Neuro A/P and Aging
This part of the nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.
What is the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
This diagnostic test records electrical activity of the brain.
What is an EEG?
This is the most important indicator of neurological status.
What is level of consciousness (LOC)?
This condition is acute, fluctuating, and a medical emergency.
What is delirium?
A seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes is called this.
What is status epilepticus?
These are the three components inside the skull described in the Monro-Kellie hypothesis.
What are blood, CSF, and brain tissue?
This lab test evaluates cerebrospinal fluid.
What is a lumbar puncture?
These three vital sign changes make up Cushing’s triad.
What are increased systolic BP with widened pulse pressure, bradycardia, and irregular respirations (bradypnea)?
This condition is chronic, progressive, and irreversible.
What is dementia?
This medication is first-line IV push for status epilepticus.
What is lorazepam (Ativan)?
Older adults commonly experience this type of memory loss first.
What is recent (short-term) memory loss?
These are the six major components evaluated in a neurological assessment.
What are mental status, cranial nerves, mobility, motor function, sensation, reflexes, and cerebellar function?
This life-threatening complication involves shifting brain tissue from high pressure to low pressure.
What is brain herniation?
This is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
During a seizure, you should NEVER do this.
What is put anything in the patient’s mouth?
These age-related changes increase fall risk due to decreased coordination and balance.
What are altered balance and decreased coordination?
Loss of this is often the earliest sign of neurological problems.
What is recent memory?
In DI, the patient has this type of urine output and serum osmolality.
What is excessive urine output with high serum osmolality?
These medications delay destruction of acetylcholine in Alzheimer’s disease.
What are cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine)?
These headaches are unilateral, throbbing, and associated with nausea and photophobia.
What are migraines?
Brainstem, thalamus, and cortex lesions usually cause sensory loss on this side of the body.
What is the contralateral side?
This formula calculates cerebral perfusion pressure.
What is MAP – ICP = CPP?
(Bonus for 500 more points, what is MAP, ICP and CPP-up for grabs!)
Name three nursing interventions to reduce ICP.
What are elevate HOB, maintain neutral head alignment, prevent Valsalva, maintain oxygenation, control fever, avoid noxious stimuli, sedation, maintain fluid balance?
Name four early-stage Alzheimer’s symptoms.
What are short-term memory loss, misplacing items, subtle personality changes, impaired judgment, loss of initiative, decreased sense of smell?
These headaches occur in clusters, are severe and unilateral, and cause tearing and rhinorrhea.
What are cluster headaches?