The nurse is educating the family about anticipated changes during the late stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for their father. What teaching point is most important for the nurse to include?

The person's cognitive and mental capacity will most likely remain intact throughout the disease progression.

The person's ability to swallow will remain intact throughout the disease.

The person's risk for seizures increases with progression of the disease.

The person's breathing will not be affected by the disease.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor neurons, which control the voluntary muscles. It does not affect the cognitive or mental functions, such as memory, reasoning, or emotions. Therefore, the person with ALS will be aware of their condition and their surroundings, even when they lose their ability to move, speak, or breathe.

Choice B reason: ALS affects the muscles of the mouth, throat, and chest, which are involved in swallowing. As the disease progresses, the person with ALS will have difficulty swallowing food, liquids, and saliva. This can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, choking, and aspiration pneumonia.

Choice C reason: ALS does not directly cause seizures, which are abnormal electrical activity in the brain. However, some medications used to treat the symptoms of ALS, such as muscle relaxants, may increase the risk of seizures. Therefore, the person with ALS should be monitored for any signs of seizures, such as loss of consciousness, convulsions, or confusion.

Choice D reason: ALS affects the muscles of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles, which are involved in breathing. As the disease progresses, the person with ALS will have difficulty breathing, especially at night or when lying down. This can lead to respiratory failure, which is the most common cause of death in ALS. Therefore, the person with ALS may need mechanical ventilation or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation to support their breathing.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: This is correct. Folic acid deficiency causes macrocytic, normochromic anemia, which means that the red blood cells are larger than normal, but have normal color and hemoglobin content. Folic acid is a vitamin that is needed for the synthesis of DNA and the maturation of red blood cells.

Choice B reason: This is incorrect. Microcytic, hypochromic anemia means that the red blood cells are smaller than normal and have less color and hemoglobin content. This type of anemia is caused by iron deficiency, not folic acid deficiency.

Choice C reason: This is incorrect. Normocytic, normochromic anemia means that the red blood cells are normal in size, color, and hemoglobin content, but there are fewer of them. This type of anemia is caused by blood loss, hemolysis, or bone marrow failure, not folic acid deficiency.

Choice D reason: This is incorrect. Microcytic, normochromic anemia means that the red blood cells are smaller than normal, but have normal color and hemoglobin content. This type of anemia is rare and is caused by disorders of red blood cell production, such as thalassemia or sideroblastic anemia, not folic acid deficiency.

A. "Try relaxation and warm moist compresses for your headaches and document your response." B. "Keep a diary of your headaches, recording symptoms, timing, and headache triggers." C. "Call and come in the next time you have a headache so you can be examined." D. "Keep track of how many headaches you have before you come in."

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: "Try relaxation and warm moist compresses for your headaches and document your response." is not the best instruction by the nurse to gather additional data before the appointment. It is a suggestion for self-care and pain relief, but it does not provide any information about the cause, type, or severity of the headaches.

Choice B reason: "Keep a diary of your headaches, recording symptoms, timing, and headache triggers." is the best instruction by the nurse to gather additional data before the appointment. It is a useful tool for collecting objective and subjective data about the headaches, such as their frequency, duration, intensity, location, quality, associated symptoms, and precipitating factors. This can help the primary care practitioner to diagnose the type of headache, such as migraine, tension, or cluster, and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Choice C reason: "Call and come in the next time you have a headache so you can be examined." is not the best instruction by the nurse to gather additional data before the appointment. It is a suggestion for urgent care, but it does not provide any information about the history, pattern, or characteristics of the headaches.

Choice D reason: "Keep track of how many headaches you have before you come in." is not the best instruction by the nurse to gather additional data before the appointment. It is a simple measure of the quantity of the headaches, but it does not provide any information about the quality, severity, or triggers of the headaches.

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The nurse is educating the family about anticipated changes during the late stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for their father. What teaching point is most important for the nurse to include?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient has a folic acid deficiency associated with not consuming food with folic acid. The nurse would expect a complete blood cell count (CBC) to reveal?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A patient makes an appointment to see a primary care practitioner for recurrent severe headaches. Which instruction by the nurse will help gather the best additional data before the appointment?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse is educating the family about anticipated changes during the late stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for their father. What teaching point is most important for the nurse to include?

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