Stroke & TIA
This type of stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot.
What is an ischemic stroke?
Increased pressure within the skull is known as this condition.
What is increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
The nurse's priority intervention during a seizure is to do this.
What is protect the patient from injury?
This scale is commonly used to assess level of consciousness.
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?
A patient suddenly develops slurred speech and unilateral weakness. The nurse's first action is to do this.
What is activate the stroke response/notify the provider immediately?
Sudden facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty are assessed using this stroke recognition tool.
What is BE FAST (or FAST)?
This triad of bradycardia, widening pulse pressure, and irregular respirations suggests increased ICP.
What is Cushing's triad?
This medication is commonly used as an emergency treatment for status epilepticus.
What is lorazepam (Ativan)?
Equal, round, and reactive pupils are often documented using this abbreviation.
What is PERRLA?
A patient with meningitis is sensitive to light. This symptom is known as this.
What is photophobia?
This medication may be administered within the appropriate time window for ischemic stroke.
What is alteplase (tPA)? OR TNK
The nurse should elevate the head of the bed to approximately this angle for a patient with increased ICP.
What is 30 degrees?
A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is classified as this emergency condition.
What is status epilepticus?
The normal GCS score for an alert patient is this number.
What is 15?
Which patient should the nurse see first: a patient with a headache rated 4/10 or a patient with a sudden change in level of consciousness?
Who is the patient with a sudden change in level of consciousness?
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is often called this because symptoms resolve without permanent damage.
What is a mini-stroke?
This bacterial infection causes inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
What is meningitis?
The period immediately following a seizure is called this phase.
What is the postictal phase?
Weakness on one side of the body is called this.
What is hemiparesis?
A patient with Parkinson's disease shuffles while walking and has this characteristic tremor.
What is a resting tremor?
A patient with sudden severe headache described as "the worst headache of my life" may be experiencing this type of stroke.
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
Positive Kernig's and Brudzinski's signs are associated with this neurological disorder.
What is meningitis?
During a seizure, the nurse should never perform this action.
What is placing an object in the patient's mouth?
Difficulty speaking due to brain injury is known as this condition.
What is aphasia?
A patient with myasthenia gravis develops difficulty swallowing and respiratory distress. This complication is suspected.
What is a myasthenic crisis?
This life-threatening neurological emergency is characterized by prolonged seizure activity lasting more than 5 minutes or recurrent seizures without regaining consciousness.
What is status epilepticus?
A patient arrives in the ED with:
Name three priority nursing actions.