The nurse is developing a teaching plan for the client with glaucoma.
Which of the following instructions would the nurse include in the plan of care?

Choice A rationale

Nitroprusside is a vasodilator for hypertensive crises but is contraindicated in elevated ICP because it increases cerebral blood volume and exacerbates intracranial pressure, worsening the patient's condition.

Choice B rationale

Hypertonic saline (3%) helps reduce ICP by drawing excess fluid from brain tissue into the bloodstream through osmosis, effectively lowering intracranial pressure while maintaining cerebral perfusion.

Choice C rationale

Furosemide is a loop diuretic that reduces fluid overload but does not specifically target ICP. It is less effective in managing the osmotic balance required for intracranial pressure reduction.

Choice D rationale

Norepinephrine is a vasopressor used to treat hypotension and improve perfusion but does not lower ICP and may increase cerebral vasoconstriction, exacerbating intracranial hypertension. .

Choice A rationale

Administering recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) may be necessary, but confirming ischemic stroke via CT scan precedes treatment to rule out hemorrhagic stroke, which contraindicates t-PA.

Choice B rationale

Performing a STAT non-contrast CT scan of the head is the priority to differentiate between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, enabling appropriate and timely intervention.

Choice C rationale

A STAT EKG and chest X-ray, though helpful in identifying concurrent cardiac or pulmonary issues, are not immediate priorities in acute stroke evaluation.

Choice D rationale

While assessing dysphagia is critical post-stroke, it is not a priority during initial stroke evaluation, which focuses on rapid imaging and differentiation of stroke type. .