The nurse performs a visual assessment on a patient and documents the findings using the acronym PERRLA. Which assessment finding does PERRLA indicate?

A. While chemotherapy does have side effects, this is not the primary reason for its limited use in treating brain tumors. Side effects are a consideration but not the main obstacle.

B. The blood-brain barrier is a selective permeability barrier that limits the ability of many chemotherapy drugs to pass from the bloodstream into the brain tissue. This makes it difficult for chemotherapy to effectively treat brain tumors.

C. Brain tumors can metastasize and spread to other parts of the body, so chemotherapy may still be needed, especially in cases of malignant tumors.

D. Chemotherapy is commonly used to treat cancer, including brain tumors, but the blood-brain barrier poses a significant challenge in its effectiveness.

A. A blood pressure cuff is not directly needed to assess neurological status. While blood pressure is important to monitor in neurological assessments, it is not the primary tool used for assessing neurological function.

B. A pen light is essential for assessing pupil reaction, which is a key part of a neurological exam. The nurse can use the pen light to check for pupil dilation, constriction, and reaction to light, which are important indicators of brain function.

C. A thermometer is useful for measuring body temperature but is not a primary tool for assessing neurological status. Although fever can be a sign of infection affecting the brain, it is not part of the basic neurological exam.

D. A stethoscope is useful for listening to heart and lung sounds, but it is not typically used for assessing neurological function. The pen light is the more appropriate tool for this purpose.