A nurse is assessing a child who has a suspected head injury. What would be the initial action the nurse should take to assess the child's cognitive status?
Have blood work done
Monitor intracranial pressure
Recommend a CT scan
Use the Glasgow cognitive scale
The Correct Answer is D
A. Have blood work done is not the initial priority for assessing cognitive status in a child with a suspected head injury. Blood work may be ordered later to assess for any contributing factors but is not the first step in cognitive assessment.
B. Monitor intracranial pressure is important but typically comes after an initial cognitive assessment. Elevated intracranial pressure may be suspected after assessing cognitive function and other neurological signs.
C. Recommend a CT scan might be ordered by a healthcare provider to assess for structural brain damage, but the initial assessment of cognitive status should be done first to evaluate the severity of the injury.
D. Use the Glasgow cognitive scale is the correct initial action. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess a child's level of consciousness and cognitive function following a head injury. It helps determine the severity of the injury and guides further intervention.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Bone marrow transplantation offers the best chance of long-term survival is incorrect. Bone marrow transplantation is not the primary treatment for osteosarcoma. Treatment typically focuses on surgery and chemotherapy.
B. Treatment usually consists of surgery and chemotherapy is correct. The main treatment for osteosarcoma involves a combination of surgery (to remove the tumor) and chemotherapy (to treat any potential metastasis). This approach is the standard for achieving long-term survival in most cases.
C. Intensive irradiation is the primary treatment is incorrect. While radiation therapy can sometimes be used, it is not the primary treatment for osteosarcoma. Surgery and chemotherapy are the main modalities.
D. Amputation of the affected extremity is rarely necessary is incorrect. While limb-sparing surgery is often possible, amputation may still be required in some cases, depending on the location and extent of the tumor. Thus, saying amputation is rarely necessary may be misleading.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Brisk pupillary reaction to light is a normal finding and does not indicate increased intracranial pressure (ICP). In fact, a sluggish or non-reactive pupil response is more indicative of increased ICP.
B. Increased sleepiness or lethargy is an early sign of increased ICP in infants. The brain’s response to rising pressure can cause altered mental status, which includes drowsiness or difficulty waking.
C. Tachycardia is not typically an early sign of increased ICP. As pressure increases, the heart rate can actually slow, and bradycardia (slower heart rate) is often seen in more advanced stages.
D. Depressed fontanels are not indicative of increased ICP. In fact, in infants, increased ICP is more commonly associated with bulging fontanels, not depressed ones. Depressed fontanels could indicate dehydration or malnutrition.
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