A client has a head injury and is brought to the emergency department. The vital signs are P: 78; R: 16; B/P: 120/80. The change in this client’s vital signs that indicates increasing intracranial pressure (ICP) requiring notification of the practitioner is:
P: 50; R: 22; B/P: 140/60
P: 56; R: 20; B/P: 130/110
P: 60; R: 18; B/P: 126/96
P: 120; R: 16; B/P: 80/60
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Increasing ICP causes Cushing’s triad: bradycardia (P: 50), irregular respirations (R: 22), and widened pulse pressure (B/P: 140/60). These indicate brain compression, requiring immediate notification, making this the correct vital sign change.
Choice B reason: A pulse of 56 and B/P of 130/110 show hypertension but not widened pulse pressure. Respirations are mildly elevated, not irregular, making this less indicative of ICP than Cushing’s triad.
Choice C reason: P: 60, R: 18, and B/P: 126/96 are near normal, not reflecting Cushing’s triad. These changes are subtle and less concerning for acute ICP elevation, making this incorrect.
Choice D reason: P: 120 and B/P: 80/60 suggest shock, not ICP. Tachycardia and hypotension are opposite to Cushing’s triad, making this incorrect for indicating increasing intracranial pressure.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Inserting a padded tongue blade during a seizure is outdated and dangerous, as it can cause injury or obstruct the airway. Seizures involve uncontrolled neuronal firing, and forcing objects into the mouth risks trauma or aspiration, contrary to current epilepsy management guidelines focusing on airway protection and safety.
Choice B reason: Placing the client on their back during a seizure increases the risk of aspiration, as secretions or vomit may obstruct the airway. Seizures cause loss of motor control, and the side-lying position is preferred to maintain airway patency, making this an incorrect and unsafe instruction.
Choice C reason: Moving objects away from the client during a seizure is critical to prevent injury from uncontrolled movements caused by synchronized neuronal discharges in the brain. This ensures a safe environment, reducing the risk of trauma from striking objects, aligning with standard seizure management protocols to prioritize safety.
Choice D reason: Restraining a client during a seizure can cause injury, as forceful movements from epileptiform activity are involuntary. Restraints may increase muscle strain or fractures and heighten agitation, potentially worsening the seizure or causing psychological harm, making this an inappropriate and unsafe action.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Traumatic grief follows sudden, violent loss, not a terminal illness with expected death. The client’s situation involves forewarning, making anticipatory grief more fitting, so this is incorrect.
Choice B reason: Anticipatory grief occurs before an expected loss, as in terminal cancer, where clients and families prepare emotionally. This aligns with the situation, making it the correct type of grief.
Choice C reason: Complicated grief involves prolonged, impairing mourning after loss, not before. The client is still alive, so anticipatory grief is current, making this incorrect for the scenario.
Choice D reason: Disenfranchised grief is unacknowledged loss, like miscarriage. Terminal cancer is socially recognized, so anticipatory grief fits better, making this incorrect for the client’s experience.
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