Med Surg Chapter 68: Management of Patients with Neurologic Trauma
The nurse is caring for a client following a spinal cord injury who has a halo device in place. The client is preparing for discharge. Which statement by the client indicates the need for further instruction?
"I can apply powder under the liner to help with sweating."
The nurse is caring for a client who is being assessed for brain death. Which are cardinal signs of brain death? Select all that apply.
- Absence of brainstem reflexes - Apnea - Coma
The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with an acute subdural hematoma following a craniotomy. The nurse is preparing to administer an IV dose of dexamethasone (Decadron). The medication is available in a 20-mL IV bag and ordered to be infused over 15 minutes. At what rate (mL/hr) will the nurse set the infusion pump?
80
A patient sustained a head trauma in a diving accident and has a cerebral hemorrhage located within the brain. What type of hematoma is this classified as?
An intracerebral hematoma
When caring for a client who is post-intracranial surgery what is the most important parameter to monitor?
Body temperature
When caring for a client who is post-intracranial surgery, what is the most important parameter to monitor?
Body temperature
A client with a spinal cord injury has full head and neck control when the injury is at which level?
C5
At which of the following spinal cord injury levels does the patient have full head and neck control?
C5
When the nurse observes that the patient has extension and external rotation of the arms and wrists, and extension, plantar flexion, and internal rotation of the feet, she records the patient's posturing as which of the following?
Decerebrate
A client has sustained a traumatic brain injury. Which of the following is the priority nursing diagnosis for this client?
Ineffective airway clearance related to brain injury
The nurse is discussing spinal cord injury (SCI) at a health fair at a local high school. The nurse relays that the most common cause of SCI is
Motor vehicle crashes
Family members of a client with traumatic brain injury are extremely distressed about their loved one. How can the nurse best assist the family to cope during this acute phase?
Provide factual information and emotional support.
A nurse completes the Glasgow Coma Scale on a patient with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her assessment results in a score of 6, which is interpreted as:
Severe TBI.
A patient is admitted to the emergency room with a fractured skull sustained in a motorcycle accident. The nurse notes fluid leaking from the patient's ears. The nurse knows this is a probable sign of which type of skull fracture?
Basilar
Which of the following types of skull fractures may be evident by Battle's sign?
Basilar
The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a patient brought in by the rescue squad after falling from a second-story window. The nurse assesses ecchymosis over the mastoid and clear fluid from the ears. What type of skull fracture is this indicative of?
Basilar skull fracture
For a patient with an SCI, why is it beneficial to administer oxygen to maintain a high partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)?
Because hypoxemia can create or worsen a neurologic deficit of the spinal cord
The nurse is caring for a patient in the emergency department with a diagnosed epidural hematoma. What procedure will the nurse prepare the patient for?
Burr holes
Which type of brain injury has occurred if the client can be aroused with effort but soon slips back into unconsciousness?
Contusion
A client with a concussion is discharged after the assessment. Which instruction should the nurse give the client's family?
Look for signs of increased intracranial pressure
The nurse in the neurologic ICU is caring for a client who sustained a severe brain injury. Which nursing measures will the nurse implement to help control intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Maintain cerebral perfusion pressure from 50 to 70 mm Hg
A nurse is reviewing a CT scan of the brain, which states that the client has arterial bleeding with blood accumulation above the dura. Which of the following facts of the disease progression is essential to guide the nursing management of client care?
Monitoring is needed as rapid neurologic deterioration may occur.
Autonomic dysreflexia is an acute emergency that occurs with spinal cord injury as a result of exaggerated autonomic responses to stimuli. Which of the following is the initial nursing intervention to treat this condition?
Raise the head of the bed and place the patient in a sitting position.
A client admitted with a cerebral contusion is confused, disoriented, and restless. Which nursing diagnosis takes the highest priority?
Risk for injury related to neurologic deficit
Which term refers to muscular hypertonicity in a weak muscle, with increased resistance to stretch?
Spasticity
Autonomic dysreflexia can occur with spinal cord injuries above which of the following levels?
T6
A client was hit in the head with a ball and knocked unconscious. Upon arrival at the emergency department and subsequent diagnostic tests, it was determined that the client suffered a subdural hematoma. The client is becoming increasingly symptomatic. How would the nurse expect this subdural hematoma to be classified?
acute
While snowboarding, a fell and sustained a blow to the head, resulting in a loss of consciousness. The client regained consciousness within an hour after arrival at the ED, was admitted for 24-hour observation, and was discharged without neurologic impairment. What would the nurse expect this client's diagnosis to be?
concussion
A client has been diagnosed with a concussion and is to be released from the emergency department. The nurse teaches the family or friends who will be caring for the client to contact the physician or return to the ED if the client
vomits.
The nurse is assigned to care for clients with SCI on a rehabilitation unit. Which signs does the nurse recognize as clinical manifestations of autonomic dysreflexia? Select all that apply.
- Hypertension - Diaphoresis - Nasal congestion
A client with a spinal cord injury is to receive Lovenox (enoxaparin) 50 mg subcutaneously twice a day. The medication is supplied in vials containing 80 mg per 0.8 mL. How many mL will constitute the correct dose? Enter the correct number ONLY.
0.5
At a certain point, the brain's ability to autoregulate becomes ineffective and decompensation (ischemia and infarction) begins. Which of the following are associated with Cushing's triad? Select all that apply.
- Bradycardia - Hypertension - Bradypnea
Level of consciousness (LOC) can be assessed based on criteria in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Which of the following indicators are assessed in the GCS? Select all that apply.
- Eye opening - Verbal response - Motor response
The nurse is caring for a client immediately following a spinal cord injury (SCI). Which is an acute complication of SCI?
Spinal shock
The nurse reviews the physician's emergency department progress notes for the client who sustained a head injury and sees that the physician observed the Battle sign. The nurse knows that the physician observed which clinical manifestation?
An area of bruising over the mastoid bone
Which type of hematoma results from a skull fracture that causes a rupture or laceration of the middle meningeal artery?
Epidural
A patient brought to the hospital after a skiing accident was unconscious for a brief period of time at the scene, then woke up disoriented and refused to go to the hospital for treatment. The patient became very agitated and restless, then quickly lost consciousness again. What type of TBI is suspected in this situation?
Epidural hematoma
The nurse is caring for a client experiencing autonomic dysreflexia. Which of the following does the nurse recognize as the source of symptoms?
Sympathetic nervous system
A client has sustained a traumatic brain injury with involvement of the hypothalamus. The nurse is concerned about the development of diabetes insipidus. Which of the following would be an appropriate nursing intervention to monitor for early signs of diabetes insipidus?
Take daily weights.
The nurse is caring for a client with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Which clinical finding, observed during the reassessment of the client, causes the nurse the most concern?
Temperature increase from 98.0°F to 99.6°F
The nurse is working in the rehabilitative setting caring for tetraplegia and paraplegia clients. When instructing family members on the difference between the sites of impairment, which location differentiates the two disorders?
The first thoracic vertebrae
A client has been admitted for observation after a closed head injury. There is clear fluid leaking from the client's nose. How would the nurse assess if this drainage is CSF?
Assess for a halo sign
You are a neurotrauma nurse working in a neuro ICU. What would you know is an acute emergency and is seen in clients with a cervical or high thoracic spinal cord injury after the spinal shock subsides?
Autonomic dysreflexia
A nurse is caring for a client with L1-L2 paraplegia who is undergoing rehabilitation. Which goal is appropriate?
Establishing an intermittent catheterization routine every 4 hours
The nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery to relieve pressure on a compressed nerve. The compression does not involve the spinal cord. What kind of spinal nerve root compression does the nurse know this is?
Extramedullary
A patient comes to the emergency department with a large scalp laceration after being struck in the head with a glass bottle. After assessment of the patient, what does the nurse do before the physician sutures the wound?
Irrigates the wound to remove debris
A patient was body surfing in the ocean and sustained a cervical spinal cord fracture. A halo traction device was applied. How does the patient benefit from the application of the halo device?
It allows for stabilization of the cervical spine along with early ambulation.
The nurse working on a neurological unit is mentoring a nursing student. The student asks about a client who has sustained a primary and and secondary brain injury. The nurse correctly tells the student which of the following, related to the primary injury?
It results from initial damage to the brain from the traumatic event.
A client who is disoriented and restless after sustaining a concussion during a car accident is admitted to the hospital. Which nursing diagnosis takes the highest priority in this client's care plan?
Risk for injury
Which finding indicates increasing intracranial pressure (ICP) in the client who has sustained a head injury?
Widened pulse pressure
A 24-year-old female rock climber is brought to the emergency department after a fall from the face of a rock. The young lady is admitted for observation after being diagnosed with a contusion to the brain. The client asks the nurse what having a contusion means. How should the nurse respond?
Contusions are bruising, and sometimes, hemorrhage of superficial cerebral tissue.
The nurse working on the neurological unit is caring for a client with a basilar skull fracture. During assessment, the nurse expects to observe Battle's sign, which is a sign of basilar skill fracture. Which of the following correctly decribes Battle's sign?
Ecchymosis over the mastoid
The nurse is evaluating the transmission of a report from a paramedic unit to the emergency room. The medic reports that a client is unconscious with edema of the head and face and Battle's sign. What clinical picture would the nurse anticipate?
Edema to the head with bruising of the mastoid process
After a motor vehicle crash, a client is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a cervical collar in place. The cervical spinal X-rays haven't been read, so the nurse doesn't know whether the client has a cervical spinal injury. Until such an injury is ruled out, the nurse should restrict this client to which position?
Flat, except for logrolling as needed
A 22-year-old man is being closely monitored in the neurological ICU after suffering a basal skull fracture during an assault. The nurse's hourly assessment reveals the presence of a new blood stain on the patient's pillow that is surrounded by a stain that is pale yellow in color. The nurse should follow up this finding promptly because it is suggestive of:
Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Which of the following types of hematoma results from venous bleeding with blood gradually accumulating in the space below the dura?
Subdural
Which condition occurs when blood collects between the dura mater and arachnoid membrane?
Subdural hematoma
A client in the intensive care unit (ICU) has a traumatic brain injury. The nurse must implement interventions to help control intracranial pressure (ICP). Which of the following are appropriate interventions to help control ICP?
Keep the client's neck in a neutral position (no flexing).
The nurse is caring for a client with a head injury. The client is experiencing CSF rhinorrhea. Which order should the nurse question?
Insertion of a nasogastric (NG) tube
The most important nursing priority of treatment for a patient with an altered LOC is to:
Maintain a clear airway to ensure adequate ventilation.
A client with quadriplegia is in spinal shock. What finding should the nurse expect?
Absence of reflexes along with flaccid extremities
Which are possible long-term complications of spinal cord injury? Select all that apply.
- autonomic dysreflexia - respiratory infection
A client with a spinal cord injury is to receive methylprednisolone sodium succinate 100 mg intravenously twice a day. The medication is supplied in vials containing 125 mg per 2 mL. How many mL will constitute the correct dose? Enter the correct number ONLY.
1.6
A client in the surgical intensive care unit has skeletal tongs in place to stabilize a cervical fracture. Protocol dictates that pin care should be performed each shift. When providing pin care for the client, which finding should the nurse report to the physician?
A small amount of yellow drainage at the left pin insertion site
A client in the emergency department has bruising over the mastoid bone and rhinorrhea. The triage nurse suspects the client has which type of skull fracture?
Basilar
