A hospice nurse is visiting with the son of a client who has terminal cancer.
The son reports sleeping very little during the past week due to caring for his mother.
Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

The correct answer is choice d. Increasingly severe headache.

Choice A rationale:

Tachycardia is not typically associated with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). In fact, bradycardia (a slower heart rate) is more commonly seen as part of Cushing’s triad, which indicates increased ICP.

Choice B rationale:

Hypotension is not a common sign of increased ICP. Instead, hypertension (high blood pressure) is often observed as the body attempts to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure.

Choice C rationale:

Narrowed pulse pressure is not a typical indicator of increased ICP. Widened pulse pressure (the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure) is more commonly associated with increased ICP.

Choice D rationale:

Increasingly severe headache is a classic symptom of increased ICP. As pressure within the skull rises, it can cause significant pain and discomfort, making this a key indicator to monitor in patients with traumatic brain injury.

The correct answer is B.

Choice A reason: Avoid preparing medications for more than two clients at one time is a guideline aimed at reducing the risk of medication errors. However, it is not an absolute rule and may vary depending on the setting and resources available.

Choice B reason: Inform clients about the action of each medication prior to administration. This practice is essential for patient education, ensuring that patients are informed about what medications they are taking and why, which can improve adherence and outcomes.

Choice C reason: Reading medication labels at least two times prior to administration is a good practice to avoid errors, but it is not always specified as a standard requirement in medication administration guidelines.

Choice D reason: Completing an incident report if a client vomits after taking a medication is necessary only if the vomiting is related to an adverse drug reaction or a medication error, not for routine vomiting.