Title: Quiz: Sensory Disease/Disorder
Course: PRN 0092 Practical Nursing II > Section: Nursing Care of Clients with Nervous, Skin and Sensory Disorders

Q: A patient visits the physician for a routine physical examination that involves testing distance vision. As she faces the Snellen chart, the nurse is to instruct the patient to
- use both eyes to read the chart.
- read the chart from right to left.
- cover one eye while testing the other.
- use any one eye since they will be the same.
A: cover one eye while testing the other.
If right: A major diagnostic eye test is the Snellen test. While instructing a patient to perform this test, the nurse will have the patient stand or sit 20 feet from the chart and cover one eye to read the letters on the chart.
If wrong: A major diagnostic eye test is the Snellen test. While instructing a patient to perform this test, the nurse will have the patient stand or sit 20 feet from the chart and cover one eye to read the letters on the chart.

Q: The patient tells the nurse that he is legally blind. This information provides the nurse with which information to use in planning care?
- No vision enhancement techniques would be appropriate for this patient, because he is totally blind.
- This patient probably has some light perception, but no usable vision.
- This patient has some usable vision, which enables him to function at an acceptable level.
- Further questioning is needed to determine how this patient’s visual impairment affects his normal functioning.
A: Further questioning is needed to determine how this patient’s visual impairment affects his normal functioning.
If right: “Legal blindness” refers to individuals with a maximum visual acuity of 20/200 with corrective eyewear and/or visual field sight capacity reduced by 20 degrees. Categories have been established to help determine the exact extent of the vision loss and what assistive measures are appropriate for the individual. The nurse will need more information as to the exact extent of the vision loss for this patient.
If wrong: “Legal blindness” refers to individuals with a maximum visual acuity of 20/200 with corrective eyewear and/or visual field sight capacity reduced by 20 degrees. Categories have been established to help determine the exact extent of the vision loss and what assistive measures are appropriate for the individual. The nurse will need more information as to the exact extent of the vision loss for this patient.

Q: A patient is cleaning the garage and splashes a chemical in his eyes. The initial priority after the chemical burn is to
- transport to a physician immediately.
- cover the eyes with a sterile gauze.
- irrigate with H_2O for 15 minutes or longer.
- irrigate with normal saline solution for 1 to 5 minutes.
A: irrigate with H_2O for 15 minutes or longer.
If right: Burns are medically treated with a prolonged, 15- to 20-minute or longer tap-water flush immediately after burn exposure.
If wrong: Burns are medically treated with a prolonged, 15- to 20-minute or longer tap-water flush immediately after burn exposure.

Q: The patient, age 42, notices that she is having difficulty reading typed print. The nurse would explain that the decreased ability to accommodate for near vision is called
- senility.
- presbyopia.
- myopia.
- refraction.
A: presbyopia.
If right: Measurement of visual acuity can determine refractory errors such as presbyopia, the inability to focus on close objects.
If wrong: Measurement of visual acuity can determine refractory errors such as presbyopia, the inability to focus on close objects.

Q: Sjögren’s syndrome is associated with which eye disorder?
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- Conjunctivitis
- Blepharitis
- Opaque lens disorder
A: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
If right: If the patient with keratoconjunctivitis sicca has associated dry mouth, the patient has Sjögren’s syndrome (an immunologic disorder characterized by deficient fluid production by the lacrimal, salivary, and other glands, resulting in abnormal dryness of the mouth, eyes, and other mucous membranes). Complaints of dry eye are caused by a variety of ocular disorders characterized by decreased tear secretion or increased tear film evaporation.
If wrong: If the patient with keratoconjunctivitis sicca has associated dry mouth, the patient has Sjögren’s syndrome (an immunologic disorder characterized by deficient fluid production by the lacrimal, salivary, and other glands, resulting in abnormal dryness of the mouth, eyes, and other mucous membranes). Complaints of dry eye are caused by a variety of ocular disorders characterized by decreased tear secretion or increased tear film evaporation.

Q: A patient is scheduled for a stapedectomy. Appropriate postoperative teaching should include:
- Hourly changing cotton from external ear canal
- Gently blowing both nares simultaneously
- Teaching patient to open mouth when sneezing or coughing
- Limiting activities for 3 weeks
A: Teaching patient to open mouth when sneezing or coughing
If right: The nurse must include patient teaching about opening the mouth when sneezing or coughing or blowing the nose gently on one side at a time for 1 week.
If wrong: The nurse must include patient teaching about opening the mouth when sneezing or coughing or blowing the nose gently on one side at a time for 1 week.

Q: A hearing-impaired patient is having problems communicating with staff members. Which behaviors would continue to hinder communication?
- Overaccentuating words
- Facing the patient when speaking
- Speaking in conversational tones
- Speaking into the affected ear
A: Overaccentuating words
If right: Do not overaccentuate words. Speak in a normal tone; do not shout or raise the pitch of voice.
If wrong: Do not overaccentuate words. Speak in a normal tone; do not shout or raise the pitch of voice.

Q: The priority nursing responsibility while caring for a patient with vertigo is
- safety.
- comfort.
- hygiene.
- quiet.
A: safety.
If right: A nursing diagnosis of Risk for injury related to disturbed sensory perception is the most important diagnosis for a patient with vertigo.
If wrong: A nursing diagnosis of Risk for injury related to disturbed sensory perception is the most important diagnosis for a patient with vertigo.

Q: A patient is prescribed eyedrops that constrict the pupil, permitting aqueous humor to flow. The nurse would reinforce the teaching by referring to the drops as
- mydriatics.
- miotics.
- osmotics.
- inhibitors.
A: miotics.
If right: Miotics are agents that cause the pupil to contract or constrict.
If wrong: Miotics are agents that cause the pupil to contract or constrict.

Q: Myopia is a medical term meaning which visual disorder?
- Farsightedness
- Blurred vision
- Nearsightedness
- Halos around lights
A: Nearsightedness
If right: Myopia—nearsightedness.
If wrong: Myopia—nearsightedness.

Q: A patient has an infectious/inflammatory process of the eyelid. The primary goal of nursing intervention is
- administering antibiotics.
- flushing the eye with sterile ophthalmic solution.
- maintaining bed rest.
- preventing further infection.
A: preventing further infection.
If right: A primary objective of nursing care for the patient with an infectious or inflammatory process of the eyelids is prevention of the spread of infection. Hand hygiene is essential before contact with the eye.
If wrong: A primary objective of nursing care for the patient with an infectious or inflammatory process of the eyelids is prevention of the spread of infection. Hand hygiene is essential before contact with the eye.

Q: A patient has a family history of cataracts. He asks what symptom would be present if he begins to develop them. The nurse might respond that the first symptom of a cataract is usually
- pain in the eyes.
- blurring of vision.
- loss of peripheral vision.
- dry eyes.
A: blurring of vision.
If right: Blurring of vision is often the first subjective symptom reported by a patient who has cataracts.
If wrong: Blurring of vision is often the first subjective symptom reported by a patient who has cataracts.

Q: A patient has been blind for the past 10 years. He is hospitalized with congestive heart failure (CHF). In the care of a long-term blind individual, it is important to
- speak loudly to get the patient’s attention.
- schedule a consultation with an occupational therapist to teach activities of daily living.
- announce when you enter and leave the room.
- initiate a referral to the Department of Health and Human Services.
A: announce when you enter and leave the room.
If right: The nurse should announce when entering or leaving the room, so that a blind person is not put in the position of talking to someone who is no longer there.
If wrong: The nurse should announce when entering or leaving the room, so that a blind person is not put in the position of talking to someone who is no longer there.

Q: Rapid onset of decreased vision, halos around lights, and severe eye pain are indications of
- closed-angle glaucoma.
- open-angle glaucoma.
- retinal detachment.
- diabetic retinopathy.
A: closed-angle glaucoma.
If right: Closed-angle glaucoma causes rapid vision loss and dramatic symptoms. Closed-angle (acute) glaucoma produces severe pain, decreased vision, and nausea and vomiting. The patient sees colored halos around lights.
If wrong: Closed-angle glaucoma causes rapid vision loss and dramatic symptoms. Closed-angle (acute) glaucoma produces severe pain, decreased vision, and nausea and vomiting. The patient sees colored halos around lights.

Q: Astigmatism is a medical term meaning which visual disorder?
- Blurred vision
- Inability to detect colors
- Color blindness
- Farsightedness
A: Blurred vision
If right: Astigmatism—blurred vision.
If wrong: Astigmatism—blurred vision.

Q: Most patients with Ménière’s disease are treated with
- surgery.
- diuretics.
- hearing aids.
- analgesics.
A: diuretics.
If right: Fluid restriction, diuretics, and a low-salt diet are prescribed in an attempt to decrease fluid pressure.
If wrong: Fluid restriction, diuretics, and a low-salt diet are prescribed in an attempt to decrease fluid pressure.

Q: A 32-year-old construction worker has suffered a penetrating wound to his right eye. The best intervention for anyone to perform at the scene while waiting to be transported to the hospital is to
- gently remove the object.
- wipe away the blood and tears.
- cover both eyes with a paper cup and tape.
- do nothing; rush to the hospital.
A: cover both eyes with a paper cup and tape.
If right: Immediately after a penetrating wound injury, both eyes should be covered while transporting the patient to the hospital because both eyes work in synchrony. A Styrofoam cup provides adequate coverage and is readily available.
If wrong: Immediately after a penetrating wound injury, both eyes should be covered while transporting the patient to the hospital because both eyes work in synchrony. A Styrofoam cup provides adequate coverage and is readily available.

Q: A male patient brings home a note from the occupational nurse that states, “You have acute bacterial conjunctivitis.” This condition is more commonly called
- infection.
- tearing.
- pink eye.
- color blindness.
A: pink eye.
If right: Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by bacterial or viral infection, allergy, or environmental factors. It is commonly called pink eye.
If wrong: Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by bacterial or viral infection, allergy, or environmental factors. It is commonly called pink eye.

Q: The patient, age 71, has severe vertigo. A nursing action to help him reduce the symptoms is:
- Avoid sudden movements until the vertigo lessens.
- Avoid noises until the vertigo lessens.
- Encourage fluid intake.
- Lie immobile and hold the head in one position until the vertigo lessens.
A: Lie immobile and hold the head in one position until the vertigo lessens.
If right: Lie immobile and hold the head in one position until the vertigo lessens.
If wrong: Lie immobile and hold the head in one position until the vertigo lessens.

Q: When the eye adjusts to seeing objects at various distances, it is called
- PERRLA.
- refraction.
- focusing.
- accommodation.
A: accommodation.
If right: Accommodation: The eye is able to focus on objects at various distances.
If wrong: Accommodation: The eye is able to focus on objects at various distances.

Q: During a nursing history related to a patient’s activity-exercise functional health pattern, the patient comments that he cannot bend over and lift an object without becoming dizzy and that he frequently has to stop physical activities because of dizziness and nausea. Which structure of this patient’s ear is most likely to have a dysfunction causing his symptoms?
- Middle ear
- Organ of Corti
- Semicircular canals
- Cochlea
A: Semicircular canals
If right: Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the labyrinthine canals of the inner ear.
If wrong: Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the labyrinthine canals of the inner ear.

Q: The nurse answers the call light of a newly admitted patient. The patient tells the nurse she is blind and asks the nurse to assist her to the bathroom. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
- Take the patient by the arm and lead her slowly to the bathroom.
- Walk slightly ahead of the patient and allow the patient to hold the nurse’s elbow.
- Give the patient exact descriptive directions to the bathroom so that she can walk there independently.
- Lead the patient to the bathroom by the hand, describing the location and providing verbal clues.
A: Walk slightly ahead of the patient and allow the patient to hold the nurse’s elbow.
If right: The walking companion should precede the patient by about 1 foot, and the patient’s hand should be on the companion’s elbow to provide security.
If wrong: The walking companion should precede the patient by about 1 foot, and the patient’s hand should be on the companion’s elbow to provide security.

Q: Otitis media is more frequently seen in children 6 to 36 months because
- eustachian tubes in children are shorter and straighter.
- infection descends via the eustachian tube to the throat.
- children’s eustachian tubes are more vertical and longer.
- otitis media is seen equally in both children and adults.
A: eustachian tubes in children are shorter and straighter.
If right: Children’s shorter and straighter eustachian tubes provide easier access of the organisms from the nasopharynx to travel to the middle ear.
If wrong: Children’s shorter and straighter eustachian tubes provide easier access of the organisms from the nasopharynx to travel to the middle ear.

Q: The best prevention of serious complications of ear disorders like infections, mastoiditis and brain abscesses is:
- Strong antibiotics and isolation
- Early detection and treatment
- Surgery and rehabilitation
- Bed rest and early speech reading techniques
A: Early detection and treatment
If right: Prevention of serious complications of ear disorders—such as infections, mastoiditis, and brain abscess—requires early detection and treatment.
If wrong: Prevention of serious complications of ear disorders—such as infections, mastoiditis, and brain abscess—requires early detection and treatment.

Q: The aging process can be a factor in the patient’s smell and taste. Which may contribute to altered nutrition for the elderly?
- Increase in the receptors in the nasal cavities
- Increase in papillae of the tongue
- Medications
- Myopia
A: Medications
If right: Medications often affect the taste of food and can contribute to altered nutrition. A decreased number of receptors in the nasal cavities and papillae of the tongue results in changes in smell and taste. Most affected are the sweet and salty tastes.
If wrong: Medications often affect the taste of food and can contribute to altered nutrition. A decreased number of receptors in the nasal cavities and papillae of the tongue results in changes in smell and taste. Most affected are the sweet and salty tastes.