A charge nurse is reviewing the status of patients in the critical care unit. Which patient should the charge nurse notify the organ procurement team to evaluate for possible organ donation?

A 72-year-old client with a brain tumor, GCS of 5 and decerebrate posturing.

A 24-year-old client after a motor vehicle accident with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 3 and no activity on electroencephalogram.

A 68-year-old male admitted with a massive stroke and GCS of 6.

A 50-year-old female client after a motor vehicle accident and surgical evacuation of an epidural hematoma, Glasgow Coma Scale 12.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason:

A 72-year-old client with a brain tumor, GCS of 5, and decerebrate posturing may not be an ideal candidate for organ donation due to age and underlying cancer, which can affect organ viability.

Choice B reason:

A 24-year-old client after a motor vehicle accident with a GCS of 3 and no activity on electroencephalogram is a prime candidate for organ donation. The lack of brain activity indicates brain death, and the patient's young age and otherwise healthy organs make them suitable for transplantation.

Choice C reason:

A 68-year-old male with a massive stroke and GCS of 6 has significant neurological impairment but is not necessarily brain dead. Further evaluation would be required, but this patient may not meet the criteria for brain death necessary for organ donation.

Choice D reason:

A 50-year-old female with a GCS of 12 after surgical evacuation of an epidural hematoma is not an ideal candidate for organ donation at this time as they have a higher level of consciousness and potential for recovery.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Elevating the head of the bed and notifying the provider is the correct initial action when a patient with a spinal cord lesion at T4 experiences a significantly elevated blood pressure (190/100), headache, and flushing. These symptoms suggest autonomic dysreflexia, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate intervention. Elevating the head of the bed helps to lower blood pressure, and notifying the provider ensures that further medical treatment can be administered promptly.

Choice B reason:

Administering PRN Tylenol for the patient's headache is not the appropriate first action in this scenario. While Tylenol may help with the headache, it does not address the underlying cause of the elevated blood pressure and autonomic dysreflexia. Immediate intervention to lower blood pressure is critical to prevent complications.

Choice C reason:

Rechecking all of the patient's vital signs is important but not the priority action in this situation. The nurse should first take measures to lower the blood pressure and address the symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia by elevating the head of the bed and notifying the provider. Monitoring vital signs can be done concurrently, but it should not delay the immediate intervention required.

Choice D reason:

Elevating the patient's knees and lowering the head of the bed is contraindicated in this situation. Lowering the head of the bed can further increase intracranial pressure and exacerbate symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia. The proper position to help reduce blood pressure is to elevate the head of the bed.

A. Provide small doses of opioid analgesia B. Maintain pCO2 of 35-45 C. Administer an anti-anxiety agent D. Monitor blood pressure every four hours

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Providing small doses of opioid analgesia is important for pain management, but it is not the highest priority in a patient with a closed head injury on mechanical ventilation. Pain control should be balanced with the need to monitor neurological status.

Choice B reason:

Maintaining pCO2 of 35-45 is critical for patients with a closed head injury on mechanical ventilation. Proper pCO2 levels help manage intracranial pressure (ICP) and prevent secondary brain injury. Hyperventilation to lower pCO2 can reduce ICP but must be carefully controlled to avoid cerebral ischemia.

Choice C reason:

Administering an anti-anxiety agent can help manage agitation and anxiety, but it is not the highest priority. Sedation must be used cautiously in head injury patients to avoid masking changes in neurological status.

Choice D reason:

Monitoring blood pressure every four hours is necessary for overall patient care, but continuous monitoring and immediate interventions are more critical in managing intracranial pressure and preventing secondary brain injury.

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A charge nurse is reviewing the status of patients in the critical care unit. Which patient should the charge nurse notify the organ procurement team to evaluate for possible organ donation?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient with a spinal cord lesion at T4 tells the nurse that he has a headache and feels flushed. The BP is significantly elevated to 190/100. The first action by the nurse is to:

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a patient with a closed head injury on mechanical ventilation. Which of the following actions is highest priority?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is planning the care of a patient with heart failure. Which of the following interventions does the nurse include in the plan?

During routine suctioning of a client with an endotracheal tube, the patient becomes diaphoretic and nauseous, and the heart rate decreases to 39 beats/min. What is the nurse's best action at this time?

A patient has been brought to the emergency department with a life-threatening chest injury. What action by the nurse takes priority?

A nurse is caring for a client in acute respiratory failure who is receiving mechanical ventilation. Which of the following assessments is the best method to determine the effectiveness of the current treatments?

The nurse is preparing to care for a patient with a spinal fracture who has a halo device in place. The nurse plans to implement the following orders:

A patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is mechanically ventilated. Coarse crackles are heard over upper airways, the SaO2 has dropped to 85%, and the patient is agitated. Which action should the nurse take?

The physician has ordered Dopamine for a patient in the ICU who has suffered a spinal cord injury. The nurse determines that the drug is having the desired effect when the assessment findings are:

A nurse is caring for a patient who has a closed-head injury with ICP readings ranging from 16-22 mm Hg. What actions should the nurse take to decrease the potential for raising the client's ICP? Select all that apply.