Patient Assessment and Diagnosis Flashcards
7 cards from real CARN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment and Diagnosis flashcards as text
A patient presents with diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hypertension 18 hours after last alcohol use. Which assessment finding most indicates impending severe withdrawal?
Answer: Onset of visual hallucinations
Visual hallucinations signal progression toward severe alcohol withdrawal and risk for delirium tremens.
When using the CRAFFT screening tool with adolescent patients, the nurse should understand it is designed to assess risk related to:
Answer: Alcohol and other substance use while in cars, alone, or to relax/forget
CRAFFT screens adolescents for substance use risk using questions about riding in a Car, using substances Alone, to Relax, Forget, among other triggers.
A nurse is assessing a patient for opioid use disorder. Which finding from the urine drug screen requires the most immediate clinical follow-up?
Answer: Negative result in a patient on MOUD who denies recent use
A negative urine screen in a patient prescribed MOUD may indicate diversion and warrants urgent clinical reassessment.
Which DSM-5 criterion distinguishes a substance use disorder from substance dependence in clinical assessment?
Answer: DSM-5 removed the abuse/dependence dichotomy and uses a single spectrum disorder with severity specifiers
The DSM-5 replaced the DSM-IV categories of abuse and dependence with a single substance use disorder rated mild, moderate, or severe.
During a motivational assessment, a patient states: 'I know drinking is causing problems, but I'm not sure I want to quit.' This statement best reflects which stage of the Transtheoretical Model?
Answer: Contemplation
Acknowledging problems while being ambivalent about change is the hallmark of the contemplation stage.
A patient being assessed for stimulant use disorder reports paranoia, insomnia, and 72 hours without sleep. Which physiological assessment finding would the nurse most expect?
Answer: Tachycardia, hypertension, and mydriasis
Stimulant intoxication produces sympathomimetic effects including tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, and dilated pupils.
Which screening tool is validated for use in primary care settings to identify unhealthy alcohol use in adults and includes a single-question screen?
Answer: Single Alcohol Screening Question (SASQ)
The Single Alcohol Screening Question asks about heavy drinking days and is validated for identifying unhealthy alcohol use in primary care.