Head Injuries
ICP
Nursing Care
Pharmacology/Treatments
Inflammatory Conditions
100

Diffuse head injury that is short in duration, causes a brief LOC, headaches, and possible amnesia

What is a concussion?

100

Normal ICP measurement

What is 5-15 mmHg?

100

This nursing action is the first priority when a patient shows signs of increased ICP. 

What is elevate the head of bed (HOB) to 30 degrees?

100

This corticosteroid is used to reduce inflammation in patients with brain tumors or meningitis.

What is dexamethasone?

100

A meningitis patient's stiff neck would be documented utilized the term ____________.

What is nuchal rigidity?
200

Surgical evacuation of a subdural or epidural hematoma

What is a craniotomy/ectomy?

200

A patient exhibiting a widened pulse pressure, bradycardia, and irregular respirations would be presenting with __________.

What is Cushing's Triad?

200

This nursing intervention reduces metabolic demand and prevents further increases in ICP.

What is maintaining a quiet, calm environment and administering sedatives?

200

This drug is used to manage fever in patients with meningitis or encephalitis to prevent increased metabolic demand.

What is acetaminophen

200

Most common causes are enterovirus, arbovirus, HIV, and HSV

What is viral meningitis?

300

Periorbital edema and ecchymosis would be noted as ___________. 

What are Raccoon eyes?

300

Catheter inserted in brain to drain CSF and measure ICP

What is a ventriculostomy?

300

What is having suction equipment and oxygen available at the bedside? 

This type of seizure precaution is essential for a patient with increased ICP or encephalitis.

300

This type of medication is given to prevent seizures in patients with brain injury or increased ICP.

What is an anticonvulsant (e.g., phenytoin)?

300

Most common complications of meningitis (2) 

What are cerebral edema and increased ICP?

400

Hematoma in which a patient will have an initial period of unconsciousness, then a brief lucid interval followed by decrease in LOC. 

What is an epidural hematoma?

400

Cycles of hyperventilation and apnea in a patient with worsening increased ICP

What are Cheyne-Stokes respirations?
400

To prevent scondary brain injury in patients with increased ICP, mainatining this range of PaCO2 is critical.

What is maintain a level 35-45 mm Hg?

400

This osmotic diuretic commonly used to decrease cerebral edema in patients with increased ICP

What is mannitol?

400

Key symptoms of bacterial meningitis include _________________ (4). 

What are fever, severe headache, nausea/vomiting, and nuchal rigidity?

500

A patient with a GCS of ______ has suffered a severe focal head injury. 

What is GCS of 3-8?

500

Interventions to optimize ICP & CPP (3)

What are HOB elevated, head midline, avoid extreme neck flexion, turn slowly, prevent pain or discomfort, and/or avoid hip flexion?

500

What is hydrocephalus?

Complication of mennigitis that could lead to permenant neurological deficits

500

These IV solutions are administered to reduce brain edema after traumatic brain injury or surgery.

What are hypertonic saline solutions?

500

An encephalitis patient may be treated with _________ prophylactically due to the risks from inflammation.

What are anti-seizure medications/anti-epileptics?