Neuro Practice from Saunders
The student nurse develops a plan of care for a client after a lumbar puncture. The nursing instructor corrects the student if the student documents which incorrect intervention in the plan? 1.Maintain the client in a flat position. 2.Restrict fluid intake for a period of 2 hours. 3.Assess the client's ability to void and move the extremities. 4.Inspect the puncture site for swelling, redness, and drainage.
2 Rationale:After the lumbar puncture the client remains flat in bed for at least 2 hours, depending on the health care provider's prescriptions. A liberal fluid intake is encouraged to replace the cerebrospinal fluid removed during the procedure, unless contraindicated by the client's condition. The nurse checks the puncture site for redness and drainage and assesses the client's ability to void and move the extremities.
The nurse is providing care to a client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Which approach is beneficial in controlling the client's ICP from an environmental viewpoint? 1.Reduce environmental noise. 2.Allow visitors as desired by the client and family. 3.Awaken the client every 2 to 3 hours to monitor mental status. 4.Cluster nursing activities to reduce the number of interruptions.
1 Rationale:Nursing interventions to control ICP include maintaining a calm, quiet, and restful environment. Environmental noise should be kept at a minimum. Visiting should be monitored to avoid emotional stress and interruption of sleep. Interventions should be spaced out over the shift to minimize the risk of a sustained rise in ICP.
A client brought to the emergency department had a seizure 1 hour ago. Family members were present during the episode and reported that the client's jaw was moving as though grinding food. In helping to determine the origin of this seizure, what should the nurse include in the client's assessment? 1.Loss of consciousness 2.Presence of diaphoresis 3.History of prior trauma 4.Rotating eye movements
3 Rationale:Seizures that originate with specific motor phenomena are considered focal and are indicative of a focal structural lesion in the brain, often caused by trauma, infection, or medication consumption. The remaining options address signs, rather than an origin of the
The nurse is evaluating the status of a client who had a craniotomy 3 days ago. Which assessment finding would indicate that the client is developing meningitis as a complication of surgery? 1.A negative Kernig's sign 2.Absence of nuchal rigidity 3.A positive Brudzinski's sign 4.A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15
3 Rationale:Signs of meningeal irritation compatible with meningitis include nuchal rigidity, a positive Brudzinski's sign, and positive Kernig's sign. Nuchal rigidity is characterized by a stiff neck and soreness, which is especially noticeable when the neck is flexed. Kernig's sign is positive when the client feels pain and spasm of the hamstring muscles when the leg is fully flexed at the knee and hip. Brudzinski's sign is positive when the client flexes the hips and knees in response to the nurse gently flexing the head and neck onto the chest. A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 is a perfect score and indicates that the client is awake and alert, with no neurological deficits.
A client with a traumatic brain injury is on mechanical ventilation. The nurse promotes normal intracranial pressure (ICP) by ensuring that the client's arterial blood gas (ABG) results are within which ranges? 1.PaO2 60 to 100 mm Hg (60 to 100 mm Hg), PaCo2 25 to 30 mm Hg (25 to 30 mm Hg) 2.PaO2 60 to 100 mm Hg (60 to 100 mm Hg), PaCo2 30 to 35 mm Hg (30 to 35 mm Hg) 3.PaO2 80 to 100 mm Hg (80 to 100 mm Hg), PaCo2 25 to 30 mm Hg (25 to 30 mm Hg) 4.PaO2 80 to 100 mm Hg (80 to 100 mm Hg), PaCo2 35 to 38 mm Hg (35 to 38 mm Hg
4 Rationale:The goal is to maintain the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCo2) at 35 to 38 mm Hg (35 to 38 mm Hg). Carbon dioxide is a very potent vasodilator that can contribute to increases in ICP. The PaO2 is not allowed to fall below 80 mm Hg (80 mm Hg), to prevent cerebral vasodilation from hypoxemia, which can also result in an increase in ICP. Therefore, the remaining options are incorrect.
The nurse is caring for a client with a head injury. The client's intracranial pressure reading is 8 mm Hg. Which condition should the nurse document? 1.The intracranial pressure reading is normal. 2.The intracranial pressure reading is elevated. 3.The intracranial pressure reading is borderline. 4.An intracranial pressure reading of 8 mm Hg is low.
1 Rationale:The normal intracranial pressure is 5 to 15 mm Hg. A pressure of 8 mm Hg is within normal range.
The nurse is caring for a client who begins to experience seizure activity while in bed. Which actions should the nurse take? Select all that apply. 1.Loosening restrictive clothing 2.Restraining the client's limbs 3.Removing the pillow and raising padded side rails 4.Positioning the client to the side, if possible, with the head flexed forward 5.Keeping the curtain around the client and the room door open so when help arrives they can quickly enter to assist
1,3,4 Rationale:Nursing actions during a seizure include providing for privacy, loosening restrictive clothing, removing the pillow and raising padded side rails in the bed, and placing the client on one side with the head flexed forward, if possible, to allow the tongue to fall forward and facilitate drainage. The limbs are never restrained because the strong muscle contractions could cause the client harm. If the client is not in bed when seizure activity begins, the nurse lowers the client to the floor, if possible; protects the head from injury; and moves furniture that may injure the client.
The nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing seizure activity. The nurse understands that it is necessary to determine information about which items as part of routine assessment of seizures? Select all that apply. 1.Postictal status 2.Duration of the seizure 3.Changes in pupil size or eye deviation 4.Seizure progression and type of movements 5.What the client ate in the 2 hours preceding seizure activity
1234 Rationale:Typically seizure assessment includes the time the seizure began, parts of the body affected, type of movements and progression of the seizure, change in pupil size or eye deviation or nystagmus, client condition during the seizure, and postictal status. Determining what the client ate 2 hours prior to the seizure is not a component of seizure assessment.
The nurse is documenting nursing observations in the record of a client who experienced a tonic-clonic seizure. Which clinical manifestation did the nurse most likely note in the clonic phase of the seizure? 1.Body stiffening 2.Spasms of the entire body 3.Sudden loss of consciousness 4.Brief flexion of the extremities
2 Rationale:The clonic phase of a seizure is characterized by alternating spasms and momentary muscular relaxation of the entire body, accompanied by strenuous hyperventilation. The face is contorted and the eyes roll. Excessive salivation results in frothing from the mouth. The tongue may be bitten, the client sweats profusely, and the pulse is rapid. The clonic jerking subsides by slowing in frequency and losing strength of contractions over a period of 30 seconds. Body stiffening, sudden loss of consciousness, and brief flexion of the extremities are associated with the tonic phase of a seizure.
The nurse is preparing for the admission to the unit of a client with a diagnosis of seizures and asks the nursing student to institute full seizure precautions. Which item if noted in the client's room would need to be removed and warrants the need to review seizure precautions with the student? 1.Oxygen source 2.Suction machine 3.Padded tongue blade 4.Padding for the side rails
3 Rationale:Full seizure precautions include bed rest with padded side rails in a raised position, a suction machine at the bedside, having diazepam or lorazepam available, and providing an oxygen source. Objects such as tongue blades are contraindicated and should never be placed in the client's mouth during a seizure.
The nurse is caring for a client with an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring device. The nurse should become most concerned if the ICP readings drifted to and stayed in the vicinity of which finding? 1.5 mm Hg 2.8 mm Hg 3.14 mm Hg 4.22 mm Hg
Rationale:Normal ICP readings range from 5 to 15 mm Hg pressure. Pressures greater than 20 mm Hg are considered to represent increased ICP, which seriously impairs cerebral perfusion.
The nurse in the neurological unit is monitoring a client for signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). The nurse reviews the assessment findings for the client and notes documentation of the presence of Cushing's reflex. The nurse determines that the presence of this reflex is obtained by assessing which item? 1.Blood pressure 2.Motor response 3.Pupillary response 4.Level of consciousness
1 Rationale:Cushing's reflex is a late sign of increased ICP and consists of a widening pulse pressure (systolic pressure rises faster than diastolic pressure) and bradycardia. The remaining options are unrelated to monitoring for Cushing's reflex.
The nurse is instituting seizure precautions for a client who is being admitted from the emergency department. Which measures should the nurse include in planning for the client's safety? Select all that apply. 1.Padding the side rails of the bed 2.Placing an airway at the bedside 3.Placing the bed in the high position 4.Putting a padded tongue blade at the head of the bed 5.Placing oxygen and suction equipment at the bedside 6.Flushing the intravenous catheter to ensure that the site is patent
1,2,5,6 Rationale:Seizure precautions may vary from agency to agency, but they generally have some common features. Usually, an airway, oxygen, and suctioning equipment are kept available at the bedside. The side rails of the bed are padded, and the bed is kept in the lowest position. The client has an intravenous access in place to have a readily accessible route if antiseizure medications must be administered, and as part of the routine assessment the nurse should be checking patency of the catheter. The use of padded tongue blades is highly controversial, and they should not be kept at the bedside. Forcing a tongue blade into the mouth during a seizure more likely will harm the client who bites down during seizure activity. Risks include blocking the airway from improper placement, chipping the client's teeth, and subsequent risk of aspirating tooth fragments. If the client has an aura before the seizure, it may give the nurse enough time to place an oral airway before seizure activity begins.
The nurse is caring for the client with increased intracranial pressure. The nurse would note which trend in vital signs if the intracranial pressure is rising? 1.Increasing temperature, increasing pulse, increasing respirations, decreasing blood pressure 2.Increasing temperature, decreasing pulse, decreasing respirations, increasing blood pressure 3.Decreasing temperature, decreasing pulse, increasing respirations, decreasing blood pressure 4.Decreasing temperature, increasing pulse, decreasing respirations, increasing blood pressure
2. Rationale:A change in vital signs may be a late sign of increased intracranial pressure. Trends include increasing temperature and blood pressure and decreasing pulse and respirations. Respiratory irregularities also may occur.
The nurse is preparing to care for a client after a lumbar puncture. The nurse should plan to place the client in which best position following the procedure? 1.Prone in semi Fowler's position 2.Supine in semi Fowler's position 3.Prone with a small pillow under the abdomen 4.Lateral with the head slightly lower than the rest of the body
3 Rationale:After the procedure, the client assumes a flat position. If the client is able, a prone position with a pillow under the abdomen is the best position. This position helps reduce cerebrospinal fluid leakage and decreases the likelihood of post-lumbar puncture headache. The remaining options are incorrect.
The nurse is caring for a client with Parkinson's disease. Which finding about gait should the nurse expect to note in the client? 1.Walking on the toes 2.Unsteady and staggering 3.Shuffling and propulsive 4.Broad-based and waddling
3 Rationale:The parkinsonian gait is characterized by short, accelerating, shuffling steps. The client leans forward with the head, hips, and knees flexed and has difficulty starting and stopping. An ataxic gait is unsteady and staggering. A dystrophic gait is broad-based and waddling. Walking on the toes can occur from shortened Achilles tendons.
The nurse is caring for a client with bacterial meningitis. The nurse should anticipate that an antibiotic with which characteristics will be prescribed for the client? 1.One that has a long half-life 2.One that acts within minutes to hours 3.One that can be easily excreted in the urine 4.One that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier
4 Rationale:A primary consideration regarding medications to treat bacterial meningitis is the ability of the medication to cross the blood-brain barrier. If the medication cannot cross, it will not be effective. The duration, onset, and excretion of the medication are also of general concern but apply to all medications and not specifically to those that are used to treat meningitis.
The nurse is caring for a client with intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. Which intervention is appropriate to include in the plan of care? 1.Place the client in Sims' position. 2.Change the drainage tubing every 48 hours. 3.Level the transducer at the lowest point of the ear. 4.Use strict aseptic technique when touching the monitoring system.
4 Rationale:Because there is a foreign body embedded in the client's brain, vigilant aseptic technique should be implemented. Sims' is a side-lying, flat position. With a client who has increased ICP, the head of the bed should be elevated at least 30 degrees to improve jugular outflow. The drainage tubing should not be routinely changed. It should remain for the duration of the monitoring. To obtain accurate ICP pressure readings, the transducer is zeroed at the level of the foramen of Monro, which is approximated by placing the transducer 1 inch above the level of the ear. Serial ICP readings should be done with the client's head in the same position
The nurse is teaching a client hospitalized with a seizure disorder and the client's spouse about safety precautions after discharge. The nurse determines that the client needs further teaching if the client states an intention to take which action? 1.Refrain from smoking alone. 2.Take all prescribed medications on time. 3.Have the spouse nearby when showering. 4.Drink alcohol in small amounts and only on weekends.
4 Rationale:The client should avoid the intake of alcohol. Alcohol could interact with the client's seizure medications, or it could precipitate seizure activity. The client should take all medications on time to avoid decreases in therapeutic medication levels, which could precipitate seizures. The client should not bathe in the shower or tub without someone nearby and should not smoke alone, to minimize the risk of injury if a seizure occurs.
The nurse is instructing a client with Parkinson's disease about preventing falls. Which client statement reflects a need for further teaching? 1."I can sit down to put on my pants and shoes." 2."I try to exercise every day and rest when I'm tired." 3."My son removed all loose rugs from my bedroom." 4."I don't need to use my walker to get to the bathroom."
4 Rationale:The client with Parkinson's disease should be instructed regarding safety measures in the home. The client should use his or her walker as support to get to the bathroom because of bradykinesia. The client should sit down to put on pants and shoes to prevent falling. The client should exercise every day in the morning when energy levels are highest. The client should have all loose rugs in the home removed to prevent falling.