalance of dopamine and acetylcholine, primarily due to the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra. This imbalance results in the characteristic motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia.

Choice B rationale

Parkinson's disease involves decreased dopamine production, not increased. The disease is caused by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to reduced dopamine levels and an imbalance with acetylcholine.

Choice C rationale

Alzheimer's disease is not primarily characterized by a decrease in dopamine. Instead, it involves the degeneration of cholinergic neurons and a deficiency in acetylcholine, which is crucial for memory and cognitive functions.

Choice D rationale

Alzheimer's disease is associated with a deficiency of acetylcholine rather than an excess. The disease is also characterized by the presence of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, which contribute to cognitive decline.