A nurse is caring for a client who experienced a traumatic brain injury 72 hr ago.
Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a potential indication of increased intracranial pressure?
Tachycardia.
Hypotension.
Narrowed pulse pressure.
Increasingly severe headache.
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is choice d. Increasingly severe headache.
Choice A rationale:
Tachycardia is not typically associated with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). In fact, bradycardia (a slower heart rate) is more commonly seen as part of Cushing’s triad, which indicates increased ICP.
Choice B rationale:
Hypotension is not a common sign of increased ICP. Instead, hypertension (high blood pressure) is often observed as the body attempts to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure.
Choice C rationale:
Narrowed pulse pressure is not a typical indicator of increased ICP. Widened pulse pressure (the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure) is more commonly associated with increased ICP.
Choice D rationale:
Increasingly severe headache is a classic symptom of increased ICP. As pressure within the skull rises, it can cause significant pain and discomfort, making this a key indicator to monitor in patients with traumatic brain injury.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Moderate variability in the FHR is a reassuring sign of fetal well-being, indicating a responsive fetal autonomic nervous system to normal physiologic stimuli. It is considered a normal finding in active labor, suggesting that the fetus is well-oxygenated and able to cope with contractions.
Choice B rationale:
Prolonged decelerations are concerning patterns on the fetal heart rate (FHR) monitor, indicating potential fetal distress. Prolonged decelerations are defined as lasting more than 2 minutes but less than 10 minutes. These decelerations can be caused by umbilical cord compression, placental insufficiency, or maternal hypotension. Prompt intervention is required, making this choice the correct answer.
Choice C rationale:
Three uterine contractions within 10 minutes, also known as a contraction stress test (CST), is a normal finding. It assesses the fetal response to stress and is used to evaluate the placental function and fetal well-being.
Choice D rationale:
A baseline FHR of 115/min is within the normal range (110-160 beats per minute) for a term fetus. It indicates a stable fetal heart rate, and there is no immediate need for intervention.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is A. Increased pain.
Choice A reason: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that, when administered, reverses the effects of opioids. Since opioids provide analgesia, their reversal will lead to the return of pain sensation. The normal pain response varies widely among individuals and depends on the type and amount of opioid the patient received, as well as their pain threshold and tolerance.
Choice B reason: Somnolence, or drowsiness, is a common effect of opioid administration. Naloxone works by displacing opioids from their receptors, which should counteract the sedative effects of opioids and reduce somnolence. Therefore, after naloxone administration, the nurse should not expect somnolence as a finding.
Choice C reason: Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is not a direct effect of naloxone administration. While some studies suggest that naloxone may affect blood glucose levels under certain conditions, such as in the case of tramadol overdose, it does not typically cause hyperglycemia. Normal blood glucose levels range from 70 to 99 mg/dL fasting, and up to 140 mg/dL two hours after eating.
Choice D reason: Hypoventilation, or reduced breathing rate and depth, is caused by opioid administration. Naloxone’s role is to reverse this effect, restoring normal breathing rates. The normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest is 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
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