Nokea
The nurse is caring for a client who has a generalized seizure. Which nursing assessment is a priority for detailing the event?
- A. Seizure began at 1300 hours.
- B. The client cried out before the seizure began.
- C. Seizure was 1 minute in duration including tonic-clonic activity.
- D. Sleeping quietly after the seizure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Describing the length and the progression of the seizure is a priority nursing responsibility. During this time, the client will experience respiratory spasms, and the skin will appear cyanotic, indicating a period of lack of tissue oxygenation. Noting when the seizure began and presence of an aura are also valuable pieces of information. Postictal behavior should be documented along with vital signs, oxygen saturation, and assessment of tongue and oral cavity.
You may also like to solve these questions
A client is brought to the emergency department with multiple fractures. Which assessment finding would be most significant in determining the client has also suffered a closed head injury with rising intracranial pressure?
- A. Blood pressure 100/60 mm Hg
- B. Lethargy
- C. Nausea
- D. Periorbital edema
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Decreasing level of consciousness is one of the earliest signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Without a baseline for the blood pressure, it is difficult to determine whether this is a significant change for this client. Vomiting (usually without forewarning of nausea) when associated with a head injury suggests increasing ICP. Periorbital edema is more suggestive of fluid overload than ICP.
A client diagnosed with Huntington disease is on a disease-modifying drug regimen and has a urinary catheter in place. Which potential complication is the highest priority for the nurse while monitoring the client?
- A. Severe depression
- B. Choreiform movements
- C. Urinary tract infection
- D. Emotional apathy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Because all disease-modifying drug regimens for Huntington disease can decrease immune cells and infection protection, it is most important for the nurse to assess for acquired infections such as urinary tract infections, especially if the client is catheterized. Severe depression is common and can lead to suicide. Symptoms of Huntington disease develop slowly and include mental apathy and emotional disturbances, choreiform movements (uncontrollable writhing and twisting of the body), grimacing, difficulty chewing and swallowing, speech difficulty, intellectual decline, and loss of bowel and bladder control. Assessing for these other conditions is appropriate but not as important as assessing for urinary tract infection in the client on a disease-modifying drug regimen with a urinary catheter in place.
A client falls to the floor in a generalized seizure with tonic-clonic movements. Which is the first action taken by the nurse?
- A. Insert an airway or bite block.
- B. Manually restrain the extremities.
- C. Turn client to side-lying position.
- D. Monitor vital signs.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a client begins to convulse, the highest priority is to maintain airway. This can best be accomplished by turning client to side-lying position, which allows saliva and emesis to drain from the mouth. Turning the client also allows the tongue to fall forward opening the airway. More damage can occur if a bite block is inserted after the seizure has begun. Manually restraining extremities is not recommended. Attempting to take blood pressure is not recommended and pulse rate and respirations during the event will not be beneficial. Monitor vital signs during the postictal phase.
A client adopted at birth recently discovers that Huntington disease is prevalent in the biological family history. The nurse is providing education to the client about the condition. Which statement(s) should the nurse include in the teaching? Select all that apply.
- A. In the early stages, people with the disease can participate in most physical activities.
- B. The disease eventually leads to hallucinations, delusions, impaired judgment, and increased intensity of abnormal movements.
- C. Disease-modifying medications for Huntington disease can decrease immune cells and infection protection.
- D. There are specific tests that can be arranged to diagnose whether or not you have the disorder.
- E. Huntington disease is familial; it is not transmitted genetically.
Correct Answer: A,B,C
Rationale: In teaching the client about Huntington disease, the nurse will explain to the client that people with the disease can participate in most physical activities in the early stages, but that the disease eventually causes hallucinations, delusions, impaired judgment, and increased intensity of abnormal movements. The nurse will go on to inform the client that medications for Huntington disease can decrease immune cells and immune protection. There are no specific diagnostic tests for this disorder, and it is transmitted genetically; thus, the nurse will leave out these statements in the teaching.
A client is about to be discharged after undergoing surgery for the treatment of a brain tumor and has a referral in place for medical and radiation oncology. Which component(s) should be included in the discharge teaching for this client? Select all that apply.
- A. Medication regimen
- B. Appointments for chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- C. Adverse effects of chemotherapy or radiation and techniques for managing them
- D. Nutritional support
- E. Electromyography
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D
Rationale: The nurse should include the medication regimen, appointments for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, adverse effects of chemotherapy or radiation and techniques for managing them, and nutritional support as components of the discharge teaching for this client. Electromyography is used in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to validate weakness in the affected muscles and should not be included for the client being discharged after surgery for a brain tumor.