A nurse applies a painful stimulus to the nailbeds of an unconscious patient. The patient responds with extension of the arms and legs, pronation of the arms, and plantar flexion. The nurse documents this as:

Decorticate posturing

Flexion withdrawal

Localization of pain

Decerebrate posturing

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason:

Decorticate posturing involves abnormal flexion of the arms towards the chest and extension of the legs. This posture indicates damage to the corticospinal tract at the level of the diencephalon. The described response does not match decorticate posturing.

Choice B reason:

Flexion withdrawal is a response to painful stimuli where the patient pulls away or flexes the affected limb. This is a less severe response than posturing and does not match the description provided in the scenario.

Choice C reason:

Localization of pain refers to the patient's ability to purposefully move a hand to the site of a painful stimulus, indicating higher brain function. The described response of arm and leg extension with pronation does not fit this description.

Choice D reason:

Decerebrate posturing is characterized by extension of the arms and legs, pronation of the arms, and plantar flexion. This posture indicates severe brainstem damage and is consistent with the described response.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is ["B","D"]

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Increased oxygen saturation is not typically associated with neurogenic shock. Neurogenic shock usually involves bradycardia, hypotension, and potential respiratory issues, but not an increase in oxygen saturation.

Choice B reason:

Urine output less than 30 mL/hr is a sign of decreased perfusion to the kidneys, which can occur in neurogenic shock due to hypotension. This reduced urine output is a concerning manifestation that the nurse should monitor closely.

Choice C reason:

A decreased level of consciousness can be related to many factors, including hypoxia, hypotension, or other complications from the spinal cord injury. While it is an important sign to monitor, it is not a definitive marker of neurogenic shock.

Choice D reason:

A heart rate of 34 beats/min (bradycardia) is a common sign of neurogenic shock, which results from the loss of sympathetic tone due to the spinal cord injury. Bradycardia and hypotension are key indicators of neurogenic shock.

A. Administer Atropine. B. Call the health care provider immediately. C. Continue to clear the airway. D. Stop suctioning the patient.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Administering Atropine can increase the heart rate, but it is not the immediate first action. The priority is to stop the stimulus causing the vagal response, which in this case is the suctioning.

Choice B reason:

Calling the healthcare provider is important, but the immediate action should be to stop the suctioning to eliminate the cause of the vagal response. Once the immediate issue is addressed, notifying the provider can follow.

Choice C reason:

Continuing to clear the airway can exacerbate the vagal response and worsen the patient's condition. The immediate action should be to stop the suctioning.

Choice D reason:

Stopping the suctioning is the best immediate action to take when the patient becomes diaphoretic, nauseous, and experiences a significant drop in heart rate. This response is likely due to vagal stimulation, and stopping the suctioning will help alleviate the symptoms.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse applies a painful stimulus to the nailbeds of an unconscious patient. The patient responds with extension of the arms and legs, pronation of the arms, and plantar flexion. The nurse documents this as:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse assesses a patient who experienced a spinal cord injury at the T5 level 24 hours ago. Which manifestations would the nurse correlate with neurogenic shock? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer is ["B","D"]

Explanation

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?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A patient with a neck fracture at the C3 level is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) following initial treatment in the emergency room. During the initial assessment of the patient, the nurse recognizes the presence of spinal shock on finding:

After a craniotomy, the nurse assesses the patient and finds generalized edema, decreased urine output, acute confusion, and muscle weakness. The client has IV fluids running at 75 mL/hr. What action should the nurse take first?

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 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?

Immediately following a spinal cord injury, a patient asks about the extent of impairment that will result from the injury. The best response by the nurse is:

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?

To evaluate the effectiveness of mannitol, the nurse should monitor:

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