When looking the waveform of your patient with ongoing intracranial pressure monitoring, you know that which of the following is normal and to be expected?

A. Antibiotics until meningitis can be ruled out is correct because a brain tissue laceration disrupts the protective barriers of the brain, such as the meninges, increasing the risk for infection including meningitis or abscess formation. Prophylactic antibiotics are often administered until infection is ruled out or controlled.

B. Placing patient on anticoagulants is incorrect because anticoagulants increase the risk of bleeding, which can worsen intracranial hemorrhage in patients with brain tissue injury.

C. Encouraging deep breathing and coughing is incorrect because while generally beneficial for pulmonary function, vigorous coughing can increase intracranial pressure (ICP)and worsen brain injury, so it is not routinely encouraged in patients with brain lacerations.

D. Monitoring for peripheral edema is incorrect because edema in the extremities is not a primary concernin managing brain tissue lacerations. The critical focus is neurological status, ICP, and prevention of infection.

A. Calcium: 8.5 is incorrect because this value is within the normal reference range (approximately 8.5–10.5 mg/dL). Calcium levels, unless critically abnormal, do not affect the decision to start insulin in DKA.

B. Phosphorus: 4.0 is incorrect because this is also within the normal reference range (2.5–4.5 mg/dL). Although phosphorus levels can drop during DKA treatment due to insulin shifting phosphorus into cells, an initial normal phosphorus level does not preclude starting insulin.

C. Potassium: 2.8 is correct because hypokalemia is a major safety concern when initiating insulin therapy. Insulin promotes the movement of potassium from the extracellular space into cells, which can further lower already low potassium levels. Severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. For this reason, current guidelines recommend holding insulin until potassium is corrected to ≥3.3 mEq/Land administering potassium replacement as ordered. The nurse must communicate this lab result to the healthcare provider before starting the insulin dripto prevent serious complications.

D. Glucose: 275 is incorrect because hyperglycemia is expected in DKA. While high glucose confirms the need for insulin therapy, it is not a contraindicationto starting treatment.