Which set of vital signs would best indicate to the nurse that a client has an increase in intracranial pressure?
- A. BP 180/70, pulse 50, respirations 16, temperature 101°F
- B. BP 100/70, pulse 64, respirations 20, temperature 98.6°F
- C. BP 96/70, pulse 132, respirations 20, temperature 98.6°F
- D. BP 130/80, pulse 50, respirations 18, temperature 99.6°F
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Increased ICP is indicated by Cushing’s triad: hypertension (BP 180/70), bradycardia (pulse 50), and irregular respirations. Option A best matches this, with fever as a possible secondary sign. Options B, C, and D lack this combination.
You may also like to solve these questions
A husband and wife and their two children, age 9 and age 5, are requesting family therapy. Which of the following strategies is most therapeutic for the nurse to use during the initial interaction with a family?
- A. Always allow the most vocal person to state the problem first.
- B. Encourage the mother to speak for the children.
- C. Interpret immediately what seems to be going on within the family.
- D. Allow family members to assume the seats as they choose.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Allowing family members to choose their own seats will assist the nurse in assessing the family system and in determining who feels closer to whom.
Upon admission to the hospital, a client reports having "the worst headache I've ever had." The nurse should give the highest priority to which action?
- A. Administering pain medication
- B. Starting oxygen
- C. Performing neuro checks
- D. Inserting a Foley catheter
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A severe headache may indicate a neurological emergency (e.g., subarachnoid hemorrhage). Neuro checks (C) assess for deterioration. Pain medication (A), oxygen (B), and Foley (D) are secondary.
A client with a history of a kidney transplant is being discharged. The nurse should teach the client to:
- A. Monitor for signs of infection
- B. Eat a high-sodium diet
- C. Limit physical activity
- D. Take antibiotics daily
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Immunosuppression post-kidney transplant increases infection risk, requiring vigilant monitoring. High-sodium diets, activity limits, and daily antibiotics are not standard.
The nurse is caring for a client with a history of a spinal cord injury who is experiencing autonomic dysreflexia. The nurse should:
- A. Place the client in a prone position
- B. Administer a vasodilator
- C. Insert a Foley catheter immediately
- D. Elevate the head of the bed
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomic dysreflexia is often triggered by bladder distension. Inserting a Foley catheter relieves the trigger. Vasodilators and positioning are secondary, and prone position is unsafe.
Which of the following findings would be abnormal in a postpartal woman?
- A. Chills shortly after delivery
- B. Pulse rate of 60 bpm in morning on first postdelivery day
- C. Urinary output of 3000 mL on the second day after delivery
- D. An oral temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) on the third day after delivery
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Frequently the mother experiences a shaking chill immediately after delivery, which is related to a nervous response or to vasomotor changes. If not followed by a fever, it is clinically innocuous. The pulse rate during the immediate postpartal period may be low but presents no cause for alarm. The body attempts to adapt to the decreased pressures intra-abdominally as well as from the reduction of blood flow to the vascular bed. Urinary output increases during the early postpartal period (12-24 hours) owing to diuresis. The kidneys must eliminate an estimated 2000-3000 mL of extracellular fluid associated with a normal pregnancy. A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) may occur after delivery as a result of exertion and dehydration of labor. However, any temperature greater than 100.4°F needs further investigation to identify any infectious process.
Nokea