Nursing Elites

1. A patient with a history of osteoporosis is prescribed alendronate (Fosamax). What specific instructions should the nurse provide to ensure the effectiveness of the medication?

• A. Take the medication with a full glass of water and remain upright for at least 30 minutes to prevent esophageal irritation and ensure proper absorption.
• B. Take the medication with milk to enhance calcium absorption.
• C. Take the medication at bedtime to ensure absorption during sleep.
• D. Take the medication with food to prevent nausea.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Alendronate should be taken with a full glass of water, and patients should remain upright for at least 30 minutes to prevent esophageal irritation and ensure proper absorption. This positioning helps reduce the risk of esophageal irritation and ensures adequate drug absorption. Choice B is incorrect because alendronate should be taken with water, not milk. Choice C is incorrect as there is no specific advantage to taking alendronate at bedtime. Choice D is incorrect because taking alendronate with food may interfere with its absorption.

2. The nurse is caring for a client with an astrocytoma. The client asks, 'What do astrocytes do in the brain?' What is the nurse's best response?

• A. Astrocytes help to nourish and support neurons in the brain.
• B. Astrocytes are a type of neuron that transmit electrical signals.
• C. Astrocytes are involved in immune responses in the brain.
• D. Astrocytes help regulate blood flow in the brain.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Astrocytes play a crucial role in supporting and nourishing neurons by providing metabolic support, maintaining the blood-brain barrier, and regulating the chemical environment of the brain. While astrocytes are essential for brain function, they are not neurons and do not transmit electrical signals (Choice B). Astrocytes are not primarily involved in immune responses in the brain (Choice C) or in regulating blood flow in the brain (Choice D), although they indirectly influence blood flow through their support functions.

3. Muscular dystrophy is a result of an abnormality of the muscle protein:

• A. glycoprotein
• B. dystrophin
• C. troponin
• D. actinomyosin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Muscular dystrophy is primarily caused by mutations in the gene that provides instructions for making the protein dystrophin. Dystrophin plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure of muscle fibers. Glycoprotein is a general term for proteins with sugar molecules attached, not specifically related to muscular dystrophy. Troponin is a protein involved in muscle contraction regulation, and actinomyosin is not a specific muscle protein but a complex formed during muscle contraction. Therefore, the correct answer is dystrophin.

4. Anemia of chronic inflammation is generally classified as:

• A. Hypochromic and microcytic.
• B. Hypochromic and macrocytic.
• C. Normochromic and microcytic.
• D. Normochromic and normocytic.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Anemia of chronic inflammation is typically characterized by normochromic (normal hemoglobin content) and normocytic (normal cell size) red blood cells. Choice A, hypochromic and microcytic, is incorrect because hypochromic refers to reduced hemoglobin content and microcytic refers to smaller than normal red blood cells, which are not typically seen in anemia of chronic inflammation. Choice B, hypochromic and macrocytic, is also incorrect as macrocytic refers to larger than normal red blood cells. Choice C, normochromic and microcytic, is incorrect because microcytic red blood cells are smaller than normal. Therefore, the correct classification for anemia of chronic inflammation is normochromic and normocytic.

5. A group of nursing students and their professor are engaged in a service learning project and will be caring for patients in Haiti. What medication should be administered to prevent the development of malaria?

• A. Metronidazole (Flagyl)
• B. Oprelvekin (Neumega)
• C. Chloroquine phosphate (Aralen)
• D. Chloroprocaine hydrochloride (Nesacaine)

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is Chloroquine phosphate (Aralen). Chloroquine is a medication used to prevent and treat malaria. It works by killing the malaria parasite in the red blood cells. Metronidazole (Flagyl) is an antibiotic used to treat various bacterial and parasitic infections, not malaria. Oprelvekin (Neumega) is a medication used to stimulate platelet production. Chloroprocaine hydrochloride (Nesacaine) is a local anesthetic used for epidural anesthesia. Therefore, Chloroquine phosphate is the appropriate medication for preventing malaria in this scenario.

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