Health Challenges Exam 2 Practice Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update
2025-2026
A 50-yr-old man complains of recurring headaches. He describes these as sharp, stabbing, and
located around his left eye. He also reports that his left eye seems to swell and get teary when
these headaches occur. Based on this history, you suspect that he has
a. cluster headaches.
b. tension headaches.
c. migraine headaches.
d. medication overuse headaches. - Answers A
A 65-yr-old woman was just diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The priority nursing
intervention is
a. searching the Internet for educational videos.
b. evaluating the home for environmental safety.
c. promoting physical exercise and a well-balanced diet.
d. designing an exercise program to strengthen and stretch specific muscles. - Answers C
The nurse finds an 87-yr-old woman with Alzheimer's disease is continually rubbing, flexing, and
kicking her legs throughout the day. The night shift reports this same behavior escalates at
night, preventing her from obtaining her required sleep. The next step the nurse should take is to
a. ask the physician for a daytime sedative for the patient.
b. request soft restraints to prevent her from falling out of her bed.
c. ask the physician for a nighttime sleep medication for the patient.
d. assess the patient more closely, suspecting a disorder such as restless legs syndrome -
Answers D
Social effects of a chronic neurologic disease include (select all that apply)
a. divorce.
b. job loss.
c. depression.
d. role changes.
,e. loss of self-esteem. - Answers a,b,c,d,e
The nurse is reinforcing teaching with a patient newly diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS). Which statement would be appropriate to include in the teaching?
a. "ALS results from an excess chemical in the brain, and the symptoms can be controlled with
medication."
b. "Even though the symptoms you are experiencing are severe, most people recover with
treatment."
c. "You need to consider advance directives now, because you will lose cognitive function as the
disease progresses."
d. "This is a progressing disease that eventually results in permanent paralysis, though you will
not lose any cognitive function." - Answers d
Dementia is defined as a
a. syndrome that results only in memory loss.
b. disease associated with abrupt changes in behavior.
c. disease that is always due to reduced blood flow to the brain.
d. syndrome characterized by cognitive dysfunction and loss of memory. - Answers d
Vascular dementia is associated with
a. transient ischemic attacks.
b. bacterial or viral infection of neuronal tissue.
c. cognitive changes secondary to cerebral ischemia.
d. abrupt changes in cognitive function that are irreversible. - Answers c
. The clinical diagnosis of dementia is based on
a. CT or MRS.
b. brain biopsy.
c. electroencephalogram.
d. patient history and cognitive assessment. - Answers d
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by
, a. remissions and exacerbations over many years.
b. memory impairment, muscle jerks, and blindness.
c. parkinsonian symptoms, including muscle rigidity.
d. increased intracranial pressure secondary to decreased CSF drainage. - Answers c
Which statement(s) accurately describe(s) mild cognitive impairment (select all that apply)?
a. Always progresses to AD
b. Caused by variety of factors and may progress to AD
c. Should be aggressively treated with acetylcholinesterase drugs
d. Caused by vascular infarcts that, if treated, will delay progression to AD
e. Patient is usually not aware that there is a problem with his or her memory - Answers b
The early stage of AD is characterized by
a. no noticeable change in behavior.
b. memory problems and mild confusion.
c. increased time spent sleeping or in bed.
d. incontinence, agitation, and wandering behavior. - Answers b
A priority goal of treatment for the patient with AD is to
a. maintain patient safety.
b. maintain or increase body weight.
c. return to a higher level of self-care.
d. enhance functional ability over time. - Answers a
Which patient is most at risk for developing delirium?
a. A 50-yr-old woman with cholecystitis
b. A 19-yr-old man with a fractured femur
c. A 42-yr-old woman having an elective hysterectomy
d. A 78-yr-old man admitted to the medical unit with complications related to heart failure -
Answers d
2025-2026
A 50-yr-old man complains of recurring headaches. He describes these as sharp, stabbing, and
located around his left eye. He also reports that his left eye seems to swell and get teary when
these headaches occur. Based on this history, you suspect that he has
a. cluster headaches.
b. tension headaches.
c. migraine headaches.
d. medication overuse headaches. - Answers A
A 65-yr-old woman was just diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The priority nursing
intervention is
a. searching the Internet for educational videos.
b. evaluating the home for environmental safety.
c. promoting physical exercise and a well-balanced diet.
d. designing an exercise program to strengthen and stretch specific muscles. - Answers C
The nurse finds an 87-yr-old woman with Alzheimer's disease is continually rubbing, flexing, and
kicking her legs throughout the day. The night shift reports this same behavior escalates at
night, preventing her from obtaining her required sleep. The next step the nurse should take is to
a. ask the physician for a daytime sedative for the patient.
b. request soft restraints to prevent her from falling out of her bed.
c. ask the physician for a nighttime sleep medication for the patient.
d. assess the patient more closely, suspecting a disorder such as restless legs syndrome -
Answers D
Social effects of a chronic neurologic disease include (select all that apply)
a. divorce.
b. job loss.
c. depression.
d. role changes.
,e. loss of self-esteem. - Answers a,b,c,d,e
The nurse is reinforcing teaching with a patient newly diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS). Which statement would be appropriate to include in the teaching?
a. "ALS results from an excess chemical in the brain, and the symptoms can be controlled with
medication."
b. "Even though the symptoms you are experiencing are severe, most people recover with
treatment."
c. "You need to consider advance directives now, because you will lose cognitive function as the
disease progresses."
d. "This is a progressing disease that eventually results in permanent paralysis, though you will
not lose any cognitive function." - Answers d
Dementia is defined as a
a. syndrome that results only in memory loss.
b. disease associated with abrupt changes in behavior.
c. disease that is always due to reduced blood flow to the brain.
d. syndrome characterized by cognitive dysfunction and loss of memory. - Answers d
Vascular dementia is associated with
a. transient ischemic attacks.
b. bacterial or viral infection of neuronal tissue.
c. cognitive changes secondary to cerebral ischemia.
d. abrupt changes in cognitive function that are irreversible. - Answers c
. The clinical diagnosis of dementia is based on
a. CT or MRS.
b. brain biopsy.
c. electroencephalogram.
d. patient history and cognitive assessment. - Answers d
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by
, a. remissions and exacerbations over many years.
b. memory impairment, muscle jerks, and blindness.
c. parkinsonian symptoms, including muscle rigidity.
d. increased intracranial pressure secondary to decreased CSF drainage. - Answers c
Which statement(s) accurately describe(s) mild cognitive impairment (select all that apply)?
a. Always progresses to AD
b. Caused by variety of factors and may progress to AD
c. Should be aggressively treated with acetylcholinesterase drugs
d. Caused by vascular infarcts that, if treated, will delay progression to AD
e. Patient is usually not aware that there is a problem with his or her memory - Answers b
The early stage of AD is characterized by
a. no noticeable change in behavior.
b. memory problems and mild confusion.
c. increased time spent sleeping or in bed.
d. incontinence, agitation, and wandering behavior. - Answers b
A priority goal of treatment for the patient with AD is to
a. maintain patient safety.
b. maintain or increase body weight.
c. return to a higher level of self-care.
d. enhance functional ability over time. - Answers a
Which patient is most at risk for developing delirium?
a. A 50-yr-old woman with cholecystitis
b. A 19-yr-old man with a fractured femur
c. A 42-yr-old woman having an elective hysterectomy
d. A 78-yr-old man admitted to the medical unit with complications related to heart failure -
Answers d
