Brain = hurting
This diagnostic test is contraindicated for a patient who has a pacemaker.
MRI
African Americans
What is the most reliable indicator of neurologic status?
Level of consciousness
What level should the head of the bed be elevated to for someone receiving enteral feedings?
At least 30 degrees
Why is a lumbar puncture useful as a diagnostic tool for a patient who presents with a CVA?
What is a major advantage of the halo device?
Allows the patient to get out of bed
What precautions are used for meningitis?
Droplet precautions
Why are patients with ALS prone to depression?
Their intellectual capacity is not affected
What is the immediate action when a nurse recognizes autonomic dysreflexia in the patient with a spinal cord injury?
Raise the head of the bed to at least 45 degrees
What is the priority immediately after a stroke?
Maintaining the airway
What is the neural synapse?
Space between the axons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next
How should a nurse instruct a patient to position themselves after a lumbar puncture to prevent a headache?
Lie flat
What are the three symptoms that are characteristic of Cushing triad?
Widening pulse pressure, hypertension, and bradycardia
The spinal cord extends from the brainstem to this level of the vertebra.
Second lumbar
What is the purpose of methylpredisolone for a patient with a spinal cord injury?
Reduces spinal cord cellular damage
What nursing intervention can preserve joint mobility in the acute phase of a stroke?
Support affected joints in good functional alignment
What indicates a positive Brudzinski sign?
Flexed hips when the neck is flexed by the nurse
Why does hyperglycemia occur after a stroke?
Stress
This sign indicates that a spinal cord injury is below C4.
Unlabored respiration
What should you do if a patient falls to the floor while having a generalized seizure?
Cradle the head to prevent injury
tPA must be administered within this time frame after the onset of symptoms for a stroke?
3 hours
When should a nurse recognize that the acute phase of a CVA has ended?
Vital signs and neurological status stabilize
This intervention is effective in preventing autonomic dysreflexia in the patient with a spinal cord injury.
Ensuring the urinary catheter is patent
What are the three signs of autonomic dysreflexia?
Seizures, hypertension, and bradycardia
What is the most appropriate method for opening the airway for a patient with a spinal cord injury?
Jaw thrust