A patient with a head injury opens his eyes to verbal stimulation, shouts out when stimulated, and does not respond to a verbal command to move but attempts to push away a painful stimulus. How would the nurse record the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score?
9
11
15
13
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Reason: This is correct because the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score is 9. The Glasgow Coma Scale is a tool that assesses the level of consciousness of a patient with a head injury by measuring three parameters: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. The patient's eye opening score is 3 (opens eyes to verbal command), verbal response score is 4 (confused speech), and motor response score is 2 (withdraws from pain). The total score is the sum of these three scores, which is 9.
Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score is not 11. To get a score of 11, the patient would need to have a higher motor response score, such as 4 (withdraws to touch) or 5 (localizes to pain).
Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score is not 15. To get a score of 15, the patient would need to have the highest scores for all three parameters, such as 4 (opens eyes spontaneously), 5 (oriented speech), and 6 (obeys commands).
Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score is not 13. To get a score of 13, the patient would need to have a higher verbal response score, such as 5 (oriented speech).
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason: Soft pasty stool is normal for a transverse colostomy, as the stool has not reached the sigmoid colon where most of the water is absorbed.
Choice B Reason: This is the correct answer because purple discoloration of the stoma indicates ischemia or necrosis, which can lead to infection, perforation, or sepsis. It requires urgent intervention.
Choice C Reason: Stoma is beefy red is a normal finding for a healthy stoma, as it indicates adequate blood supply and healing.
Choice D Reason: There is skin excoriation around the stoma is a common complication of a colostomy, as the stool can irritate the skin. It can be managed with proper skin care and appliance fitting.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because nystagmus is not a response to stimuli, but a condition that causes involuntary eye movements. Nystagmus can be caused by various factors, such as inner ear disorders, brain lesions, or drug toxicity, but not necessarily by cervical spine injury.
Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because decorticate positioning is a response to stimuli that indicates damage to the cerebral cortex or the corticospinal tract. Decorticate positioning is characterized by flexion of the arms and extension of the legs. It does not indicate cervical spine injury, which affects the spinal cord below the brainstem.
Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because lack of any response to stimuli can indicate various levels of brain damage or coma, but not specifically cervical spine injury. Lack of any response can also be influenced by other factors, such as sedation, hypothermia, or shock.
Choice D Reason: This is correct because decerebrate positioning is a response to stimuli that indicates damage to the brainstem or the upper cervical spine. Decerebrate positioning is characterized by extension and outward rotation of the arms and legs. It indicates a severe and life-threatening injury that can impair vital functions, such as breathing and blood pressure.
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