A client presents to the emergency department actively having seizure activity.
The paramedics report the client has a history of epilepsy but her family doesn't know the names of her current medications.
The priority for this patient is:
Obtain a blood specimen to check for serum drug levels.
Administer lorazepam IV to stop the convulsive activity.
Check the client's blood pressure and heart rate.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Checking serum drug levels provides insight into compliance and effectiveness but doesn’t address immediate seizure cessation, prioritizing treatment over diagnostic assessment.
Choice B rationale
Administering lorazepam IV halts seizure activity quickly by enhancing GABA activity, calming neuronal excitation, and stabilizing the patient’s condition, reducing potential complications.
Choice C rationale
Monitoring vitals like blood pressure and heart rate is essential but doesn’t directly address convulsive activity, which requires immediate pharmacological intervention to prevent status epilepticus progression. .
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Hemiparesis on the right side and ataxia are common manifestations of left-sided stroke, where the motor cortex affecting the contralateral side is impaired, leading to muscle weakness and coordination loss.
Choice B rationale
Spasticity of the left arm suggests motor impairment on the ipsilateral side, which is inconsistent with the nature of left-sided strokes affecting the contralateral side. Apraxia lacks relation to motor loss here.
Choice C rationale
Impulsive behavior and hostility are more indicative of frontal lobe involvement, not motor loss secondary to left-sided strokes. These behaviors do not represent motor manifestations.
Choice D rationale
Visual defects like homonymous hemianopia and diplopia may occur in stroke but are not direct indicators of motor loss. They relate to occipital lobe or optic pathway damage.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Ventriculostomies are inserted directly through the skull into the ventricles, not via the femoral artery. This method provides direct access to cerebrospinal fluid for drainage and pressure monitoring.
Choice B rationale
Ventriculostomies are placed to monitor intracranial pressure and drain excess cerebrospinal fluid, managing conditions like hydrocephalus or elevated intracranial pressure following brain injury or surgery.
Choice C rationale
An EEG monitors electrical brain activity but is unrelated to ventriculostomy placement. Ventriculostomy focuses on fluid drainage and pressure management, not on electrical diagnostic procedures.
Choice D rationale
Ventriculostomies carry a significant risk of infection due to the invasive nature of the procedure. Proper aseptic technique is critical to minimizing, not eliminating, the risk of infection.
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