A traumatic brain injury that affects the pituitary gland or hypothalamus can cause which of the following?
Unstable blood pressure
Diabetes insipidus
Diabetes mellitus
Altered respiratory rate
The Correct Answer is B
A. Unstable blood pressure can occur with damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary, but it is more commonly associated with other neurological conditions. While blood pressure may fluctuate, it is not the most direct result of pituitary or hypothalamic damage.
B. Diabetes insipidus is the correct answer. The pituitary gland secretes antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which helps regulate water balance. Damage to the pituitary or hypothalamus can lead to a deficiency of ADH, causing diabetes insipidus, which is characterized by excessive thirst and urination.
C. Diabetes mellitus is a condition related to insulin production and blood sugar regulation, typically caused by pancreatic issues, not damage to the pituitary or hypothalamus.
D. Altered respiratory rate can occur with brain injury, but it is more commonly associated with damage to the brainstem rather than the hypothalamus or pituitary.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Dysphasia is a general term for difficulty with speech and language, which can involve problems with speaking, understanding, reading, or writing. It is not specific to the patient's response of raising an arm instead of sticking out the tongue.
B. Dysarthria refers to difficulty with the physical act of speaking due to weakness or incoordination of the muscles involved in speech. It does not involve comprehension or understanding of language.
C. Expressive aphasia refers to difficulty expressing thoughts verbally or in writing, but the patient typically understands language. This does not match the patient's response to the nurse's command.
D. Receptive aphasia is characterized by difficulty understanding spoken or written language. The patient may not comprehend the nurse's instructions, leading to inappropriate responses, such as raising an arm instead of sticking out the tongue.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Shallow, even respirations may be a normal finding or indicate respiratory distress, but it is not a specific sign of increased ICP. It should still be monitored, but it is not the most concerning finding in this scenario.
B. Narrowing pulse pressure, which is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, is a sign of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). As ICP rises, the body compensates by increasing systolic blood pressure and decreasing diastolic pressure, leading to a narrowing pulse pressure. This is a critical sign that should be reported immediately to the RN.
C. Increased systolic blood pressure is a compensatory mechanism to maintain cerebral perfusion when ICP increases. While it is concerning, it is not as immediately alarming as narrowing pulse pressure, which is a more direct indicator of increased ICP.
D. A pulse of 98 is within normal limits for most adults and does not indicate any immediate concern regarding increased ICP. It should be monitored, but it does not require urgent reporting to the RN.
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