Posturing and Brain Functions
Neuro Status
Neuro Assessment
Care of the Neuro Patient
Neuro in General
100
Description of decerebrate posturing
What is a form of posturing where the patient's legs are extended, ankles and feet plantar flexed, and arms extended, adducted, and hyper-pronated. There is no voluntary movement.
100
Areas not assessed are pupil size, shape, and reactivity.
What is not assessed with the Glascow Coma Scale?
100
The fluid is clear, odorless, and colorless.
What is a description of normal cerebral spinal fluid?
100
Strict aseptic technique is used with neuro trauma patients who need ICP monitoring.
What is an appropriate measure to prevent infection with a patient with an intraventricular catheter?
100
Decreased cognitive function and the aging process.
What is not associated with the normal aging process?
200
A patient's eyes remain focused as if "painted on the face" when the head is turned briskly to the right or left.
What is abscence of the oculocephalic refelex (negative doll's eyes)
200
Autonomic dysreflexia.
What is a potential complication associated with a spinal lesion at T-1?
200
When a patient is positioned supine and flat, the head is lifted, and the hips and knees automatically flex when assessing for meningitis.
What is the Brudzinski sign?
200
Safety is priority with patients with neurological diseases.
What is the priority with Maslow's heirarchy of needs for a patient with multiple sclerosis, amytrophic sclerosis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome?
200
Fever must be controlled because is decreases cerebral oxygen demand and consumption.
What is the affect of fever on a patient with a head injury?
300
Broca's area.
What is the area of the brain affected by a CVA when the patient can only speak gibberish or profanity?
300
Areas assessed include eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.
What is assessed on the Glascow Coma Scale?
300
Balance and equilibrium, unsteady gait, dimished motor reflexes are all findings of a neurological assessment.
What is the nurse assessing for in the patient when they ask the patient to rise from sitting, stand for 10 seconds with feet together and eyes closed, and sit down again?
300
Anticoagulents and antiplatelets and acute care of brain injury patients.
What is NOT routinely used medications for the acute care of brain injured patients?
300
Unsteady gait which is a normal change associated with aging.
What is a normal finding in a patients gait who is 99 years old?
400
Describe the occipital lobe
What is the area of the brain that controlls visual acuity?
400
How a nurse would prevent of autonomic dysreflexia.
What is the purpose of maintaining the bed linens smooth and wrinkle free in a SCI patient?
400
Vital signs and pupillary response are priority assessment data.
What is a priority assessment for a patient brought to the ER with blunt force trauma to the head?
400
Cushing's triad as a neurological condition.
What is the condition associated with neuro patients where there is a rise in systlic pressure, widening pulse pressure, and irregular breathing pattern?
400
An allergy to shellfish should be considered.
What is an indication a patient needs further questioning before a CT scan?
500
Describe the cerebellum.
What is the center for voluntary muscle movementsa, muscle tone, and equilibrium?
500
CN VII is associated with this neurological condition.
What is the cranial nerve associated with Bell's palsy?
500
Battle sign indicates this type of fracture.
What is an assessment indicator for skull fracture?
500
Tentorial herniation as an outcome with head trauma.
What is the most lethal outcome for a patient with severe traumatic closed head injury?
500
Arousal evaluates the RAS and its connection with the thalmus and the cerebral cortex.
What is the purpose of assessment of arousal in a neuro patient?
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