PSYC 440 - Chapter 14: Nervous System Alterations. Questions and Answers

PSYC 440 - Chapter 14: Nervous System Alterations. Questions and Answers MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The nurse admits a patient to the critical care unit following a motorcycle crash. Assessment findings by the nurse include blood pressure 100/50 mm Hg, heart rate 58 beats/min, respiratory rate 30 breaths/min, and temperature of 100.5°F. The patient is lethargic, responds to voice but falls asleep readily when not stimulated. Which nursing action is most important to include in this patient’s plan of care? a. Frequent neurological assessments b. Side to side position changes c. Range-of-motion to extremities d. Frequent oropharyngeal suctioning ANS: A Nurses complete neurological assessments based on prescribed frequency and the severity of the patient’s condition. The newly admitted patient has an altered neurological status, so frequent neurological assessments are most important to include in the patient’s plan of care. Side to side position changes, range-of-motion exercises, and frequent oral suctioning are nursing actions that may need to be a part of the patient’s plan of care, but in the setting of increased intracranial pressure they should not be regularly performed unless indicated. DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply/Application REF: p. 350 OBJ: Describe the nursing and medical management of patients with increased intracranial pressure. TOP: Nursing Process Step: Planning MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity 2. A patient with a head injury has an intracranial pressure (ICP) of 18 mm Hg. The blood pressure is 144/90 mm Hg, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) is 108 mm Hg. What is the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)? a. 54 mm Hg b. 72 mm Hg c. 90 mm Hg d. 126 mm Hg ANS: C CPP = MAP – ICP. In this case, CPP = 108 mm Hg – 18 mm Hg = 90 mm Hg. All other calculated responses are incorrect. DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply/Application REF: p. 354 OBJ: Complete an assessment on a critically ill patient with nervous system injury. TOP: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity 3. While caring for a patient with a traumatic brain injury, the nurse assesses an ICP of 20 mm Hg and a CPP of 85 mm Hg. What is the best interpretation by the nurse? a. Both pressures are high. b. Both pressures are low.