(Questions and
Answers)
1. A 60-year-old woman presents with a chief complaint of uncomfortable breathing on
exertion. She has had a minimally productive cough for several years that does not bother
her. On further questioning, she states that her breathing gets much worse when she lies
down. The most likely cause of her dyspnea is:
Cardiac
2. A 68-year-old male presents with a chief complaint of episodes of lightheadedness or
dizziness. He states that sweating, tachycardia, and some hand trembling are often
associated with these episodes. Which one of the following questions should you ask to help
confirm the diagnosis?
Are these symptoms related to eating?
3. A 68-year-old male presents with a chief complaint of episodic dizziness. Although not dizzy
at present, he states that he has noted onset of dizzy episodes when he rolls over in bed and
occasionally when he turns his head rapidly. Episodes last about 3 minutes. The most likely
diagnosis is:
Benign positional vertigo
4. A 75-year old resident in the nursing home has end stage dementia and experiences a 10-
pound weight loss over the course of 2 months. The resident has become increasingly
difficult to feed and often spits out food, pockets food, and frequently drools. The family is
, concerned about the resident's nutritional status. What is the initial action of the nurse
practitioner?