neurological system Flashcards
functions of cerebellum
voluntary movement and balance
how to test voluntary movement
touch finger to nose
how to test balance
can walk straight
PERRLA
equal, round, reactive to light, and accommodates
accomodation
accommodates to close and far objects
normal size for pupils
3-5 mm
s/s of basilar skull fracture (BSF)
Battle’s sign: bruise behind ear, periorbital hematoma/raccoon eyes, CSF leakage from nose or ear
nursing priority for BSF
monitor neuro, immobilize C spine
decorticate
problems with cortex
decerebrate
problems in brainstem
tonic clonic seizures
tonic: loss of conscious
clonic: jerking of arms and legs only
absence seizures
freezing of body
myoclonic seizures
whole body jerking
atonic seizures
pt collapses
status epilepticus
repeat seizures, not conscious
epilepsy
chronic seizures
nursing for seizures
position pt on side to maintain airway, loosen clothing, O2, time + record time and duration of seizure, never stop antiseizure meds, suction after seizure
Cushing’s triad
sign of increased ICP
high BP, high HR, high pulse pressure
nursing for increased ICP
elevate HOB to 30 degrees for good cerebral perfusion, stool softeners to prevent straining, no stress, ensure warm as cold temps increase ICP,
CSF assessment
normal: colourless, nothing in it (e.g. WBC), normal pressure of 60-150,, normal volume (125-150)
ischemic stroke
block in blood flow
s/s of ischemic stroke
hypertension
nursing for ischemic stroke
give TPA 3-4 hours from onset of s/s
when is TPA contraindicated
thrombocytopenia/low levels of platelets, trauma to head, surgery
hemorrhagic stroke
bleed in brain that can cause seizure
nursing for hemorrhagic stroke
NPO, neuro assessment, stool softeners, elevate HOB to 30 degrees for good cerebral perfusion, no anticoagulants
cranial nerve tests
olfactory: smell test
optic: Snellen chart,
oculomotor: pupil constriction
trochlear: eye movement
trigeminal: clench teeth
abducens: can move arms
facial: can move face
acoustic: hearing,
Romberg’s test/
proprioception,
glossopharyngeal: gag reflux
vagus: able to say “ahhh”
spinal accessory: can turn head, lift shoulders
hypoglossal: can stick out tongue
s/s of autonomic dysreflexia
flushing, ++++ BP, sweating
parts of cerebral cortex/brain
frontal (decision-making, Broca’s area: speech production
parietal: senses (e.g. taste, touch)
temporal: hearing, Wernicke’s area: speech understanding)
occipital: visual
Wernicke’s encephalopathy
altered mental status due to low thiamine
causes of Wernicke’s encephalopathy
alcoholism
meningitis
inflammation of brain
causes of meningitis
bacterial, viral
s/s of meningitis
photophobia, stiff neck, Brudzinski’s sign: neck movement causes movement in hip and knee, Kernig’s sign: hard to straighten out leg
CSF is cloudy and presence of protein, WBC
nursing for meningitis
droplet/contact (*DROPLET PRECAUTIONS NOT NEEDED FOR VIRAL), elevate HOB 30-45 degrees, seizure precautions, prepare for lumbar puncture
contusion
bruising to brain
types of skull factures
linear: break in bone but stays in place
depressed: bone becomes depressed into skull
compound: bone is elevated from skull
comminuted: broken pieces of bone
epidural hematoma
due to bleed in artery
s/s of epidural hematoma
LOC –> lucid interval where pt feels feels –> decline in function
subdural hematoma
due to bleed in vein, slow bleed
intracerebral hemorrhage
blood vessel in brain ruptures causing blood to leak into brain
C1-C8 spinal cord injury
quadriplegia: shoulders down paralyzed
T1-L4 spinal cord injury
paraplegia/ legs paralyzed
C4 or above spinal cord injury
respiratory difficulty
nursing for spinal cord injury
immobilize spine
cerebral aneryusm
vision changes, tinnitus, headache
nursing for cerebral aneryusm
no stress
MS
demyelination of neurons
Parkinson’s disease
low dopamine levels leading to shuffling and uncontrollable shaking
nursing for Parkinson’s disease
avoid foods high in B6 as works against meds
Bell’s palsy
problems in CN 7 leading to facial paralysis
s/s of Bell’s palsy
facial muscle exercises, keeps eyes lubricated, oral care, chew on unaffected side
Guillain Barré syndrome
immune system attacks own nerves
s/s of Guillain Barré syndrome
respiratory failure, weakness
nursing for Guillain Barré syndrome
monitor breathing
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
loss of muscle control, no cure
s/s of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
respiratory failure, weakness
myasthenia gravis
problems in voluntary muscles due to not enough of ACh
nursing for myasthenia gravis
DB&C, suction, elevate HOB 30-45 degrees for eating and pills, meds (AChE)
myasthenia crisis
myasthenia gravis gets bad
nursing for myasthenia crisis
increase meds (AChE)
cholinergic crisis
too much ACh
s/s of cholinergic crisis
twitching
nursing for cholinergic crisis
hold AChE meds and give antidote of atropine sulfate
Edrophonium test
to diagnose myasthenia gravis and tell myasthenia crisis and cholinergic crisis
IF muscle control improves = MC; give AChE
IF muscle control does not improve = CC; hold AChE meds and give antidote of atropine sulfate
what risk during Edrophonium test
pt can go into vfib
GCS
eye opening response: 4 = spontaneous 3 = only to verbal stimuli 2 = pain 1 = none
verbal response:
5 = oriented
4 = confused (wrong answers e.g. 1998 instead of 2021 is the year)
3 = inappropriate words (not even answering question e.g. is the sky blue? when asked about the year)
2 = incoherent
1 = none
motor response: 6 = obeys commands 5 = localizes to pain 4 = withdraws from pain 3 = flexion to pain (decorticate) 2 = extension to pain (decerebrate) 1 = none