Patho Week 12 PP

A nurse suspects meningitis in a patient with fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Which additional finding MOST strongly suggests meningococcal meningitis?

Petechial rash

Before a lumbar puncture is performed on a suspected meningitis patient, the nurse should expect which diagnostic test FIRST?

CT scan of the head

Which pathogen is MOST associated with bacterial (purulent) meningitis?

Pneumococcus

A patient has severe headache, fever, and positive Brudzinski’s sign. What is the priority action?

Place patient in droplet precautions

What CSF result supports bacterial meningitis?

Low glucose, high protein

A nurse notes a sudden purpuric rash in a patient with suspected meningococcal meningitis. The nurse should anticipate:

Rapid antibiotics and fluid resuscitation

Which complication is most associated with meningitis?

Visual and hearing loss

A nurse recognizes sudden right-sided facial droop and slurred speech. What is the PRIORITY?

Get a STAT CT scan

Which finding best indicates a LEFT hemisphere stroke?

Aphasia

A patient presents with one-sided weakness and visual loss on the same side. These are signs of:

Stroke

The ischemic penumbra represents:

Area of reversible ischemia

Which is the greatest risk factor for stroke?

Hypertension

Stroke symptoms appear suddenly because:

Immediate loss of nutrients and oxygen

Which statement requires immediate intervention in a stroke patient?

“I suddenly can’t see on my right side.”

Which stroke type involves bleeding into brain tissue?

Hemorrhagic

A patient with stroke symptoms arrives 45 minutes after onset. What intervention is essential?

CT scan before thrombolytics

Risk factors include all except:

High calcium diet

Parkinson’s disease is primarily caused by:

Degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway

Which symptom is part of the TRAP criteria?

Tremor at rest

Which finding is MOST consistent with Parkinson’s?

Cogwheel rigidity

A patient with PD has difficulty initiating movement. This describes:

Akinesia

Non-motor features include:

Orthostatic hypotension

Parkinson’s affects which area of the brain?

Basal ganglia

MS primarily involves:

Destruction of CNS myelin

An early sign of MS is

Blurred vision

Which population is MOST likely to develop MS?

Women aged 20–40

The pathophysiology of MS includes:

T-cell–mediated attack on myelin

MRI findings in MS typically show:

Demyelinating plaques

GBS is most commonly triggered by:

Campylobacter jejuni infection

Which symptom requires PRIORITY intervention in GBS?

Difficulty breathing

Pathophysiology of GBS includes:

Autoimmune attack on peripheral myelin

A characteristic finding of GBS is:

Symmetric ascending paralysis

MG results from antibodies that attack:

Acetylcholine receptors

The earliest signs of MG typically include:

Ptosis and diplopia

A patient with MG becomes increasingly weak and develops shallow respirations. What is the nurse's FIRST action?

Prepare for intubation