A 70-year-old female patient with left-sided hemiparesis arrives by ambulance to the emergency department. Which action should the nurse take first?

Send the patient for a computed tomography (CT) scan.

Check the respiratory rate and effort.

Assess the Glasgow Coma Scale score.

Take the patient's blood pressure.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Send the patient for a computed tomography (CT) scan: While obtaining a CT scan is important for diagnosing potential causes of the patient's left-sided hemiparesis, assessing the patient's respiratory status takes precedence to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

B. Check the respiratory rate and effort: Assessing the patient's respiratory rate and effort is the first priority to identify any signs of respiratory distress or compromise. Adequate oxygenation and ventilation are essential for maintaining vital organ function.

C. Assess the Glasgow Coma Scale score: While assessing the Glasgow Coma Scale score is important for evaluating the patient's level of consciousness and neurological status, it is not the first action to take in a patient with potential respiratory compromise.

D. Take the patient's blood pressure: While obtaining the patient's blood pressure is important for assessing hemodynamic stability, it is not the first priority when the patient presents with left-sided hemiparesis and may be at risk for respiratory compromise.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Observe the client's ability to smile and frown: This assessment is related to cranial nerve VII (facial nerve), which controls facial expressions.
B. Instruct the client to look up and down without moving his head: Cranial nerve III (oculomotor nerve) controls eye movements, including upward and downward gaze. Asking the client to look up and down without moving the head assesses the function of this nerve.

C. Ask the client to shrug his shoulders against passive resistance: This assessment is related to cranial nerve XI (accessory nerve), which innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles involved in shoulder shrugging.

D. Have the client stand with eyes his closed and touch his nose: This assessment is part of the cerebellar function test and assesses coordination and proprioception but does not specifically assess cranial nerve III.

A. Oriented to person, place, and year B. Severe headache C. Bradycardia D. Blurred vision

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Oriented to person, place, and year: Meningitis often causes alterations in mental status, including confusion and disorientation. Therefore, the client may not be fully oriented to person, place, and time.

B. Severe headache: Headache is a hallmark symptom of meningitis and is often described as severe and persistent. It may be accompanied by other symptoms such as photophobia (sensitivity to light) and phonophobia (sensitivity to sound).

C. Bradycardia: Bradycardia is not typically associated with meningitis. In fact, tachycardia (elevated heart rate) may be present due to fever and systemic inflammation.

D. Blurred vision: While meningitis can lead to increased intracranial pressure, which may manifest as papilledema (swelling of the optic disc), blurred vision is not a common presenting symptom of meningitis. Visual changes are more commonly associated with conditions affecting the optic nerve or retina.

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A 70-year-old female patient with left-sided hemiparesis arrives by ambulance to the emergency department. Which action should the nurse take first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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