©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Chapter 58: Chronic Neurologic Problems Harding:
Lewis's Medical-Surgical Nursing, 11th Edition Exam
Study Questions and Answers Guaranteed Pass
The nurse should determine that teaching about migraine headaches has been effective when the
patient says which of the following? - Ans:✔✔-"I will lie down someplace dark and quiet when the
headaches begin."
Rational:
It is recommended that the patient with a migraine rest in a dark, quiet area. Topiramate (Topamax) is
used to prevent migraines. It must be taken for several months to determine effectiveness. Aspirin or
other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications can be taken with the triptans. Alcohol may precipitate
migraine headaches.
Which finding should the nurse expect when assessing a patient who is experiencing a cluster headache?
- Ans:✔✔-Unilateral ptosis
Rational:
Unilateral eye edema, tearing, and ptosis are characteristic of cluster headaches. Nuchal
Page 1/16
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
rigidity suggests meningeal irritation, such as occurs with meningitis. Although nausea and vomiting may
occur with migraine headaches, projectile vomiting is more consistent with increased intracranial
pressure. Unilateral sharp, stabbing pain, rather than throbbing pain, is characteristic of cluster
headaches.
While the nurse is transporting a patient on a stretcher to the radiology department, the patient begins
having a tonic-clonic seizure. Which action should the nurse take? - Ans:✔✔-Time and observe and
record the details of the seizure and postictal state.
Rational:
Because the diagnosis and treatment of seizures frequently are based on the description of the
seizure, recording the length and details of the seizure is important. Insertion of an oral airway and
restraining the patient during the seizure are contraindicated. The nurse may need to move the patient
to decrease the risk of injury during the seizure.
A high school teacher who has been diagnosed with epilepsy after having a generalized tonic-clonic
seizure tells the nurse, "I cannot teach any more. It will be too upsetting if I have a seizure at work." How
should the nurse respond to specifically address the patient's
concern? - Ans:✔✔-"Epilepsy usually can be well controlled with medications."
Rational:
Page 2/16
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
The nurse should inform the patient that most seizure disorders are controlled with medication. The
other information may be necessary if seizures persist after treatment with antiseizure medications is
implemented.
A patient has been taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for 2 years. Which action should the nurse take when
evaluating possible adverse effects of the medication? - Ans:✔✔-Inspect the oral mucosa.
Rational:
Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia, but does not affect bowel sounds, lung sounds, or pupil
reaction to light.
A patient reports feeling numbness and tingling of the left arm before experiencing a seizure. The nurse
should know that this history is consistent with what type of seizure? - Ans:✔✔-Focal-onset
Rational:
The initial symptoms of a focal-onset seizure involve clinical manifestations that are localized to a
particular part of the body or brain. Symptoms of an absence seizure are staring and a brief loss of
consciousness. In an atonic seizure, the patient loses muscle tone and (typically) falls to the ground.
Myoclonic seizures are characterized by a sudden jerk of the body or
extremities.
Page 3/16
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Chapter 58: Chronic Neurologic Problems Harding:
Lewis's Medical-Surgical Nursing, 11th Edition Exam
Study Questions and Answers Guaranteed Pass
The nurse should determine that teaching about migraine headaches has been effective when the
patient says which of the following? - Ans:✔✔-"I will lie down someplace dark and quiet when the
headaches begin."
Rational:
It is recommended that the patient with a migraine rest in a dark, quiet area. Topiramate (Topamax) is
used to prevent migraines. It must be taken for several months to determine effectiveness. Aspirin or
other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications can be taken with the triptans. Alcohol may precipitate
migraine headaches.
Which finding should the nurse expect when assessing a patient who is experiencing a cluster headache?
- Ans:✔✔-Unilateral ptosis
Rational:
Unilateral eye edema, tearing, and ptosis are characteristic of cluster headaches. Nuchal
Page 1/16
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
rigidity suggests meningeal irritation, such as occurs with meningitis. Although nausea and vomiting may
occur with migraine headaches, projectile vomiting is more consistent with increased intracranial
pressure. Unilateral sharp, stabbing pain, rather than throbbing pain, is characteristic of cluster
headaches.
While the nurse is transporting a patient on a stretcher to the radiology department, the patient begins
having a tonic-clonic seizure. Which action should the nurse take? - Ans:✔✔-Time and observe and
record the details of the seizure and postictal state.
Rational:
Because the diagnosis and treatment of seizures frequently are based on the description of the
seizure, recording the length and details of the seizure is important. Insertion of an oral airway and
restraining the patient during the seizure are contraindicated. The nurse may need to move the patient
to decrease the risk of injury during the seizure.
A high school teacher who has been diagnosed with epilepsy after having a generalized tonic-clonic
seizure tells the nurse, "I cannot teach any more. It will be too upsetting if I have a seizure at work." How
should the nurse respond to specifically address the patient's
concern? - Ans:✔✔-"Epilepsy usually can be well controlled with medications."
Rational:
Page 2/16
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
The nurse should inform the patient that most seizure disorders are controlled with medication. The
other information may be necessary if seizures persist after treatment with antiseizure medications is
implemented.
A patient has been taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for 2 years. Which action should the nurse take when
evaluating possible adverse effects of the medication? - Ans:✔✔-Inspect the oral mucosa.
Rational:
Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia, but does not affect bowel sounds, lung sounds, or pupil
reaction to light.
A patient reports feeling numbness and tingling of the left arm before experiencing a seizure. The nurse
should know that this history is consistent with what type of seizure? - Ans:✔✔-Focal-onset
Rational:
The initial symptoms of a focal-onset seizure involve clinical manifestations that are localized to a
particular part of the body or brain. Symptoms of an absence seizure are staring and a brief loss of
consciousness. In an atonic seizure, the patient loses muscle tone and (typically) falls to the ground.
Myoclonic seizures are characterized by a sudden jerk of the body or
extremities.
Page 3/16
