It has to go in a custom footer (not html module) to work*. The source, which also has some interesting thoughts on the desirability of disabling right click, is below: http://javascript.about.com/library/blnoright.htm *Using in a custom footer:replace all code in xslt box with this: ]]>

QUICKLINKS : CHAT RULES / PINOYBSN FORUM

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Senators to hale Palace to SC anew on EO 464

Senators to hale Palace to SC anew on EO 464

By TJ Burgonio Inquirer
Last updated 10:45am (Mla time) 08/11/2006

SENATORS will seek the Supreme Court’s intervention if executive branch officials continue to invoke Malacañang’s Executive Order No. 464 to avoid having to attend Senate inquiries.

“We are prepared to go back all the way to the Supreme Court if [they] continue to invoke EO 464,” Senator Franklin Drilon told reporters Thursday.

Senator Joker Arroyo, who had rebuked Malacañang over the snubs, which he branded as “concerted moves” to embarrass the chamber, also said the Senate was “prepared” for another face-off with the Palace over EO 464.

“Both sides are like fighting cocks girding for a fight, and this is not good. It’s a confrontation again but, ah, the Senate is prepared,” Arroyo said in a briefing late Wednesday afternoon.

In a rerun of last year’s skirmish between the two equal branches of government over EO 464 that was settled by the Supreme Court, labor and workers’ welfare officials recently twice skipped the Senate labor committee’s hearing on the status of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) fund.

Then Philippine Regulation Commission officials skipped on Tuesday the civil service committee’s hearing on the alleged leak of test questions in last June’s nursing board exams.

The officials cited the Senate committees’ failure to state the statutes that prompted the inquiries and list the questions to be asked in their invitations to the hearings as the reason for their non-appearance, stressing the requirements were laid out in the Supreme Court ruling on EO 464.

But the senators chose to avoid a confrontation with the Palace and decided to ask the Senate legal department to study the high court’s ruling vis-à-vis the snubs, with the aim of citing the executive branch officials in contempt.

“I don’t want to jump the gun at this point. Because the caucus has already decided to let the legal counsel study it first,” Drilon said.

But Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. said the option of asking the SC to cite the no-shows in contempt was being considered.

“That can be done,” Magsaysay told reporters.

While the Senate labor committee suspended its hearing on the OWWA fund, the civil service committee is pressing ahead with its inquiry into the leak of test questions in the nursing board exams.

“We have to finish this. It will be to the detriment of the examinees if this is kept hanging,” labor committee chairman Senator Rodolfo Biazon, who set the next hearing for Wednesday, said in an interview.

In contrast, Cabinet members showed up in full force at the Thursday’s finance committee hearing chaired by Drilon on the 46.9 billion-peso supplemental budget.

Source: http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=14697

Posted by brewed at 1:19 AM | | Comments

Friday, August 11, 2006

Lawmaker: Investigate nursing test leak

Lawmaker: Investigate nursing test leak

AT the very least, those who leaked questions and answers in the nursing licensure examinations in June violated the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act, if indeed such an irregularity occurred.

Rep. Joseph Santiago of Catanduanes on Friday asked the Ombudsman to investigate the alleged leakage and ascertain the possible culpability of all government officials and private individuals implicated in the mess.

Besides graft, he said, the guilty parties could be prosecuted for bribery under the Revised Penal Code. “It is quite possible that money changed hands here,” he added.

It is absolutely imperative that the appropriate agencies adopt adequate and immediate corrective steps, Santiago stressed, to discourage future cheats and prevent another leakage.

“Several professional licensure examinations are being conducted even as we speak,” he pointed out.

Following an inquiry, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) dismissed the services of two members of the Nursing Board and filed administrative charges against them.

A leading review center has also been linked to the anomaly. It turned out that the center had obtained advanced copies of test questions and answers on two subjects—medical surgical nursing and psychiatric nursing—and subsequently farmed them out to candidates under its tutelage. The exact questions came out in the examinations.

“It is not enough that the culprits face administrative charges, which do not carry jail terms,” Santiago said. “They should be haled to court as well and face criminal charges.”

He also said investigators should look into allegations that officials tried to cover up the leakage. “History is replete with cases where a cover-up turned out to be far worse than the original offense,” he added.

Santiago also renewed his call for the PRC to decide promptly whether or not to require candidates to retake examinations on the two subjects, in which questions and answers were allegedly leaked.

According to Santiago, requiring candidates to retake certain subjects in a professional eligibility examination is not without precedent.

“In the bar examinations, for instance, the Supreme Court, in one instance, ordered a retake of the test in one or two subjects due to a leakage.” Santiago, who is a lawyer, said, “Sometimes, difficult decisions have to made to preserve the integrity and sanctity of the examination process.”

FROM : THE MANILA TIMES
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php?news=1573

Posted by Budek at 10:56 PM | | Comments

RETAKE/NO RETAKE Poll UP!

Poll up now to quantify your opinions. The voting started today, August 11, 2006 at 9:30 P.M And it will end as soon as a final verdict from the PRC Is announced.

Let your voices be heard, speak up and comment down below.

NOTE : YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE. Cookies and your IP is automatically blocked after you vote.

Posted by Budek at 9:37 PM | | Comments

Canada in nurse shortage, filipino nurses are their first choice to fill shortage up.

Local nurse part of worker shortage solution

By Ryan Kiedrowski

Nipawin Journal — With more jobs available than people to fill them, one viable option is to bring workers in from other countries. Not only does this benefit the employer who needs people to allow their company to excel, but it also offers a better standard of living for people from foreign shores.

Part of this solution lies with Theresa Saynes, founder of Nitengale International Manpower Services (NIMS). Saynes noted the large demand for caregivers in Saskatchewan and realized she could help fill those spaces with people she knew form around the world.

Saynes herself was a caregiver before becoming a nurse. She left the Phillipines in 1995 for Saudi Arabia as a nurse. Soon, she began to hear about how attractive Canada was from friends, which led Saynes and her husband to move to Vancouver.
"I worked as a caregiver in Vancouver and Alberta for about nine months," said Saynes. "It was a good stepping stone."
She has been a nurse in Nipawin for three years and pursues work with NIMS on her days off.
What NIMS focuses on is providing caregivers for elderly or disabled people who live independantly in their own homes.

"I feel for them," Saynes said of elderly people facing the dilema of having to leave their home. "To be independant throughout your life and here your are … you still want to be in your own home."
NIMS also has individuals who are qualified to take care of children for people in need of a babysitter.

While working in Saudi Arabia is easier for Filipino nurses in terms of immigration, the job security available in Canada is one feature Saynes believes will be more attractive.

Since she has started NIMS in May, Saynes was able to secure jobs for eight people and is in the process of securing positions for five more.
"People were phoning me since I came to Nipawin because they couldn’t believe that you could work up from a caregiver to a professional nurse," said Saynes.
A major advantage for hiring Filipino caregivers and nurses is that English is not a barrier and the accreditation received in the Phillipines is recognized by Canadian standards.

"Nurses are trained to leave the country," Saynes told The Journal. "They are not trained to stay, they are trained to leave." She also noted how attending post-secondary education is not quite as simple in the Phillipines as it is in Canada.
"Back home, you don’t get a student loan – you go to your richest relative and say ‘will you sponsor me – I will pay you back’."
Sending money back home is "part of the culture," Saynes said. Her brother is currently attending nursing school, with Saynes now having the opportunity to be the "sponsor."

Saynes’ goal of bringing caregivers to Saskatchewan might become a little easier in terms of immigration. The federal government announced on July 31 that temporary foreign worker units will be created in Calgary and Vancouver on a pilot basis effective September 1.

"We will help facilitate the entry of temporary foreign workers into Canada where they are needed by working with the companies and sectors most affected," said Monte Solberg, federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, in a press release. "Not a day has gone by since I was appointed Minister that I have not heard about labour market shortages threatening to hold up Canada’s economic growth. We’re taking the first steps to addressing those needs."

The units will provide advice to employers that plan on hiring temporary foreign workers exempt from the labour market confirmation process. The units will also prescreen supporting documents from employers in an effort to streamline the application process for the workers.

Posted by Budek at 11:33 AM | | Comments

Thursday, August 10, 2006

The TRIVIA BOT Needs question contributors!

Currently, Pinoy BSN Trivia bot shows question on general knowledge category unrelated to nursing. In plans to widen the knowledge database of students and nurses alike, we are planning to create a Trivia Bot with the largest nursing question database in the world.

Questions will be related to Nursing and nursing alone, concentrating on the possible local board questions with an insertion nclex/cgfns knowledge database.

The Trivia Bot runs on the chat channel of Pinoy BSN. You can enter either via MIRC [ Server is irc.blitzed.org on port 6667 channel #pinoybsn or via the website by clicking the Enter PinoyBSN Chat!

CONTRIBUTING QUESTIONS

You can now contribute via the chatroom when the TRIVIA [ the bot ] is online by typing
!add question*answer

example :

!add What cell secretes testosterone in males?*Leydig cells

The bot will then acknowledge your contribution by replying. This will not yet be addedd directly into the question bank as itll be subjected to review.

You can also contribute questions by using the format below, saving it in notepad, wordpad or MS Word and sending it directly to pinoybsn@yahoo.com [ Note : ANSWERS BELOW ARE NOT FACTUAL ]

1. Category : Question*Answer

Example :

Community Health Nursing : How many grams of sodium bicarbonate is advocated by WHO/DOH in a commercialized oresol pocket*100 grams

2. Category : Clue : Question*Answer

Example :

Professional Adjustment : RA _ _ _ _ : Establishes National Policy on Population and created POPCOM*9999

3. Question*Answer

Example :

How many pints of blood does the average human have in his/her body*Thirty

QUESTIONS WITH MULTIPLE ANSWERS

You can create questions with MULTPLE answers by adding another *Answer after the previous *Answer.

Format :

Question*Answer1*Answer2*Answer3*Answer4 and so on.

Example :

Medical Surgical Nursing : Separate your answer with comas : Malaria is characterized by triad of recurrent symptoms which are*Chills,fever,sweating*chills,sweating,fever
*fever,chills,sweating*fever,sweating,chills*sweating,chills,fever*sweating,fever,chills

In the above example, all answers are accepted. This is useful in cases wherein, multiple answers are required like symptoms, nursing process, triage management, prioritization, etc.

CATEGORIES

Please use the following categories

1. Medical Surgical Nursing
2. Community Health Nursing
3. Nursing Management
4. Professional Adjustment
5. Psychiatric Nursing
6. Obstetric Nursing
7. Pediatric Nursing
8. Fundamentals Of Nursing
9. Nutrition
10. Pharmacology
11. Computation
12. Unscrammble the words

The category list will expand as needed, You can also use your own category if it fails to fall in any of the categories suggested above

IMPORTANT : Each question should be seperated using a new line or break.

Example of correct format:

Obstetric Nursing : Husband and wife who are the official endorser of the necklace method by the DOH*Mahal and Jimboy
Obstetric Nursing : How many white beads are there in the necklace method of contraception*100 beads
Obstetric Nursing : How many brown beads are there in the necklace method of contraception*50 beads

Example of bad format : [ Absence of line breaks or spacing ]

Obstetric Nursing : Husband and wife who are the official endorser of the necklace method by the DOH*Mahal and Jimboy Obstetric Nursing : How many white beads are there in the necklace method of contraception*100 beads Obstetric Nursing : How many brown beads are there in the necklace method of contraception*50 beads

Send your contribution using any text format : Word, Notepad, Wordpad, etc... to pinoybsn@yahoo.com

DONT KNOW WHERE TO START?

Click the sample widget below to download a sample question bank. Follow its format carefully.

Sample
Sample.txt
Hosted by eSnips



RECOGNITION FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Each contributed questions is equivalent to 1 point. Trivia ranking is based on point system. Ranking are permanently uploaded on the sidebar and on the site and is updated weekly after Trivia starts officially.

TRIVIA RANKING

Admins and blog members are not included in the ranking. Ranking is uploaded weekly, it is cumulative and uses the point system. Each week, the top 10 scorer's name are published in Pinoy BSN. Only nickname that are registered are published in the ranking system. PinoyBSNGuests are required to change their nick for them to be included by typing /nick NEWNAME. For more information about chat commands and nick name registration, click HERE

THANKS TO THE FUTURE CONTRIBUTORS

We are thanking you in advance for your contribution. We are aiming for 100,000 questions database. IMPOSSIBLE? It's not for us nursing students and nurses!

More power......

Posted by Budek at 11:35 AM | | Comments

Fate of nursing hopefuls hangs

Fate of nursing hopefuls hangs

By Alcuin Papa
Inquirer
Last updated 04:40am (Mla time) 08/10/2006

Published on page A2 of the August 10, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

PROFESSIONAL Regulatory Commission (PRC) Chair Leonor Tripon-Rosero denied yesterday there was any cover-up in the investigation into alleged leakage in the last nursing board exams.

In an interview, Rosero also said the PRC will meet with nursing deans on Aug. 15 to decide if the Aug. 22 oath-taking for nurses who passed the last board exam will push through, or if there will be a retake of the exam after allegations of a leakage surfaced.

Rosero also confirmed that they did not attend the Senate inquiry into the leakage the other day based on Executive Order No. 464. However, she said they are ready to explain to the Senate their reasons for snubbing the inquiry.

On allegations hurled by lawyer Cheryl Daytec-Yangot, a counsel for a nursing student who lodged a complaint on the leakage that the PRC is covering up the incident, Rosero said “that’s her opinion.”

“It’s good that the BON was heard. If we were there, we would have explained what we have done on the incident and how we computed the grades to nullify the effect of any leakage. But we are not hiding anything,” Rosero said.

On the Aug. 15 meeting, Rosero said she and other PRC officials will explain to the nursing deans the formula they adopted in the computation of the last exam.

Once the meeting is concluded, Rosero said the PRC would decide on whether to push through with the oath-taking or order a retake of the exam based on the comments from the deans.

“We will meet with around 400 deans and we will show and explain to them our system. Hopefully, they will understand our position,” Rosero said.

But even now, Rosero said she was not inclined to order a retake of the last nursing board exams. “If you passed the exam, would you like to retake it? It is unfair to those who did not benefit from the leakage.”

She stressed that the PRC had conducted its own inquiry into the matter. The inquiry led to the filing of administrative cases against two members of the Board of Nursing, the body which formulates the questions for the board exam. The two were identified as Anesia Dionisio and Virginia Madeja, who contributed questions to the exams.

Around 42,000 nursing graduates took the last board exam in 11 testing centers around the country. Around 17,000 nursing students passed the exam for a passing rate of 42 percent.

Earlier, Eufemia Octaviano of the Board of Nursing said the Aug. 22 oath-taking for the board passers has been “held in abeyance.”

Allegations of a leakage surfaced in Baguio City a few weeks ago after nursing students there complained of a leakage allegedly from the R. A. Gapuz Review Center branch in the city.

The review center has denied any involvement in the leakage. However, Ray Gapuz, founder and chairman of the company, admitted that he received a faxed copy of an 18-page handwritten manuscript a day before the exams. But he claimed did not know the manuscript, which he ordered distributed to his students, was a “leakage.”

FROM : PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=14429

Posted by Budek at 9:59 AM | | Comments

Speak out: Not another exam

Speak out: Not another examBy Peter R. Jabines III

Having just passed the nursing board exam, I am deeply saddened and angered by moves to invalidate the results and to let us take another test. People pushing for this just don’t realize how much time and effort will be wasted if another exam is done.

We have gone through so much pain and are burdened by this leakage incident. So we wish that the practice would stop. But it is not easy for us to sit our butts out for hours answering 500 questions, not to mention the anxiety and sleepless nights we endured, only to end up being forced to go through the experience again.

We could have already recited our nursing oath or have already been employed had it not been for those who created the mess in this licensure exam. They just don’t pity the thousands who have suffered from this incident.

I therefore strongly oppose the proposed reexamination. It is unfair for us who answered the examination questions honestly and who have sacrificed everything just to pass it.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/08/10/oped/peter.r..jabines.iii.html

Posted by Budek at 6:39 AM | | Comments

Coxsackie Viruses

Named after Coxsackie, New York, where they were discovered, the coxsackie viruses are part of the enterovirus family of viruses (which also includes echoviruses, polio, and hepatitis A viruses) that live in the human digestive tract. They can spread from person to person, usually on unwashed hands and surfaces contaminated by feces, where they can live for several days. In tropical parts of the world, they infect people year-round, but in cooler climates, outbreaks of coxsackie virus most often occur in the summer and fall.

Signs and Symptoms

About half of all children with coxsackie virus infection have no symptoms. Some children suddenly develop fevers of 101 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 40 degrees Celsius), headache, and muscle aches. Some also develop a mild sore throat, abdominal discomfort, or nausea. A child with coxsackie virus may simply feel hot but have no other symptoms. In most children, the fever lasts about 3 days, then disappears; in others, the fever is biphasic, meaning that it appears for 1 day, then disappears for 2 to 3 days, then returns for 2 to 4 days more.

Besides causing a simple fever, coxsackie viruses can cause several different patterns of symptoms that affect different body parts:

Hand, foot, and mouth disease, a type of coxsackie virus syndrome, causes painful red blisters in the throat and on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, and the palms of hands and soles of the feet.

Herpangina, a coxsackie virus infection of the throat, causes red-ringed blisters and ulcers on the tonsils and soft palate, the fleshy back portion of the roof of the mouth.

Pleurodynia (also called Bornholm disease) is a related coxsackie virus infection that causes painful spasms in the muscles of the chest and upper abdomen. Boys with pleurodynia may also have pain in the testicles beginning about 2 weeks after the chest pain starts.

Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis is an infection that affects the whites of the eyes. Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis usually starts out as eye pain and is suddenly followed by red, watery eyes, swelling, light sensitivity, and blurry vision.

Coxsackie viruses can also cause meningitis, an infection of the meninges (the three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord), and rarely, encephalitis, a brain infection. They may also cause myocarditis, an infection of the heart muscle.

Newborns, who can be infected from their mothers during or shortly after birth, are more at risk for developing serious infection, including myocarditis, hepatitis, and meningoencephalitis (an inflammation of the brain and meninges).

Symptoms usually occur within 2 weeks after birth and can include fever, poor feeding, irritability, and lethargy. Infants with coxsackie myocarditis have trouble breathing and sometimes develop cyanosis, a bluish color of the skin, lips, and nails caused by too little oxygen in the blood.

Contagiousness

Coxsackie viruses are very contagious. They're usually passed from person to person on unwashed hands and surfaces contaminated by feces. They can also be spread through droplets of fluid sprayed into the air when someone sneezes or coughs.

When an outbreak of coxsackie virus affects a community, risk for infection is highest among infants and children younger than 5. The virus spreads easily in group settings like schools, child-care centers, or summer camps. People who are infected with a coxsackie virus are most contagious the first week they're sick.

Prevention

There is no vaccine to prevent coxsackie virus infection. Hand washing is the best prevention. Remind the members of your family to wash their hands frequently, particularly after using the toilet (especially those in public places), after changing a diaper, before meals, and before preparing food.
Shared toys in child-care centers should be routinely cleaned with a disinfectant because the virus can live on these objects for days.

Children who are sick with a coxsackie virus should be kept out of school or child care for a few days to avoid spreading the infection.

Incubation

The incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) for most coxsackie virus infections is about 2 to 10 days.

Duration

The duration of coxsackie virus infection varies, depending on the specific type. For coxsackie fever without other symptoms, a child's temperature may return to normal within 24 hours, although the average fever lasts 3 to 4 days. In pleurodynia, fever and muscle pain usually last 1 to 2 days, and in herpangina, symptoms generally last 3 to 6 days.

Diagnosis

Doctors diagnose a coxsackie virus by performing a physical exam and looking for any of the telltale symptoms, such as rash or blisters. They might also test stool or fluids from the back of the throat to see if the virus is present.

Treatment

Depending on the type of infection and symptoms, the doctor may prescribe medications to make your child feel more comfortable. However, because antibiotics only work against bacteria, they can't be used to fight a coxsackie virus infection. For meningitis due to coxsackie virus, there's an effective antiviral medication, though it's not yet widely available.

The most severe forms of coxsackie virus infection, myocarditis and encephalitis, can be fatal, especially in newborns. Even older children with coxsackie myocarditis or encephalitis may need special care in a hospital. However, these complications are rare.

Most children with a simple coxsackie infection recover completely after a few days at home. If your child has a fever without any other symptoms, he or she should rest in bed or play quietly indoors.
Offer plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Acetaminophen may be given to relieve any minor aches and pains. If the fever lasts for more than 24 hours or if your child has any symptoms of a more serious coxsackie infection, call your child's doctor.

Complications

Children with coxsackie virus may become dehydrated because mouth sores can make it painful to eat and drink. If the dehydration is severe, intravenous (IV) fluids may be necessary.

When to Call Your Child's Doctor

Call your child's doctor immediately if your child develops any of the following symptoms:

fever (higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38 degrees Celsius, for infants younger than 6 months of age and higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38.8 degrees Celsius, for an older child)
poor appetite
trouble feeding
vomiting
diarrhea
difficulty breathing
convulsions
unusual sleepiness

Even if your child doesn't have a fever, call the doctor for any of the following:

pain in the chest or abdomen
sores on the skin or inside the mouth
difficulty breathing
severe sore throat
severe headache, especially with vomiting, confusion, unusual sleepiness, or convulsions
neck stiffness
red, swollen, and watery eyes
pain in one or both testicles

Source: Yahoo! Health News

Posted by brewed at 1:32 AM | | Comments

Sexually degrading music may encourage teen sex

Sexually degrading music may encourage teen sex

Music that depicts women as sex objects and men as insatiable studs may encourage some teenagers to become sexually active, according to a study of U.S. teens.

While popular music, from rap to country, is full of sexual content, that depiction of sex varies widely. And in the new study, researchers found that the distinction between "degrading" and "non-degrading" sexual lyrics may make a difference in teenagers' behavior.

Of the 1,461 adolescents aged 12 to 17 they followed, those who regularly listened to music with degrading lyrics at the start of the study were more likely to start having sex over the next two years. In contrast, there was no evidence that sexual yet non-degrading music swayed teenagers' behavior.

"We think this is an important distinction," lead study author Dr. Steven C. Martino told Reuters Health.
It's not just a matter of music being sexually explicit, said Martino, a researcher at RAND Corp. in Pittsburgh. Songs can be sexual, even explicitly so, but portray sex in the context of a relationship, for example.

Degrading lyrics, on the other hand, depict women as submissive sex objects or men as players on the prowl. And this seems to be the problem, according to the study findings, which were published this week in the journal Pediatrics.

"If I'm a 13-year-old boy, and I keep hearing that women are sex objects and men are players, then I might start to think that's a reasonable way for me to be," Martino said.

Similarly, he noted, young girls, rather than being offended by the portrayal of women in these tunes, might get the message that it's normal for them to be treated disrespectfully.

It's impossible to show that the music teens listen to directly causes them to have sex, Martino pointed out. But he and his colleagues did weigh a range of other factors that could have explained the relationship between degrading lyrics and teen sex -- like race, parents' education and teenagers' reported levels of parental supervision and religious conviction.

"This study provides a very strong basis to believe that the kinds of music kids listen to influences their sexual behavior," Martino said.

Since it's probably impossible for parents to shield their kids from sexually degrading music, he recommended that they talk with their children about the subject -- which may help them to "think critically" about the lyrics they hear, rather than just accepting them.

"That way, they'll have their parents' views as filters," Martino said.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, August 2006. (Yahoo! Health News)

Posted by brewed at 1:27 AM | | Comments

Brain protein Tied to Anxiety, Problem Drinking

Brain Protein Tied to Anxiety, Problem Drinking

A key brain protein may play an important role in both drinking and anxiety, U.S. researchers report.

"In people, alcoholism is very frequently associated with anxiety disorders. And it is well established that high levels of anxiety promote alcohol consumption and also play a crucial role in relapse to alcohol drinking," study lead author Dr. Subhash Pandey, professor of psychiatry and anatomy and cell biology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, said in a prepared statement.

"Our study suggests a molecular, neurochemical mechanism in the amygdala which may be responsible for the association of high levels of anxiety with excessive alcohol-drinking behavior," said Pandey, whose team published its findings in the Aug. 9 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

In their study, the researchers reduced the expression of protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in three areas of the amygdala, a brain area associated with emotion and fear.

Lower levels of BDNF in the central and medial areas of the amygdala resulted in an increase of both anxiety and alcohol consumption by the rats.

When BDNF injections were used to restore levels of the protein to normal, the rat's anxiety and alcohol consumption diminished, the study said.

Decreased levels of BDNF in the third area, the basolateral amygdala, had no effect on the rats.
BDNF plays an important role in the growth and maintenance of neurons. Previous human studies have suggested that BDNF gene variation may be associated with anxiety disorders and alcoholism.

The finding may help in the development of new drugs to treat or prevent anxiety and alcoholism, the researchers said.

More Information:
The American Medical Association has more about alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Source: Yahoo! Health News



Posted by brewed at 1:22 AM | | Comments

Computer card game cracks early signs of Alzheimer's

Computer card game cracks early signs of Alzheimer’s

By Alexander Villafania
INQ7.netLast updated 00:30am (Mla time) 08/10/2006

Could it be that FreeCell, a computer card game embedded on all Windows operating systems, can detect signs of cognitive changes leading to Alzheimer’s disease?

Scientists from the Oregon Center for Aging and Technology (ORCATECH) at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon have used the computer card game FreeCell as a tool to distinguish senior citizens with memory problems.

The scientists integrated the game to some of their own cognitive assessment algorithms that are commonly used to detect early signs of dementia, usually caused by the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The objective of FreeCell is to move 52 cards of a deck to four “cells” that should stack the four suits from the lowest type of card to the highest card.

The study covered nine people with an average age of 80 years old. All nine were familiar with the use of computers and played the game frequently for six months.

The ORCATECH scientists then gave each participant a series of short tests. Three of the nine were found to have mild cognitive impairment.

ORCATECH Investigator Holly Jimison and lead author of the study said in a statement (http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/newspub/releases/071706dementia.cfm) that they used FreeCell since it is easily enjoyable and could be better used for assessing cognitive performance.

"It requires significant planning to play well, and planning is one measure that neuropsychologists attempt to test in clinical situations. We're trying to replicate that, and we've been able to show that we can, at least in early studies with small numbers of people, show distinctions between cognitively healthy elders and those with even mild cognitive impairment," Jimison said.

She added that the use of FreeCell could help doctors plan early treatment for the elderly who have been detected with subtle cognitive changes.

Source: www.inq7.net

Posted by brewed at 1:01 AM | | Comments

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

DOH - Student in QC university dies in meningococemia

DoH: Student in QC university dies of meningococcemia

By Thea AlbertoINQ7.netLast updated 08:43pm (Mla time) 08/09/2006

A STUDENT from a university in Quezon City has died of meningococcemia, prompting school officials to send home some 5,000 elementary and high school students, officials said.

Some 5,000 elementary and high school students of the New Era University in Quezon City were sent home Wednesday following reports that a pupil had died of meningococcemia.

Dr. Irene Grafil of the Department of Health’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit told INQ7.net on Wednesday that the boy, a grade four student of the New Era University, “manifested signs and symptoms of meningococcemia like fever, rapid deterioration in less than 24 hours, developed seizures, and violatious skin [purple rashes].”

Grafil, who visited the school, said she also took a blood sample of the victim although there were no results yet.

The 11-year-old boy was brought to the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila. A staff member at the records office of the hospital cited meningococcemia as the cause of the boy’s death.

Grafil said she had given the boy’s family prophylaxis to prevent the spread of the disease. She added that the medication is expected to take effect in 24 hours.

The bacterial disease is usually transmitted like a cold through respiratory droplets such as saliva, sneezing, coughing.

Earlier in the day, Jose Ventilacion, a school administrator at the New Era University, said the boy died on Tuesday, a day after he was brought to the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
Classes were suspended to disinfect the campus and prevent the possible spread of the dreaded disease, Ventilacion said.

He said classes would resume Thursday. The Quezon City health department advised them there was no need to suspend operations as the disease was not airborne.

"Since the bacteria is not air borne, pwede na raw pumasok mga students [the students can go to classes] tomorrow," he said, adding the DoH had issued a clearance to the school to resume classes Thursday.

Ventilacion also said that so far there had been no reports of any student or school staff getting infected with the disease, although he said school officials were monitoring Rellegue’s classmates and other students.

"But so far, mukhang wala namang nahawa, okay naman classmates and teachers niya [it seems that no one was infected, his classmates and teachers are okay]" he said.

He advised parents of the students to bring their children to a doctor when they show signs of being sick.

With DJ Yap, Inquirer

Posted by brewed at 9:13 PM | | Comments

109 Questions on Psychotic Disorders

109 Questions on Psychotic Disorders

1. A psychotic client reports to the evening nurse that the day nurse put something suspicious in his water with his medication. The nurse replies, "You're worried about your medication?" The nurse's communication is:

A. an example of presenting reality.
B. reinforcing the client's delusions.
C. focusing on emotional content.
D. a nontherapeutic technique called mind reading.

2. A client is admitted to the inpatient unit of the mental health center with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. He's shouting that the government of France is trying to assassinate him. Which of the following responses is most appropriate?

A. "I think you're wrong. France is a friendly country and an ally of the United States. Their government wouldn't try to kill you."
B. "I find it hard to believe that a foreign government or anyone else is trying to hurt you. You must feel frightened by this."
C. "You're wrong. Nobody is trying to kill you."
D. "A foreign government is trying to kill you? Please tell me more about it."

3. Propranolol (Inderal) is used in the mental health setting to manage which of the following conditions?

A. Antipsychotic-induced akathisia and anxiety
B. The manic phase of bipolar illness as a mood stabilizer
C. Delusions for clients suffering from schizophrenia
D. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to reduce ritualistic behavior

4. A client with borderline personality disorder becomes angry when he is told that today's psychotherapy session with the nurse will be delayed 30 minutes because of an emergency. When the session finally begins, the client expresses anger. Which response by the nurse would be most helpful in dealing with the client's anger?

A. "If it had been your emergency, I would have made the other client wait."
B. "I know it's frustrating to wait. I'm sorry this happened."
C. "You had to wait. Can we talk about how this is making you feel right now?"
D. "I really care about you and I'll never let this happen again."

5. How soon after chlorpromazine (Thorazine) administration should the nurse expect to see a client's delusional thoughts and hallucinations eliminated

A. Several minutes
B. Several hours
C. Several days
D. Several weeks

6. A client receiving haloperidol (Haldol) complains of a stiff jaw and difficulty swallowing. The nurse's first action is to:

A. reassure the client and administer as needed lorazepam (Ativan) I.M.
B. administer as needed dose of benztropine (Cogentin) I.M. as ordered.
C. administer as needed dose of benztropine (Cogentin) by mouth as ordered.
D. administer as needed dose of haloperidol (Haldol) by mouth.

7. A client with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia comments to the nurse, "How do I know what is really in those pills?" Which of the following is the best response?

A. Say, "You know it's your medicine."
B. Allow him to open the individual wrappers of the medication.
C. Say, "Don't worry about what is in the pills. It's what is ordered."
D. Ignore the comment because it's probably a joke.

8. The nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who experiences auditory hallucinations. The client appears to be listening to someone who isn't visible. He gestures, shouts angrily, and stops shouting in mid-sentence. Which nursing intervention is the most appropriate?

A. Approach the client and touch him to get his attention.
B. Encourage the client to go to his room where he'll experience fewer distractions.
C. Acknowledge that the client is hearing voices but make it clear that the nurse doesn't hear these voices.
D. Ask the client to describe what the voices are saying.

9. Yesterday, a client with schizophrenia began treatment with haloperidol (Haldol). Today, the nurse notices that the client is holding his head to one side and complaining of neck and jaw spasms. What should the nurse do?

A. Assume that the client is posturing.
B. Tell the client to lie down and relax.
C. Evaluate the client for adverse reactions to haloperidol.
D. Put the client on the list for the physician to see tomorrow

10. A client with paranoid schizophrenia has been experiencing auditory hallucinations for many years. One approach that has proven to be effective for hallucinating clients is to:

A. take an as-needed dose of psychotropic medication whenever they hear voices.
B. practice saying "Go away" or "Stop" when they hear voices.
C. sing loudly to drown out the voices and provide a distraction.
D. go to their room until the voices go away.

11. A client with catatonic schizophrenia is mute, can't perform activities of daily living, and stares out the window for hours. What is the nurse's first priority?

A. Assist the client with feeding.
B. Assist the client with showering.
C. Reassure the client about safety.
D. Encourage socialization with peers.

12. A client tells the nurse that the television newscaster is sending a secret message to her. The nurse suspects the client is experiencing:

A. a delusion.
B. flight of ideas.
C. ideas of reference.
D. a hallucination.

13. The nurse knows that the physician has ordered the liquid form of the drug chlorpromazine (Thorazine) rather than the tablet form because the liquid:

A. has a more predictable onset of action.
B. produces fewer anticholinergic effects.
C. produces fewer drug interactions.
D. has a longer duration of action.

14. A client who has been hospitalized with disorganized type schizophrenia for 8 years can't complete activities of daily living (ADLs) without staff direction and assistance. The nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Self-care deficient: Dressing/grooming related to inability to function without assistance. What is an appropriate goal for this client?

A. "Client will be able to complete ADLs independently within 1 month."
B. "Client will be able to complete ADLs with only verbal encouragement within 1 month."
C. "Client will be able to complete ADLs with assistance in organizing grooming items and clothing within 1 month."
D. "Client will be able to complete ADLs with complete assistance within 1 month."

15. The nurse is planning care for a client admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Which nursing diagnosis should receive the highest priority?

A. Risk for violence toward self or others
B. Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements
C. Ineffective family coping
D. Impaired verbal communication

16. The nurse is preparing for the discharge of a client who has been hospitalized for paranoid schizophrenia. The client's husband expresses concern over whether his wife will continue to take her daily prescribed medication. The nurse should inform him that:

A. his concern is valid but his wife is an adult and has the right to make her own decisions.
B. he can easily mix the medication in his wife's food if she stops taking it.
C. his wife can be given a long-acting medication that is administered every 1 to 4 weeks.
D. his wife knows she must take her medication as prescribed to avoid future hospitalizations.

17. Benztropine (Cogentin) is used to treat the extrapyramidal effects induced by antipsychotics. This drug exerts its effect by:

A. decreasing the anxiety causing muscle rigidity.
B. blocking the cholinergic activity in the central nervous system (CNS).
C. increasing the level of acetylcholine in the CNS.
D. increasing norepinephrine in the CNS.

18. A client is admitted to the inpatient unit of the mental health center with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. He's shouting that the government of France is trying to assassinate him. Which of the following responses is most appropriate?

A. "I think you're wrong. France is a friendly country and an ally of the United States. Their government wouldn't try to kill you."
B. "I find it hard to believe that a foreign government or anyone else is trying to hurt you. You must feel frightened by this."
C. "You're wrong. Nobody is trying to kill you."
D. "A foreign government is trying to kill you? Please tell me more about it."

19. A dopamine receptor agonist such as bromocriptine (Parlodel) relieves muscle rigidity caused by antipsychotic medication by:

A. blocking dopamine receptors in the central nervous system (CNS).
B. blocking acetylcholine in the CNS.
C. activating norepinephrine in the CNS.
D. activating dopamine receptors in the CNS.

20. Most antipsychotic medications exert which of following effects on the central nervous system (CNS)?

A. Stimulate the CNS by blocking postsynaptic dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin receptors.
B. Sedate the CNS by stimulating serotonin at the synaptic cleft.
C. Depress the CNS by blocking the postsynaptic transmission of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
D. Depress the CNS by stimulating the release of acetylcholine.

21. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit of a local hospital with chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. During the next several days, the client is seen laughing, yelling, and talking to herself. This behavior is characteristic of:

A. delusion.
B. looseness of association.
C. illusion.
D. hallucination.

22. Which of the following medications would the nurse expect the physician to order to reverse a dystonic reaction?

A. prochlorperazine (Compazine)
B. diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
C. haloperidol (Haldol)
D. midazolam (Versed)

23. A schizophrenic client states, "I hear the voice of King Tut." Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?

A. "I don't hear the voice, but I know you hear what sounds like a voice."
B. "You shouldn't focus on that voice."
C. "Don't worry about the voice as long as it doesn't belong to anyone real."
D. "King Tut has been dead for years."

24. A psychotic client reports to the evening nurse that the day nurse put something suspicious in his water with his medication. The nurse replies, "You're worried about your medication?" The nurse's communication is:

A. an example of presenting reality.
B. reinforcing the client's delusions.
C. focusing on emotional content.
D. a nontherapeutic technique called mind reading.

25. The nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who experiences auditory hallucinations. The client appears to be listening to someone who isn't visible. He gestures, shouts angrily, and stops shouting in mid-sentence. Which nursing intervention is the most appropriate?

A. Approach the client and touch him to get his attention.
B. Encourage the client to go to his room where he'll experience fewer distractions.
C. Acknowledge that the client is hearing voices but make it clear that the nurse doesn't hear these voices.
D. Ask the client to describe what the voices are saying

26. A client has been receiving chlorpromazine (Thorazine), an antipsychotic, to treat his psychosis. Which findings should alert the nurse that the client is experiencing pseudoparkinsonism?

A. Restlessness, difficulty sitting still, and pacing
B. Involuntary rolling of the eyes
C. Tremors, shuffling gait, and masklike face
D. Extremity and neck spasms, facial grimacing, and jerky movements

27. For several years, a client with chronic schizophrenia has received 10 mg of fluphenazine hydrochloride (Prolixin) by mouth four times per day. Now the client has a temperature of 102° F (38.9° C), a heart rate of 120 beats/minute, a respiratory rate of 20 breaths/minute, and a blood pressure of 210/140 mm Hg. Because the client also is confused and incontinent, the nurse suspects malignant neuroleptic syndrome. What steps should the nurse take?

A. Give the next dose of fluphenazine, call the physician, and monitor vital signs.
B. Withhold the next dose of fluphenazine, call the physician, and monitor vital signs.
C. Give the next dose of fluphenazine and restrict the client to the room to decrease stimulation.
D. Withhold the next dose of fluphenazine, administer an antipyretic agent, and increase the client's fluid intake.

28. A schizophrenic client with delusions tells the nurse, "There is a man wearing a red coat who's out to get me." The client exhibits increasing anxiety when focusing on the delusions. Which of the following would be the best response?

A. "This subject seems to be troubling you. Let's walk to the activity room."
B. "Describe the man who's out to get you. What does he look like?"
C. "There is no reason to be afraid of that man. This hospital is very secure."
D. "There is no need to be concerned with a man who isn't even real."

29. Important teaching for women in their childbearing years who are receiving antipsychotic medications includes which of the following?

A. Occurrence of increased libido due to medication adverse effects
B. Increased incidence of dysmenorrhea while taking the drug
C. Continuing previous use of contraception during periods of amenorrhea
D. Instruction that amenorrhea is irreversible

30. A client is admitted to a psychiatric facility with a diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia. The history indicates that the client has been taking neuroleptic medication for many years. Assessment reveals unusual movements of the tongue, neck, and arms. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

A. Tardive dyskinesia
B. Dystonia
C. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
D. Akathisia

31. What medication would probably be ordered for the acutely aggressive schizophrenic client?

A. chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
B. haloperidol (Haldol)
C. lithium carbonate (Lithonate)
D. amitriptyline (Elavil)

32. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder. Which signs would this client exhibit during social situations?

A. Aggressive behavior
B. Paranoid thoughts
C. Emotional affect
D. Independence needs

33. During the initial interview, a client with schizophrenia suddenly turns to the empty chair beside him and whispers, "Now just leave. I told you to stay home. There isn't enough work here for both of us!" What is the nurse's best initial response?

A. "When people are under stress, they may see things or hear things that others don't. Is that what just happened?"
B. "I'm having a difficult time hearing you. Please look at me when you talk."
C. "There is no one else in the room. What are you doing?"
D. "Who are you talking to? Are you hallucinating?"

34. The definition of nihilistic delusions is:

A. a false belief about the functioning of the body.
B. belief that the body is deformed or defective in a specific way.
C. false ideas about the self, others, or the world.
D. the inability to carry out motor activities.

35. A client who's taking antipsychotic medication develops a very high temperature, severe muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and rapid deterioration in mental status. The nurse suspects what complication of antipsychotic therapy?

A. Agranulocytosis
B. Extrapyramidal effects
C. Anticholinergic effects
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)

36. The nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Impaired social interaction related to disorganized thinking for a client with schizotypal personality disorder. Based on this nursing diagnosis, which nursing intervention takes highest priority?

A. Helping the client to participate in social interactions
B. Establishing a one-on-one relationship with the client
C. Exploring the effects of the client's behavior on social interactions
D. Developing a schedule for the client's participation in social interactions

37. A client with schizophrenia hears a voice telling him he is evil and must die. The nurse understands that the client is experiencing:

A. a delusion.
B. flight of ideas.
C. ideas of reference.
D. a hallucination.

38. A client with delusional thinking shows a lack of interest in eating at meal times. She states that she is unworthy of eating and that her children will die if she eats. Which nursing action would be most appropriate for this client?

A. Telling the client that she may become sick and die unless she eats
B. Paying special attention to the client's rituals and emotions associated with meals
C. Restricting the client's access to food except at specified meal and snack times
D. Encouraging the client to express her feelings at meal times

39. Which of the following groups of characteristics would the nurse expect to see in the client with schizophrenia?

A. Loose associations, grandiose delusions, and auditory hallucinations
B. Periods of hyperactivity and irritability alternating with depression
C. Delusions of jealousy and persecution, paranoia, and mistrust
D. Sadness, apathy, feelings of worthlessness, anorexia, and weight loss

40. The nurse must administer a medication to reverse or prevent Parkinson-type symptoms in a client receiving an antipsychotic. The medication the client will likely receive is:

A. benztropine (Cogentin).
B. diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
C. propranolol (Inderal).
D. haloperidol (Haldol).

41. A client is receiving haloperidol (Haldol) to reduce psychotic symptoms. As he watches television with other clients, the nurse notes that he has trouble sitting still. He seems restless, constantly moving his hands and feet and changing position. When the nurse asks what is wrong, he says he feels jittery. How should the nurse manage this situation?

A. Ask the client to sit still or leave the room because he is distracting the other clients.
B. Ask the client if he is nervous or anxious about something.
C. Give an as needed dose of a prescribed anticholinergic agent to control akathisia.
D. Administer an as needed dose of haloperidol to decrease agitation.

42. A man is brought to the hospital by his wife, who states that for the past week her husband has refused all meals and accused her of trying to poison him. During the initial interview, the client's speech, only partly comprehensible, reveals that his thoughts are controlled by delusions that he is possessed by the devil. The physician diagnoses paranoid schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is best described as a disorder characterized by:

A. disturbed relationships related to an inability to communicate and think clearly.
B. severe mood swings and periods of low to high activity.
C. multiple personalities, one of which is more destructive than the others.
D. auditory and tactile hallucinations.

43. A client has a history of chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. Because she has a history of noncompliance with antipsychotic therapy, she'll receive fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate) injections every 4 weeks. Before discharge, what should the nurse include in her teaching plan?

A. Asking the physician for droperidol (Inapsine) to control any extrapyramidal symptoms that occur
B. Sitting up for a few minutes before standing to minimize orthostatic hypotension
C. Notifying the physician if her thoughts don't normalize within 1 week
D. Expecting symptoms of tardive dyskinesia to occur and to be transient

44. A client with chronic schizophrenia who takes neuroleptic medication is admitted to the psychiatric unit. Nursing assessment reveals rigidity, fever, hypertension, and diaphoresis. These findings suggest which life-threatening reaction:

A. tardive dyskinesia.
B. dystonia.
C. neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
D. akathisia.

45. While looking out the window, a client with schizophrenia remarks, "That school across the street has creatures in it that are waiting for me." Which of the following terms best describes what the creatures represent?

A. Anxiety attack
B. Projection
C. Hallucination
D. Delusion

46. A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "My intestines are rotted from the worms chewing on them." This statement indicates a:

A. delusion of persecution.
B. delusion of grandeur.
C. somatic delusion.
D. jealous delusion.

47. During the assessment stage, a client with schizophrenia leaves his arm in the air after the nurse has taken his blood pressure. His action shows evidence of:

A. somatic delusions.
B. waxy flexibility.
C. neologisms.
D. nihilistic delusions.

48. A client with paranoid type schizophrenia becomes angry and tells the nurse to leave him alone. The nurse should

A. tell him that she'll leave for now but will return soon.
B. ask him if it's okay if she sits quietly with him.
C. ask him why he wants to be left alone.
D. tell him that she won't let anything happen to him

49. Nursing care for a client with schizophrenia must be based on valid psychiatric and nursing theories. The nurse's interpersonal communication with the client and specific nursing interventions must be:

A. clearly identified with boundaries and specifically defined roles.
B. warm and nonthreatening.
C. centered on clearly defined limits and expression of empathy.
D. flexible enough for the nurse to adjust the plan of care as the situation warrants.

50. When discharging a client after treatment for a dystonic reaction, the emergency department nurse must ensure that the client understands which of the following?

A. Results of treatment are rapid and dramatic but may not last.
B. Although uncomfortable, this reaction isn't serious.
C. The client shouldn't buy drugs on the street.
D. The client must take benztropine (Cogentin) as prescribed to prevent a return of symptoms.

51. The nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia. Which of the following outcomes is the least desirable?

A. The client spends more time by himself.
B. The client doesn't engage in delusional thinking.
C. The client doesn't harm himself or others.
D. The client demonstrates the ability to meet his own self-care needs.

52. The nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Impaired verbal communication for a client with schizotypal personality disorder. Based on this nursing diagnosis, which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

A. Helping the client to participate in social interactions
B. Establishing a one-on-one relationship with the client
C. Establishing alternative forms of communication
D. Allowing the client to decide when he wants to participate in verbal communication with the nurse

53. Since admission 4 days ago, a client has refused to take a shower, stating, "There are poison crystals hidden in the showerhead. They'll kill me if I take a shower." Which nursing action is most appropriate?

A. Dismantling the showerhead and showing the client that there is nothing in it
B. Explaining that other clients are complaining about the client's body odor
C. Asking a security officer to assist in giving the client a shower
D. Accepting these fears and allowing the client to take a sponge bath

54. Drug therapy with thioridazine (Mellaril) shouldn't exceed a daily dose of 800 mg to prevent which adverse reaction?

A. Hypertension
B. Respiratory arrest
C. Tourette syndrome
D. Retinal pigmentation

A. "I get upset once in a while, too."
B. "I know just how you feel. I'd feel the same way in your situation."
C. "I worry, too, when I think people are talking about me."
D. "At times, it's normal not to trust anyone."

56. How soon after chlorpromazine (Thorazine) administration should the nurse expect to see a client's delusional thoughts and hallucinations eliminated?

A. Several minutes
B. Several hours
C. Several days
D. Several weeks

57. A client is about to be discharged with a prescription for the antipsychotic agent haloperidol (Haldol), 10 mg by mouth twice per day. During a discharge teaching session, the nurse should provide which instruction to the client?

A. Take the medication 1 hour before a meal.
B. Decrease the dosage if signs of illness decrease.
C. Apply a sunscreen before being exposed to the sun.
D. Increase the dosage up to 50 mg twice per day if signs of illness don't decrease.

58. A client with paranoid schizophrenia repeatedly uses profanity during an activity therapy session. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

A. "Your behavior won't be tolerated. Go to your room immediately."
B. "You're just doing this to get back at me for making you come to therapy."
C. "Your cursing is interrupting the activity. Take time out in your room for 10 minutes."
D. "I'm disappointed in you. You can't control yourself even for a few minutes."

59. Which of the following is one of the advantages of the newer antipsychotic medication risperidone (Risperdal)?

A. The absence of anticholinergic effects
B. A lower incidence of extrapyramidal effects
C. Photosensitivity and sedation
D. No incidence of neuroleptic malignant syndrome

60. The etiology of schizophrenia is best described by:

A. genetics due to a faulty dopamine receptor.
B. environmental factors and poor parenting.
C. structural and neurobiological factors.
D. a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

61. A client with schizophrenia who receives fluphenazine (Prolixin) develops pseudoparkinsonism and akinesia. What drug would the nurse administer to minimize extrapyramidal symptoms?

A. benztropine (Cogentin)
B. dantrolene (Dantrium)
C. clonazepam (Klonopin)
D. diazepam (Valium)

62. A client with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia comments to the nurse, "How do I know what is really in those pills?" Which of the following is the best response?

A. Say, "You know it's your medicine."
B. Allow him to open the individual wrappers of the medication.
C. Say, "Don't worry about what is in the pills. It's what is ordered."
D. Ignore the comment because it's probably a joke.

63. A client tells the nurse that people from Mars are going to invade the earth. Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?

A. "That must be frightening to you. Can you tell me how you feel about it?"
B. "There are no people living on Mars."
C. "What do you mean when you say they're going to invade the earth?"
D. "I know you believe the earth is going to be invaded, but I don't believe that."

64. A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse he hears the voices of his dead parents. To help the client ignore the voices, the nurse should recommend that he:

A. sit in a quiet, dark room and concentrate on the voices.
B. listen to a personal stereo through headphones and sing along with the music.
C. call a friend and discuss the voices and his feelings about them.
D. engage in strenuous exercise.

65. A client with schizophrenia is receiving antipsychotic medication. Which nursing diagnosis may be appropriate for this client?

A. Ineffective protection related to blood dyscrasias
B. Urinary frequency related to adverse effects of antipsychotic medication
C. Risk for injury related to a severely decreased level of consciousness
D. Risk for injury related to electrolyte disturbances

66. A client with persistent, severe schizophrenia has been treated with phenothiazines for the past 17 years. Now the client's speech is garbled as a result of drug-induced rhythmic tongue protrusion. What is another name for this extrapyramidal symptom?

A. Dystonia
B. Akathisia
C. Pseudoparkinsonism
D. Tardive dyskinesia

67. The nurse is assigned to a client with catatonic schizophrenia. Which intervention should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?

A. Meeting all of the client's physical needs
B. Giving the client an opportunity to express concerns
C. Administering lithium carbonate (Lithonate) as prescribed
D. Providing a quiet environment where the client can be alone

68. A client with a history of medication noncompliance is receiving outpatient treatment for chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. The physician is most likely to prescribe which medication for this client?

A. chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
B. imipramine (Tofranil)
C. lithium carbonate (Lithane)
D. fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate)

69. Propranolol (Inderal) is used in the mental health setting to manage which of the following conditions?

A. Antipsychotic-induced akathisia and anxiety
B. The manic phase of bipolar illness as a mood stabilizer
C. Delusions for clients suffering from schizophrenia
D. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to reduce ritualistic behavior

70. Every day for the past 2 weeks, a client with schizophrenia stands up during group therapy and screams, "Get out of here right now! The elevator bombs are going to explode in 3 minutes!" The next time this happens, how should the nurse respond?

A. "Why do you think there is a bomb in the elevator?"
B. "That is the same thing you said in yesterday's session."
C. "I know you think there are bombs in the elevator, but there aren't."
D. "If you have something to say, you must do it according to our group rules."

71. A 26-year-old client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with acute onset of schizophrenia. His physician prescribes the phenothiazine chlorpromazine (Thorazine), 100 mg by mouth four times per day. Before administering the drug, the nurse reviews the client's medication history. Concomitant use of which drug is likely to increase the risk of extrapyramidal effects?

A. guanethidine (Ismelin)
B. droperidol (Inapsine)
C. lithium carbonate (Lithonate)
D. alcohol

72. A client, age 36, with paranoid schizophrenia believes the room is bugged by the Central Intelligence Agency and that his roommate is a foreign spy. The client has never had a romantic relationship, has no contact with family members, and hasn't been employed in the last 14 years. Based on Erikson's theories, the nurse should recognize that this client is in which stage of psychosocial development?

A. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
B. Generativity versus stagnation
C. Integrity versus despair
D. Trust versus mistrust

73. During a group therapy session in the psychiatric unit, a client constantly interrupts with impulsive behavior and exaggerated stories that cast her as a hero or princess. She also manipulates the group with attention-seeking behaviors, such as sexual comments and angry outbursts. The nurse realizes that these behaviors are typical of:

A. paranoid personality disorder.
B. avoidant personality disorder.
C. histrionic personality disorder.
D. borderline personality disorder.

74. The nurse is teaching a psychiatric client about her prescribed drugs, chlorpromazine and benztropine. Why is benztropine administered?
A. To reduce psychotic symptoms
B. To reduce extrapyramidal symptoms
C. To control nausea and vomiting
D. To relieve anxiety

75. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a tentative diagnosis of psychosis. Her physician prescribes the phenothiazine thioridazine (Mellaril) 50 mg by mouth three times per day. Phenothiazines differ from central nervous system (CNS) depressants in their sedative effects by producing:

A. deeper sleep than CNS depressants.
B. greater sedation than CNS depressants.
C. a calming effect from which the client is easily aroused.
D. more prolonged sedative effects, making the client more difficult to arouse.

A. Schizophrenia
B. Paranoid personality
C. Bipolar illness
D. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

77. A client with paranoid schizophrenia is admitted to the psychiatric unit of a hospital. Nursing assessment should include careful observation of the client's:

A. thinking, perceiving, and decision-making skills.
B. verbal and nonverbal communication processes.
C. affect and behavior.
D. psychomotor activity.

78. Which information is most important for the nurse to include in a teaching plan for a schizophrenic client taking clozapine (Clozaril)?

A. Monthly blood tests will be necessary.
B. Report a sore throat or fever to the physician immediately.
C. Blood pressure must be monitored for hypertension.
D. Stop the medication when symptoms subside.

79. Important teaching for clients receiving antipsychotic medication such as haloperidol (Haldol) includes which of the following instructions?

A. Use sunscreen because of photosensitivity.
B. Take the antipsychotic medication with food.
C. Have routine blood tests to determine levels of the medication.
D. Abstain from eating aged cheese.

80. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include which of the following?

A. Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking
B. Somatic delusions, echolalia, and a flat affect
C. Waxy flexibility, alogia, and apathy
D. Flat affect, avolition, and anhedonia

81. A client with chronic schizophrenia receives 20 mg of fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate) by I.M. injection. Three days later, the client has muscle contractions that contort the neck. This client is exhibiting which extrapyramidal reaction?

A. Dystonia
B. Akinesia
C. Akathisia
D. Tardive dyskinesia

82. Hormonal effects of the antipsychotic medications include which of the following?

A. Retrograde ejaculation and gynecomastia
B. Dysmenorrhea and increased vaginal bleeding
C. Polydipsia and dysmenorrhea
D. Akinesia and dysphasia

83. A client is unable to get out of bed and get dressed unless the nurse prompts every step. This is an example of which behavior?

A. Word salad
B. Tangential
C. Perseveration
D. Avolition

84. An agitated and incoherent client, age 29, comes to the emergency department with complaints of visual and auditory hallucinations. The history reveals that the client was hospitalized for paranoid schizophrenia from ages 20 to 21. The physician prescribes haloperidol (Haldol), 5 mg I.M. The nurse understands that this drug is used in this client to treat:

A. dyskinesia.
B. dementia.
C. psychosis.
D. tardive dyskinesia.

85. Yesterday, a client with schizophrenia began treatment with haloperidol (Haldol). Today, the nurse notices that the client is holding his head to one side and complaining of neck and jaw spasms. What should the nurse do?

A. Assume that the client is posturing.
B. Tell the client to lie down and relax.
C. Evaluate the client for adverse reactions to haloperidol.
D. Put the client on the list for the physician to see tomorrow.

86. A client receiving fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate) therapy develops pseudoparkinsonism. The physician is likely to prescribe which drug to control this extrapyramidal effect?

A. phenytoin (Dilantin)
B. amantadine (Symmetrel)
C. benztropine (Cogentin)
D. diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

87. Important teaching for a client receiving risperidone (Risperdal) would include advising the client to:

A. double the dose if missed to maintain a therapeutic level.
B. be sure to take the drug with a meal because it's very irritating to the stomach.
C. discontinue the drug if the client reports weight gain.
D. notify the physician if the client notices an increase in bruising.

88. A client is admitted to the psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of catatonic schizophrenia. During the physical examination, the client's arm remains outstretched after the nurse obtains the pulse and blood pressure, and the nurse must reposition the arm. This client is exhibiting:

A. suggestibility.
B. negativity.
C. waxy flexibility.
D. retardation.

89. A client with borderline personality disorder becomes angry when he is told that today's psychotherapy session with the nurse will be delayed 30 minutes because of an emergency. When the session finally begins, the client expresses anger. Which response by the nurse would be most helpful in dealing with the client's anger?

A. "If it had been your emergency, I would have made the other client wait."
B. "I know it's frustrating to wait. I'm sorry this happened."
C. "You had to wait. Can we talk about how this is making you feel right now?"
D. "I really care about you and I'll never let this happen again."

90. A client begins clozapine (Clozaril) therapy after several other antipsychotic agents fail to relieve her psychotic symptoms. The nurse instructs her to return for weekly white blood cell (WBC) counts to assess for which adverse reaction?

A. Hepatitis
B. Infection
C. Granulocytopenia
D. Systemic dermatitis

91. Which nonantipsychotic medication is used to treat some clients with schizoaffective disorder?

A. phenelzine (Nardil)
B. chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
C. lithium carbonate (Lithane)
D. imipramine (Tofranil)

92. A client diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder is suffering from schizophrenia with elements of which of the following disorders?

A. Personality disorder
B. Mood disorder
C. Thought disorder
D. Amnestic disorder

93. When teaching the family of a client with schizophrenia, the nurse should provide which information?

A. Relapse can be prevented if the client takes the medication.
B. Support is available to help family members meet their own needs.
C. Improvement should occur if the client has a stimulating environment.
D. Stressful family situations can precipitate a relapse in the client.

94. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with active psychosis. The physician diagnoses schizophrenia after ruling out several other conditions. Schizophrenia is characterized by:

A. loss of identity and self-esteem.
B. multiple personalities and decreased self-esteem.
C. disturbances in affect, perception, and thought content and form.
D. persistent memory impairment and confusion.

95. The nurse is providing care to a client with a catatonic type of schizophrenia who exhibits extreme negativism. To help the client meet his basic needs, the nurse should:

A. ask the client which activity he would prefer to do first.
B. negotiate a time when the client will perform activities.
C. tell the client specifically and concisely what needs to be done.
D. prepare the client ahead of time for the activity.

96. The nurse is caring for a client who experiences false sensory perceptions with no basis in reality. These perceptions are known as:

A. delusions.
B. hallucinations.
C. loose associations.
D. neologisms.

97. The nurse is aware that antipsychotic medications may cause which of the following adverse effects?

A. Increased production of insulin
B. Lower seizure threshold
C. Increased coagulation time
D. Increased risk of heart failure

98. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of delusions of grandeur. This diagnosis reflects a belief that one is:

A. highly important or famous.
B. being persecuted.
C. connected to events unrelated to oneself.
D. responsible for the evil in the world.

99. A man with a 5-year history of multiple psychiatric admissions is brought to the emergency department by the police. He was found wandering the streets disheveled, shoeless, and confused. Based on his previous medical records and current behavior, he is diagnosed with chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. The nurse should assign highest priority to which nursing diagnosis?

A. Anxiety
B. Impaired verbal communication
C. Disturbed thought processes
D. Self-care deficient: Dressing/grooming

100. A client's medication order reads, "Thioridazine (Mellaril) 200 mg P.O. q.i.d. and 100 mg P.O. p.r.n." The nurse should:

A. administer the medication as prescribed.
B. question the physician about the order.
C. administer the order for 200 mg P.O. q.i.d. but not for 100 mg P.O. p.r.n.
D. administer the medication as prescribed but observe the client closely for adverse effects.

101. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. The nurse expects the assessment to reveal:

A. unpredictable behavior and intense interpersonal relationships.
B. inability to function as a responsible parent.
C. somatic symptoms.
D. coldness, detachment, and lack of tender feelings.

102. A client with disorganized type schizophrenia has been hospitalized for the past 2 years on a unit for chronic mentally ill clients. The client's behavior is labile and fluctuates from childishness and incoherence to loud yelling to slow but appropriate interaction. The client needs assistance with all activities of daily living. Which behavior is characteristic of disorganized type schizophrenia?

A. Extreme social impairment
B. Suspicious delusions
C. Waxy flexibility
D. Elevated affect

103. The nurse is providing care for a female client with a history of schizophrenia who's experiencing hallucinations. The physician orders 200 mg of haloperidol (Haldol) orally or I.M. every 4 hours as needed. What is the nurse's best action?

A. Administer the haloperidol orally if the client agrees to take it.
B. Call the physician to clarify whether the haloperidol should be given orally or I.M.
C. Call the physician to clarify the order because the dosage is too high.
D. Withhold haloperidol because it may worsen hallucinations.

104. A client receiving haloperidol (Haldol) complains of a stiff jaw and difficulty swallowing. The nurse's first action is to:

A. reassure the client and administer as needed lorazepam (Ativan) I.M.
B. administer as needed dose of benztropine (Cogentin) I.M. as ordered.
C. administer as needed dose of benztropine (Cogentin) by mouth as ordered.
D. administer as needed dose of haloperidol (Haldol) by mouth.

105. A 24-year-old client is experiencing an acute schizophrenic episode. He has vivid hallucinations that are making him agitated. The nurse's best response at this time would be to:

A. take the client's vital signs.
B. explore the content of the hallucinations.
C. tell him his fear is unrealistic.
D. engage the client in reality-oriented activities.

106. Which medication can control the extrapyramidal effects associated with antipsychotic agents?

A. perphenazine (Trilafon)
B. doxepin (Sinequan)
C. amantadine (Symmetrel)
D. clorazepate (Tranxene)

107. A client with paranoid schizophrenia has been experiencing auditory hallucinations for many years. One approach that has proven to be effective for hallucinating clients is to:

A. take an as-needed dose of psychotropic medication whenever they hear voices.
B. practice saying "Go away" or "Stop" when they hear voices.
C. sing loudly to drown out the voices and provide a distraction.
D. go to their room until the voices go away.

108. A dystonic reaction can be caused by which of the following medications?

A. diazepam (Valium)
B. haloperidol (Haldol)
C. amitriptyline (Elavil)
D. clonazepam (Klonopin)

109. While pacing in the hall, a client with paranoid schizophrenia runs to the nurse and says, "Why are you poisoning me? I know you work for central thought control! You can keep my thoughts. Give me back my soul!" How should the nurse respond during the early stage of the therapeutic process?

A. "I'm a nurse. I'm not poisoning you. It's against the nursing code of ethics."
B. "I'm a nurse, and you're a client in the hospital. I'm not going to harm you."
C. "I'm not poisoning you. And how could I possibly steal your soul?"
D. "I sense anger. Are you feeling angry today?"

CLICK HERE FOR THE CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALE

Posted by Budek at 9:11 PM | | Comments

Joker Arroyo blows top over snub of nursing exam probe

Joker Arroyo blows top over snub of nursing exam probe

Palace ‘squandering goodwill’

By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net
Last updated 01:25pm (Mla time) 08/09/2006


SENATOR Joker Arroyo blasted the snub by officials of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and other agencies of Senate hearings into the nursing examinations leakage and said if reports the no-show was ordered by the executive were true, the order was “idiotic” and “out of line.”

“It would be well for Malacañang to clarify this,” Arroyo said. “It appears that they are itching for a fight which does the country no good. It is the wrong issue at the wrong time.”

Senator Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the committee on civil service and government reorganization, which is investigating the leakage, earlier noted that the letters submitted by invited officials of the PRC, Commission on Higher Education and National Bureau of Investigation explaining their absence at Tuesday’s hearing were almost identical and appeared to have been “dictated” by a single entity.

“Malacañang squanders uselessly and idiotically hard-earned goodwill if it did advise the PRC Commissioners not to attend the Senate hearings on the alleged nursing examination leakages,” Arroyo said. “This is going too far and the Executive is out of line.”

Relations between the Senate and the executive branch have continued to sour as Malacañang continues bar officials of agencies under investigation from attending hearings.

Although the Supreme Court has declared Executive Order (EO) 464 unconstitutional, the Palace says it can continue invoking the controversial edict while the decision remains on appeal.

Aside from the probe into the nursing exam leakage, executives invited to shed light on the status of a welfare fund held by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have also been no-shows despite Senate summons.

But Arroyo noted that Malacañang has nothing to do with the alleged leakage and should not have involved itself by “elevating middle-level executive officials to the category and questionable immunities of Cabinet members.”

He also warned the Palace against continuing to pick a fight with the Senate on the Chamber’s investigative powers.

“The Senate has bent over backwards on the OWWA issue by deferring the OWWA investigations and referring the interpretation of the application of the decision of the Supreme Court on EO 464 to its legal department. Malacañang should not mistake this for weakness,” he said.

It was Arroyo who suggested that hearings into the OWWA funds be deferred until the crisis in the Middle East is over.

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, chair of the Senate committee on labor and employment looking into the OWWA fund, said the Senate acceded to Arroyo’s suggestion during its Monday night caucus.

FROM: INQ7.net
http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=14321

Posted by marisse at 3:36 PM | | Comments

Nurse Exam Leak Issue: PRC Board Members Offer To Quit

NURSE EXAM LEAK ISSUE: PRC BOARD MEMEBRS OFFER TO QUIT

MANILA, AUGUST 9, 2006 (STAR) By Christina Mendez - Members of the Professional Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) Board of Nursing have offered to resign following the controversial leak in the nursing board examinations last June.

Eufemia Octaviano, chairwoman of the PRC-BON, gave the recommendation before the lawmakers led by Sen. Rodolfo Biazon during the Senate inquiry yesterday.

Octaviano volunteered to lead all the members of the PRC-BON before the Senate amid alleged pressures from Malacañang not to attend the hearing.

The inquiry was made after Senators Richard Gordon and Pia Cayetano filed separate resolutions seeking to investigate the alleged leakage in the nursing licensure exams.

Concerned officials snubbed anew the Senate hearing invoking Executive Order 464 which generally bars executive officials from appearing before congressional inquiries.

The officials averred the Senate should provide the advance questions for the inquiry.

"I have here the letters from the PRC, the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and the CHED (Commission on Higher Education). Somebody dictated these three different offices what letter to send to this committee," Biazon said, referring to the letters explaining why they are unable to attend the hearing.

Among the officials who were summoned were PRC chairman Leonor Tripon-Rosero, PRC commissioners Renato Valdecantos and Avelina dela Rea; Efren Meneses Jr., chief of the NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division; William Malitao, chief of the Office of Programs and Standards, CHED.

During the inquiry, Octaviano confirmed a leakage of the test questions indeed occurred in Baguio City.

"There is a leakage of the actual examination questions... (It) was released prior to examination date itself or before the correction of the test questions was made. In the June 11 and 12 exams there was a premature release of the questions for sets 3 and 5," she said.

Two nursing examinees, Rachel Cyndi-Erfe and Lilian Grace Yangot, also testified that some of the students purportedly from the R.A. Gapuz Review Center in Baguio City had cheated during the exams.

Cheryl Daytec-Yangot, legal counsel of the complainants, claimed the reports tagging the Gapuz Review Center in the leakage were bolstered by her personal interviews with operators of photocopy machines near the St. Louis University.

Yangot told the hearing that the employees from the Gapuz Center commissioned the copy center to produce 2,800 copies of nursing test questions with corresponding answers, a few days before the text examination proper.

Gordon, for his part, pointed out that the Senate should secure the statements of the involved photocopier machine operators in Baguio City.

But an official of the review center, Eleonor Artemia Gapuz, disputed reports linking them to the leakage.

"This absence of a link between the (Gapuz review) and the BON (Board of Nursing) examiners and the other review centers is certainly notable in PRC resolution because their is no statement in the PRC fact-finding committee report that illustrates such relationship," Gapuz told the committee.

FROM: Newsflash.org
http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl104483.htm

Posted by marisse at 3:12 PM | | Comments



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