Neuro Flashcards
While the nurse is transporting a patient on a stretcher to the radiology department, the patient begins having
a tonic-clonic seizure. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Insert an oral airway during the seizure to maintain a patent airway.
b. Restrain the patients arms and legs to prevent injury during the seizure.
c. Time and observe and record the details of the seizure and postictal state.
d. Avoid touching the patient to prevent further nervous system stimulation
C. Because the diagnosis and treatment of seizures frequently are based on the description of the seizure,
recording the length and details of the seizure is important. Insertion of an oral airway and restraining the
patient during the seizure are contraindicated. The nurse may need to move the patient to decrease the risk of
injury during the seizure.
the ongoing process of awareness of self and the environment
Consciousness
Levels of LOC
conscious aware disorientation semiconscious (obtunded) stupor semicomatose unconscious (coma) deep coma
Semiconscious
obtunded is a state similar to lethargy in which the patient has a lessened interest in the environment
Unconscious
coma
Painful stimuli to see if patient is responsive
sternal rub
supraorbital pressure
nail-bed pressure
Cushing’s Triad
systolic HTN with widening pulse pressire
bradycardia with bounding pulse
changes in respirations
Cheyne stokes breathing
increase then decrease in rate and depth of respirations and then apneic phase
Ataxic
random, irregular, some deep breaths and some shallow
normal pupils size is
2-5
sluggish or slow reaction to light means
increased ICP
nonreactive pupils can mean
Brain damage or pt is blind
if one pupil is Dilated it means
there is a compressed CN III
Bilaterally dilated pupils (ominous sign) mean
Increased ICP
pinpointed pupils can mean
pt is on opioids or durg OD
The Babinski relax is when the toes
fan out
adults should have a _____ Babinski sign
negiative
What is the pronator drift test
when the pt closes their eyes and sees if their hand drifts down and they lose balance
Sign of ICP when the pt has flexed extremities coming inward
Decorticate
sign of ICP when the patient’s extremities are facing outwards
Dececerbate
clinical signs of ICP
worst headache of their life
vomiting
Glasgow coma scale is 13-14 indicates
mildly impaired consciousness
Glasgow coma scale is 9-12 indicates
moderate impariement