NUR 111 Exam 2 Questions And Verified
Detailed Answers
Cognition and components of cognition: Define cognition and components of cognition -
ANSWER Cognition: The process of thought that embodies perception, attention,
visual/spatial cognition, language, learning, memory, and executive function; as well as
the higher-order thinking skills of comprehension, insight, problem solving, reasoning,
decision making, creativity, and metacognition.
Differentiate between dementia and delirium. - ANSWER Dementia: Various organic
disorders that progressively affect cognitive functioning. Occurs over a period of
months to years. Impaired memory, judgment, attention, span and abstract thinking
Delirium: An acute illness that results in a temporary state of confusion. Lasts hours or
weeks, resolves with treatment. May be the first sign of a medical complication. The
most common complication of hospitalization for the elderly
Risk factors discussed for impaired cognition include the following : PERSONAL
BEHAVIORS Chemical exposure Activities that predispose individual to traumatic brain
injury High-risk behaviors ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES Lead exposure Pesticides
CONGENTIAL AND GENETIC CONDITIONS Chromosomal abnormalities Downs
syndrome Fragile X syndrome MATERNAL ISSUES Fetal alcohol syndrome Illegal drug
exposure ABNORMAL FINDINGS Discuss nursing assessment tools for impaired
cognition. Mini-mental examination : Standardized cognitive assessment tool, provides II
cognitive tasks Confusion Assessment Method CAM Mini-Cog
Nursing interventions when caring for clients with impaired cognition - ANWER
Pharmacotherapy, predictable routine, consistent caregivers, simple instructions, eye
contact, presence of familiar items/people, sensory aids, allowed to be involved in
decision making, promotion general health and comfort, reorientation, pain
management and comfort, regulation of stimulation, behavioural management, sensory
aids, carer support
,Metacognition - ANWER awareness and understanding of ones own thought processes
Perception- ANSWER The interpretation of the environment
Memory- ANSWER The retention and recall of past experiences and learning
Executive Function- ANSWER The higher thinking process that allows us to be flexible
Declarative Episodic- ANSWER information r/t specific events
Declarative Semantic- ANSWER memory of knowledge, words and facts
Declarative- ANSWER "long-term" memory, storage of large amounts of information
Working - ANSWER "short-term" memory, small amounts of information (maintained) for
short periods of time
Procedural - ANSWER retention and retrieval of motor skills (part of long-term memory)
Intact - ANSWER individual exhibits cognitive behaviors that are considered to be
"normal" for age and culture
Impaired - ANSWER measurable or observable disturbance in one or more cognitive
functions
Basic Cognition Functioning - ANSWER perception, pattern recognition, attention
Higher Order Cognition Functioning - ANSWER Learning, comprehension, insight,
problem solving reasoning, decision making, creativity, metacognition
,Abstract Reasoning - ANSWER Understanding complex ideas through analysis or
evaluation (understanding stuff like "the early bird catches the worm" and knowing that
you're not really talking about birds and worms)
Glasgow Coma Scale - ANSWER An assessment tool to test best eye response, best
verbal response and best motor response
Decorticate Posture - ANSWER The legs are extended and the arms are flexed with the
fists clenched. Caused by severe injury to the brain
Decerebrate - ANSWER Characterized with extension of upper arms and limbs, pointing
the toes down, head and neck arched back and rigid muscles. Caused by injury to the
brain
Mental Retardation - ANSWER developmental disorder
Delirium - ANSWER global cognitive disorder
Dementia - ANSWER global cognitive disorder
Focal Cognitive Disorders - ANSWER amnesia, aphasia, executive function disorders,
etc.
Aphasia - ANSWER loss of ability to understand of express speech. Caused by brain
damage
Amnesia - ANSWER Some loss of memory. Caused by brain damage
Primary Dementia - ANSWER - irreversible and is not caused by a secondary disease
, Secondary Dementia - ANSWER irreversible and occurs as a result of another disease
process
Agnosia - ANSWER inability to process sensory information
Delusions - ANSWER are false beliefs that interpret the environment or experiences
incorrectly
Diagnostic tests for cognition - ANSWER Lab tests: to rule out medical problems
Neuropsychometric:
Standardized/formal testing
Brain imaging techniques: MRI or PET scanning
SPICES tool - ANSWER S= Sleeping disorders
P= Problems with eating or feeding
I= Incontinence
C= Confusion
E= Evidence of Falls
S= Skin breakdown
Pharmacotherapy for cognition - ANSWER Hypnotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants,
antipsychotics, cholinesterase inhibitors (AD), memantine (Namenda) (AD)
Irreversible Health Related Conditions for risk factors for impaired cognition - ANSWER
Stroke, brain tumor, CVD (cardiovascular disease), Chronic Pulmonary Disease,
Depression