Parkinson's Disease Quiz Questions!

A shuffling gait from the musculoskeletal rigidity of the patient with Parkinson’s disease is common. Patients experiencing a stroke usually exhibit loss of voluntary control over motor movements associated with generalized weakness; a shuffling gait is usually not observed in stroke patient.

In some patients, Parkinson’s disease can be controlled; however, it cannot be cured.

Dopamine producing cells in the basal ganglia mysteriously deteriorates due to unknown cause.

Postural hypotension is a common side effect of levodopa that the nurse should include in the client's teaching plan. Levodopa is a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease, but it can cause a drop in blood pressure when changing positions, leading to postural hypotension. This can result in dizziness, lightheadedness, and even fainting. It is important for the client to be aware of this side effect and take precautions such as rising slowly from a sitting or lying position to prevent falls or injuries.

Client with Parkinson’s disease are at a high risk for aspiration and undernutrition. Sitting upright promotes more effective swallowing.

Levodopa is the metabolic precursor of dopamine. It reduces sympathetic outflow by limiting vasoconstriction, which may result in orthostatic hypotension.

Bradykinesia is slowing down from the initiation and execution of movement.

Alzheimer;s disease, sometimes known as senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type or primary degenerative dementia, is an insidious; progressive, irreversible, and degenerative disease of the brain whose etiology is still unknown. Parkinson’s disease is a neurologic disorder caused by lesions in the extrapyramidial system and manifested by tremors, muscle rigidity, hypokinesis, dysphagia, and dysphonia. Multiple sclerosis, a progressive, degenerative disease involving demyelination of the nerve fibers, usually begins in young adulthood and is marked by periods of remission and exacerbation. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease marked by progressive degeneration of the neurons, eventually results in atrophy of all the muscles; including those necessary for respiration.

The cause of MS is not known and the disease affects twice as many women as men.

The resting or non-intentional tremor may be controlled with purposeful movement such as holding an object. A warm bath, deep breathing and diazepam will promote relaxation but are not specific interventions for tremor.

Parkinson's disease does not affect the cognitive ability of a person. It is a disorder due to the depletion of the neurotransmitter dopamine which is needed for inhibitory control of muscular contractions. Client will exhibit mask like facial expression, Cog wheel rigidity, Bradykinesia, Shuffling gait etc. Muscle atrophy does not occur in parkinson's disease nor visual disturbances.

Vitamin b6 or pyridoxine is avoided in patients taking levodopa because levodopa increases vitamin b6 availability leading to toxicity.

Hypotension, dizziness and lethargy are side effects of anti parkinson drugs like levodopa and carbidopa.

Telling the client to walk erect neglects the clients complain of difficulty walking. Wheelchair is as much as possible not used to still enhance the client's motor function using a cane. Telling the client not to force himself walk is non therapeutic. The client wants to talk and we should help her walk using devices such as cane to provide support and prevent injuries.

A positive response to one or both tests indicates meningeal irritation that is present with meningitis. Brudzinski’s and Kernig’s signs don’t occur in CVA, seizure disorder, or Parkinson’s disease.

Levodopa is an altered form of dopamine. It is metabolized by the body and then converted into dopamine for brain's use thus increasing dopamine availability. Dopamine is not given directly because of its inability to cross the BBB.

The nursing assistant should assist the patient with morning care as needed, but the goal is to keep this patient as independent and mobile as possible. Assisting the patient to ambulate, reminding the patient not to look at his feet (to prevent falls), and encouraging the patient to feed himself are all appropriate to goal of maintaining independence. Focus: Delegation/supervision

The patient with Parkinson’s disease may be hypersensitive to heat, which increases the risk of hyperthermia, and he should be instructed to avoid sun exposure during hot weather.

Periodically lying in a prone position without a pillow will help prevent the flexion of the spine that occurs with Parkinson’s disease. Answers B and C flex the spine; therefore, they are incorrect. Answer D is not realistic because of position changes during sleep; therefore, it is incorrect.

NA education and scope of practice includes taking pulse and blood pressure measurements. In addition, NAs can reinforce previous teaching or skills taught by the RN or other disciplines, such as speech or physical therapists. Evaluation of patient response to medication and development and individualizing the plan of care require RN-level education and scope of practice. Focus: Delegation