Which effect on the central nervous system is related to symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)?

Choice A reason: Giving an antiemetic treats nausea but doesn’t address the headache and nausea’s cause, likely autonomic dysreflexia in T3 injury. Assessing blood pressure identifies this emergency, making this secondary and incorrect compared to the nurse’s priority of evaluating the patient’s urgent symptoms.

Choice B reason: Checking for fecal impaction is relevant for autonomic dysreflexia but secondary to blood pressure assessment, which confirms the emergency. Immediate BP evaluation is critical, making this delayed and incorrect compared to the nurse’s first action for the patient’s symptoms.

Choice C reason: Assessing blood pressure first is critical, as headache and nausea in a T3 spinal cord injury patient suggest autonomic dysreflexia, a hypertensive emergency. This aligns with neurological nursing priorities, making it the correct initial action to address the patient’s urgent symptoms.

Choice D reason: Notifying the provider is important but follows assessing blood pressure to confirm autonomic dysreflexia. Immediate BP evaluation guides care, making this premature and incorrect compared to the nurse’s first action to evaluate the T3 injury patient’s headache and nausea.

Choice A reason: Metoprolol treats hypertension and heart conditions, not Parkinson’s symptoms like tremors or stiffness. Carbidopa-levodopa addresses these directly, making this incorrect, as it is not used for Parkinson’s management in the patient’s medication regimen for neurological symptoms.

Choice B reason: Carbidopa-levodopa is a primary Parkinson’s treatment, increasing dopamine to reduce tremors and stiffness. This aligns with neurological pharmacotherapy, making it a correct medication the nurse would recognize as typically used for Mr. Frank’s Parkinson’s disease management.

Choice C reason: Benztropine (cogentin) is an anticholinergic used in Parkinson’s to reduce tremors and rigidity. This aligns with standard Parkinson’s treatment protocols, making it a correct medication the nurse would identify as part of Mr. Frank’s regimen for managing his neurological symptoms.

Choice D reason: Aspirin is used for cardiovascular protection, not Parkinson’s symptoms like muscle stiffness. Carbidopa-levodopa is specific to Parkinson’s, making this incorrect, as it does not address the neurological symptoms of Mr. Frank’s diagnosed condition in his treatment plan.

Choice E reason: Lisinopril manages hypertension, not Parkinson’s-related tremors or walking difficulties. Benztropine targets these symptoms, making this incorrect, as it is irrelevant to the neurological management of Mr. Frank’s Parkinson’s disease in his home medication list.

Choice F reason: Atorvastatin treats hyperlipidemia, not Parkinson’s symptoms like stiffness or tremors. Carbidopa-levodopa is a Parkinson’s treatment, making this incorrect, as it does not contribute to managing Mr. Frank’s neurological condition in his prescribed medication regimen.