RETINAL & OCULAR DISORDERS
Clients with retinal detachment often report this sudden visual change described as “a curtain coming down” over the eye.
What is loss of part of the visual field?
This neurologic emergency involves seizure activity lasting more than 5 minutes or recurrent seizures without recovery.
What is status epilepticus?
Paralysis affecting all four extremities is known as this neurologic deficit.
What is quadriplegia (tetraplegia)?
“The worst headache of my life” is a hallmark symptom of this neurologic emergency.
What is a ruptured cerebral aneurysm?
Fever, photophobia, and nuchal rigidity are classic signs of this infection.
What is meningitis?
Flashes of light and floaters are common manifestations of this eye emergency.
What is retinal detachment?
This medication class is the first-line emergency treatment for status epilepticus.
What are benzodiazepines?
A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or below indicates this severity of brain injury.
What is severe traumatic brain injury?
Absence of brainstem reflexes, no spontaneous respirations, and unresponsiveness indicate this condition.
What is brain death?
These precautions are required for bacterial meningitis until antibiotics have been administered for at least 24 hours.
What are droplet precautions?
The nurse should avoid this action when caring for a client with suspected globe rupture.
What is applying pressure to the eye?
Bradycardia, widened pulse pressure, and irregular respirations make up this late sign of increased ICP.
What is Cushing’s triad?
Hypotension, bradycardia, and warm, dry skin are classic manifestations of this shock state after spinal cord injury.
What is neurogenic shock?
Maintaining spinal immobilization and supporting blood pressure are priority interventions for this condition.
What is neurogenic shock?
Headache, fever, nausea, focal neurologic deficits, and increased ICP may indicate this intracranial infection.
What is a brain abscess?
Elevating the head of the bed and placing an eye shield are priority interventions for this type of injury.
What is ocular trauma or hyphema?
Maintaining the head midline, elevating the HOB 30 degrees, and minimizing stimulation help reduce this condition.
What is increased intracranial pressure?
Clients with injuries above T6 are at risk for this life-threatening complication characterized by severe hypertension and headache.
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
This calcium channel blocker is commonly administered after subarachnoid hemorrhage to prevent vasospasm.
What is nimodipine?
During an active seizure, this is the nurse’s priority intervention.
What is protecting the airway and preventing injury?
Diplopia, restricted eye movement, and periorbital ecchymosis suggest this condition rather than a simple eye contusion.
What is an orbital fracture?
A declining level of consciousness is often the earliest indicator of this neurologic complication.
What is increased intracranial pressure?
A left-sided brain injury is commonly associated with these neurologic deficits.
What are aphasia and right-sided weakness or paralysis?
Bradycardia helps distinguish neurogenic shock from this other common shock state.
What is hypovolemic shock?
The nurse should assess this client first: one with unequal pupils and declining LOC, one with chronic paraplegia requesting pain medication, one with bacterial meningitis waiting for lunch, or one with cataracts reporting blurry vision.
Who is the client with unequal pupils and declining LOC?