The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring the neurological vital signs of a client with a recently closed head injury. Which vital sign trends indicate increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and should be reported to the charge nurse?
Heart rate above 110 beats/minute, elevated respiratory rate, and hypotension.
Bounding pulse rate, groaning respiratory effort, and elevated blood pressure.
Thready rapid pulse, trembling, perspiration, weakness, and irritability.
Bradycardia, irregular respiratory patterns, widening pulse pressure.
The Correct Answer is D
The vital sign trends that indicate increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and should be reported to the charge nurse are:
Bradycardia: A slow heart rate can be a sign of increased ICP.
Irregular respiratory patterns: Abnormal breathing patterns, such as irregular or Cheyne-Stokes respirations, can be indicative of increased ICP.
Widening pulse pressure: An increased difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (widening pulse pressure) can be a sign of increased ICP.
A- Heart rate above 110 beats/minute, elevated respiratory rate, and hypotension: While an elevated heart rate and respiratory rate can be associated with increased ICP, hypotension (low blood pressure) is not typically seen in this condition. Hypotension can be a sign of other factors, such as hypovolemia or shock, which may or may not be related to the head injury.
B- Bounding pulse rate, groaning respiratory effort, and elevated blood pressure: Bounding pulse rate and elevated blood pressure are not specific to increased ICP. They can be influenced by other factors such as pain, anxiety, or medications. Groaning respiratory effort may indicate respiratory distress, but it is not directly related to increased ICP.
C- Thready rapid pulse, trembling, perspiration, weakness, and irritability: These signs and symptoms can be associated with various conditions such as anxiety, stress, or other physiological responses. While they may occur in the context of increased ICP, they are not specific to this condition alone.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Pilocarpine ophthalmic drops are used to treat glaucoma by reducing intraocular pressure. They do not have an anesthetic effect and are not used for the purpose of numbing or anesthetizing the eyes. It is important for the client to have a correct understanding of the medication and its intended use.
Here's why the other options are incorrect:
A. Reassure the client that the drops will not be needed often since eye pain in glaucoma is not common: This statement is not accurate. While eye pain may not be a common symptom of glaucoma, pilocarpine drops are primarily used to reduce intraocular pressure, not to address eye pain.
B. Reteach the client about the action of the eye drops to decrease pressure in the eyes: This option may be considered if the client misunderstood the information initially, but it is not the most appropriate response in this scenario. The client's statement indicates a specific belief about the drops providing anesthetic effects, so clarifying the purpose of the drops is more appropriate.
C. Document in the chart that the client understands the action and use of the eye drops: Documentation is important, but in this case, it is necessary to address the client's misconception about the anesthetic effect of the drops and provide accurate information.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
TPAL stands for Term, Premature, Abortion, and Living children, and it is used to document a client's obstetrical history.
In this case, the client has had a total of 5 pregnancies:
- Two pregnancies resulted in full-term (term) births, so the Term value is 2.
- Three pregnancies resulted in miscarriages during the first trimester (abortion), so the Abortion value is 3.
- The client has two living children, so the Living value is 2.
- There is no mention of any premature births, so the Premature value is 0.
Therefore, the appropriate documentation for this client's TPAL is Term 2, Premature 0, Abortion 3, and Living 2.
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