A nurse in the emergency room is assessing a patient who was brought in following a seizure. The nurse suspects the patient may have bacterial meningitis when assessment findings include nuchal rigidity and a petechial rash. After implementing droplet precautions, which of the following actions should the nurse initiate next?
Assess the cranial nerves.
Decrease environmental stimuli.
Close the room.
Administer an antipyretic.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Assessing the cranial nerves is important, but it is not the immediate next step after implementing droplet precautions for suspected bacterial meningitis.
Choice B reason: Decreasing environmental stimuli can help reduce the risk of seizures and is a supportive measure for a patient with suspected bacterial meningitis.
Choice C reason: Closing the room is part of implementing droplet precautions but is not an action that needs to be initiated by the nurse as it should already be in place.
Choice D reason: Administering an antipyretic may be necessary if the patient has a fever, but it is not the immediate next action after droplet precautions.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: This choice is incorrect. Partial compensation would typically involve a change in PaCO2 to counterbalance the elevated bicarbonate, which is not observed here.
Choice B reason: This choice is incorrect. Respiratory acidosis is characterized by a low pH and an elevated PaCO2, which is not consistent with the given values.
Choice C reason: This choice is incorrect. Respiratory alkalosis would present with a low PaCO2 due to hyperventilation, which is not the case here.
Choice D reason: This is the correct choice. The elevated pH and HCO3 with a normal PaCO2 indicate metabolic alkalosis without respiratory compensation. Persistent vomiting can lead to loss of stomach acid, which causes metabolic alkalosis.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Defibrillation is used in the case of life-threatening cardiac rhythms, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. It is not the first line of treatment for a stable patient with VT.
Choice B reason: CPR is initiated when a patient is unresponsive and not breathing or not breathing normally, indicating cardiac arrest. It is not indicated for a patient who is stable and experiencing VT.
Choice C reason: Elective cardioversion is a procedure where an electrical shock is delivered to the heart to convert an abnormal rhythm back to a normal sinus rhythm. It is typically used for rhythms such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, not first line for VT.
Choice D reason: Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to destroy a small area of heart tissue that is causing rapid and irregular heartbeats. In the case of VT, this procedure is used to target the area causing the abnormal rhythm and is a common treatment for recurrent VT.
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