A patient is being admitted to the unit with suspected herpes simplex virus encephalitis. What nursing action best addresses the patient’s complaints of headache?

Administering hydromorphone as needed

Distracting the patient with activity

Dimming the lights and reducing stimulation

Initiating a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) of morphine sulfate .

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice C rationale
Dimming the lights and reducing stimulation can be an effective nursing intervention for a patient with herpes simplex virus encephalitis who is complaining of a headache. Bright lights and excessive noise can exacerbate headaches, so creating a quiet, dimly lit environment can help to alleviate this symptom.
Choice A rationale

While administering hydromorphone as needed can help to manage the patient’s pain, it does not directly address the patient’s complaint of a headache. Moreover, opioids like hydromorphone can have side effects such as drowsiness and constipation, which may not be desirable in a patient with encephalitis.
Choice B rationale
Distracting the patient with activity may not be appropriate for a patient with herpes simplex virus encephalitis who is complaining of a headache. Rest and quiet are often more beneficial for these patients.
Choice D rationale
Initiating a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) of morphine sulfate can provide effective pain relief for some patients, but it may not be the best first-line approach for a patient with a headache due to herpes simplex virus encephalitis. Like hydromorphone, morphine can have side effects such as drowsiness and constipation.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Antiviral therapy is typically used to treat viral infections. However, meningitis is most commonly caused by bacteria. Therefore, antiviral therapy would not be the most effective treatment in this case.
Choice B rationale
Antibiotic therapy is the standard treatment for bacterial meningitis. The specific antibiotic or combination of antibiotics used depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection.
Therefore, after reviewing lab results that suggest meningitis, the nurse would anticipate the provider to prescribe antibiotic therapy.
Choice C rationale
Antiemetics are medications that help prevent and treat nausea and vomiting, which can be symptoms of meningitis, but they do not treat the underlying cause of meningitis.
Choice D rationale
Analgesics are used to relieve pain. While they might be used to manage the headache often associated with meningitis, they would not treat the infection itself.

Correct Answer is ["2 "]

Explanation

Step 1 is: To calculate the rate at which the IV pump should be set to deliver the PRBCs, we need to divide the total volume of PRBCs by the total time for administration.

Step 2 is: Convert the time for administration from hours to minutes because the rate is typically set in mL/min. So, 3 hours is equivalent to 180 minutes.

Step 3 is: Now, divide the total volume of PRBCs (350 mL) by the total time for administration (180 min). So, the calculation is 350 mL ÷ 180 min.

Step 4 is: The final calculated answer is approximately 1.94 mL/min. However, IV pumps typically only allow whole numbers, so we would round this to 2 mL/min.

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A patient is being admitted to the unit with suspected herpes simplex virus encephalitis. What nursing action best addresses the patient’s complaints of headache?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is caring for a client who is suspected of meningitis. After reviewing lab results, the nurse will anticipate that the provider will prescribe which medications to treat the meningitis?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is administering a 350 mL unit of PRBCs over 3 hours to a client diagnosed with anemia. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr?

Correct Answer is ["2 "]

Explanation

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