PathoPharm ICR Practice Quiz

Which of the following statements from Joe or his mother would require further follow up by the nurse?

"I need to take my Tegretol (carbamazepine) 2 hours before meals"

Joe has epilepsy. What is the definition of epilepsy?

A condition in which a person has spontaneously recurring seizures, a brain disorder.

Joe developed meningitis at age 3, with onset of seizures at that time. This is an example of what type of etiology?

Acute symptomatic

Kate is experiencing status epilepticus. The physician orders IV diazepam. What special precautions need to be taken by a nurse to administer IV diazepam?

Administer the drug very slowly, no faster than 5 mg/min

Mannitol is given for the following condition:

Cerebral Edema

Mannitol is an example of a(n) _______________ diuretic that is used primarily in acute situations, including the reduction of intracranial pressure in cerebral edema

Osmotic

The following are symptoms of what: loss of consciousness with muscle twitching and mild alterations in consciousness with repetitive blinking?

Seizures

Joe asks you "How long do I gotta take this stuff" referring to his seizure medications. What is the best response to give Joe?

You will always be on seizure medications, our goal is to control the frequency and severity of your seizures.

A patient with intracranial pressure monitoring has a pressure of 13 mm Hg. The nurse understands that this pressure reflects

a normal balance between brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid

A nurse plans care for the patient with increased intracranial pressure with the knowledge that the best way to position the patient is to

elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees