Neurodegenerative Disorders Nursing Flashcards
7 cards from real CNRN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Neurodegenerative Disorders Nursing flashcards as text
Which type of multiple sclerosis is characterized by steadily worsening neurologic function from disease onset without distinct relapses or remissions?
Answer: Primary progressive MS
Primary progressive MS (PPMS) is characterized by continuous neurological decline from disease onset without distinct relapses or remissions.
Which set of signs represents the four cardinal motor features of Parkinson's disease?
Answer: Tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability
The four cardinal signs of Parkinson's disease are resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability.
A patient with ALS is experiencing dysphagia. Which nursing intervention is the HIGHEST priority?
Answer: Assess swallowing function and implement aspiration precautions
Dysphagia in ALS creates significant aspiration risk; assessing swallowing and implementing aspiration precautions is the priority to prevent life-threatening aspiration pneumonia.
Which clinical feature best differentiates early Alzheimer's disease from other dementias?
Answer: Insidious onset with predominant short-term memory impairment
Alzheimer's disease characteristically presents with insidious onset where short-term memory impairment is the predominant early feature.
A nurse is caring for a patient with relapsing-remitting MS. Which medication class is used as a disease-modifying therapy to reduce relapse frequency?
Answer: Beta-interferons
Beta-interferons (e.g., interferon beta-1a, beta-1b) are disease-modifying therapies that reduce the frequency and severity of MS relapses by modulating the immune response.
Huntington's disease is caused by which genetic mutation?
Answer: CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion on chromosome 4
Huntington's disease results from an expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the HTT gene on chromosome 4, leading to progressive striatal neurodegeneration.
A patient with myasthenia gravis develops sudden respiratory distress and profound muscle weakness after starting a new antibiotic. This presentation is MOST consistent with:
Answer: Myasthenic crisis precipitated by the antibiotic
Myasthenic crisis — severe muscle weakness and respiratory failure — can be precipitated by certain antibiotics (e.g., aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones) that impair neuromuscular transmission.