A nurse is providing education to a client who is to undergo an electroencephalogram (EEG) the next day. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
“Do not wash your hair the morning of the procedure.”
“Try to stay awake most of the night prior to the procedure.”
“The procedure will take approximately 15 minutes.”
“You will need to lie flat for 4 hours after the procedure.”
The Correct Answer is B
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a noninvasive procedure that evaluates electrical activity in the brain. Clients scheduled for a sleep-deprived EEG are often instructed to stay awake most of the night before the test to increase the chance of detecting abnormal brain wave activity. Sleep deprivation can help provoke seizures or abnormal discharges, improving diagnostic accuracy for epilepsy or other neurological conditions.
Rationale for Correct Answer:
B. “Try to stay awake most of the night prior to the procedure.”: Clients are often advised to reduce sleep before an EEG to enhance the sensitivity of the test, especially when evaluating seizure disorders. Sleep-deprived EEGs help uncover abnormalities that may not appear in a standard, well-rested recording.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
A. “Do not wash your hair the morning of the procedure.”: Clients should be instructed to wash their hair the night before or the morning of the test and avoid using conditioners, sprays, or gels. Clean, product-free hair improves electrode contact with the scalp.
C. “The procedure will take approximately 15 minutes.”: A standard EEG typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes, not 1E. Additional time may be needed for preparation or if extended monitoring is ordered.
D. “You will need to lie flat for 4 hours after the procedure.”: EEG is a noninvasive and painless procedure that does not require any recovery time or post-procedure positioning. Clients can resume normal activities immediately unless sedatives were used.
Key Takeaways:
• Sleep deprivation before EEG enhances detection of abnormal brain activity.
• Clients should wash hair prior to the EEG and avoid hair products.
• EEG is painless, noninvasive, and typically lasts longer than 15 minutes with no special recovery required.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Brain death is a clinical and legal diagnosis indicating the irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including the brainstem. While the diagnosis is primarily clinical, confirmatory tests may be used to support the findings—especially in cases where the full clinical exam cannot be completed. Electroencephalography (EEG) is the most commonly used test to confirm brain death by demonstrating the absence of electrical activity in the cerebral cortex over a sustained period of time.
Rationale for Correct Answer:
B. Electroencephalography (EEG): EEG is a diagnostic test that measures electrical activity in the brain. In brain death, the EEG will show no detectable cerebral activity, confirming the absence of brain function. It is a key confirmatory test, particularly when confounding factors are present.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
A. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): While MRI provides detailed structural imaging of the brain, it does not assess functional brain activity. It may show evidence of brain injury but is not used to confirm brain death.
C. Electromyelography (EMG): EMG is used to evaluate neuromuscular disorders and peripheral nerve function. It does not measure brain activity and is not relevant to brain death determination.
D. Computed tomography (CT): Like MRI, CT scans provide structural imaging, which may reveal brain swelling or herniation but do not assess cerebral activity. Therefore, CT is not diagnostic for brain death.
Key Takeaways:
• EEG is the preferred confirmatory test for brain death, detecting absence of cerebral activity.
• Imaging studies like MRI and CT show brain structure but not function.
• Brain death diagnosis relies on both clinical criteria and electrophysiological confirmation when needed.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Hyperthermia, or elevated body temperature, is a concerning finding in clients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). It may result from damage to the hypothalamus, the brain's temperature-regulating center, especially in traumatic brain injury, hemorrhagic stroke, or central nervous system infections. Elevated temperature can increase cerebral metabolic demand, which in turn raises cerebral blood flow and worsens ICP.
Rationale for Correct Answer:
C. Cooling interventions help control fever, which can worsen ICP by increasing cerebral metabolism and blood flow.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
A. Vasopressors are not appropriate unless the patient is in shock. BP is low but not severely, and raising BP can worsen cerebral edema.
B. Oxygen is within normal range (95%), so additional oxygen is not necessary.
D. Suctioning can increase ICP transiently and should be used cautiously and only when airway clearance is needed.
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