1.A 60-year-old man was admitted for cholecystitis that resulted in a cholecystectomy. On 

his third day of hospitalization, he begins to sweat profusely, tremble, and has a blood pressure 

of 160/100. Based on these findings, what focused assessment should the nurse complete?

a. Cardiac problems

b. Respiratory problems

c. Withdrawal problems

d. Circulatory problems

ANS: C

Diaphoresis, tremors, and hypertension are all symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol 

consumption. The nurse, concerned about the patients medical condition, may not consider 

substance abuse until withdrawal symptoms appear.

2. What age of onset of alcohol consumption is most predictive of alcohol addiction?

a. 8 or younger

b. 10 or younger

c. 12 or younger

d. 14 or younger

ANS: D

Forty-four percent of those who start drinking at the age of 14 or younger will develop 

alcoholism.

3. Alcohol is involved in motor vehicle accidents, suicides, and homicides. Approximately 

how many deaths each year are related to alcohol consumption?

a. 50,000

b. 70,000

c. 80,000

d. 100,000

ANS: D

About 100,000 deaths each year are related to alcohol consumption.

4. What stage of dependence is described by a patient when he tells the nurse that he has 

tried to stop his drug habit, but he does not feel normal without it?

a. Early

b. Prodromal

c. Middle

d. Late

ANS: C

In the middle stage, the user shows signs of withdrawal with abstinence and must use the drug 

to feel normal.

5. What must a patient in the late stages of dependence do in order to recover?

a. Gain insight into the addiction

b. Receive treatment for substance abuse

c. Pledge to lead a completely different lifestyle

d. Seek a nondrug-oriented support system ANS: B

Very few people in the late stage of dependence will recover without treatment. The other 

options

may aid in the recovery, but it is the treatment that is essential for recovery.

6. What is the best response by a nurse when a patient inquires how alcohol acts so 

quickly on his system?

a. Alcohol is digested quickly.

b. Alcohol is converted to glycogen immediately.

c. Alcohol is metabolized into ethanol rapidly.

d. Alcohol is excreted in urine slowly. ANS: C

Alcohol is not digested or converted into glycogen, but it is metabolized quickly by the liver to

ethanol.