Brain Anatomy
This lobe of your brain is responsible for your decision-making, movement, and speech (Broca's area)
What is the frontal lobe?
Greater than this amount of pressure (mmHg) within the skull will indicate increased intracranial pressure.
What is 20 mmHg?
These are the two types of seizures that are considered to be "generalized" seizures, which affect both sides of the brain at the same time.
What are tonic-clonic and absence seizures?
This is the most mild form of a traumatic brain injury. Symptoms include confusion, headache, and memory loss.
What is a concussion?
Treatment is often centered around end-of-life decisions for the patient with this chronic condition.
What is ALS?
This is the most common cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States, accounting for nearly half of all the cases
What are motor vehicle accidents?
This classic symptom of meningitis, characterized by severe pain and stiffness in the neck, occurs due to irritation of the meninges
What is nuchal rigidity?
This lobe of your brain controls your hearing and memory functions (Wernicke's area)
What is the parietal lobe?
This is the earliest, and most serious indicator, of increased ICP
What is altered LOC?
These are the two types of seizures that start in a specific area of the brain, which can cause a variety of symptoms.
What are simple focal and complex focal seizures?
What is decerebrate posturing?
This diagnostic test, in which a drug is administered to temporarily improve muscle weakness, helps confirm the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis
These 2 causes are the most common triggers for autonomic dysreflexia in patients with a spinal cord injury at or above T6
What is a full bladder or bowel impaction?
Safety precautions are the highest priority following this sided stroke
What is a right-sided stroke?
This brain structure is in charge of homeostasis.
What is the hypothalamus?
The official term for this condition is called Cushing's Triad, and it includes the late signs of increased ICP
What is HTN, bradycardia, and irregular respirations?
Safety and reorientation are the priority concerns for this phase of a seizure.
What is the postictal phase?
This Glasgow Coma Scale score indicates that the patient is in a coma
What is a score of 8 or less?
This is a progressive, debilitating disease causing a decrease in dopamine. They have a mask-like expression.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Neurogenic shock can result in hypotension (massive vasodilation) and this type of heart rate, which distinguishes it from other types of shock
What is bradycardia?
What is the Brudzinski's sign?
This part of the brain coordinates movement and balance.
What is the cerebellum?
This is the first and most simple nursing action we can do to alleviate increased ICP
What is elevating the HOB? (30 degrees)
This emergency situation is characterized by prolonged tonic-clonic seizures and loss of consciousness, and it lasts longer than 5 minutes.
What is status epilepticus?
This type of injury occurs when the brain impacts the inside of the skull, often followed by a "rebound" injury on the opposite side.
What is a coup-countrecoup injury?
This condition is characterized by demyelination of the sheath surrounding nerves. The patient will have exacerbations alternating with remissions
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
The patient with a cervical vertebral fracture may need the support of this particular brace
What is a Halo Vest?
This viral infection is the most common cause of encephalitis in the United States
What is herpes simplex virus (HSV)?
This structure in the brain is responsible for sensory perception, motor function, and higher cognitive functions.
What is the cerebrum?
This is the go-to medication for the patient with increased ICP. It is the only diuretic that crosses the blood-brain barrier.
What is osmitrol (Mannitol)?
Nystagmus, ataxia, slurred speech, and confusion are all side effects of which complication?
What is phenytoin (Dilantin) toxicity?
This type of hematoma results from arterial bleeding, leading to rapid neurological deterioration and if often described as having a "lucid interval" before symptoms worsen
What is an epidural hematoma?
Anticholinesterase medications, such as pyridostigmine, would be given to the patient with this chronic condition
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
An injury at this spinal level results in the loss of diaphragmatic function, requiring mechanical ventilation for breathing
What is C3-C5?
These two manifestations indicate that the skull fracture has crossed the dura.
What is rhinorrhea/otorrhea?
Decerebrate posturing indicates damage to this part of your brain
What is the midbrain?
We want to avoid these types of fluids in the patient with increased ICP.
What are hypotonic solutions? (0.45% Sodium Chloride)
When taking this anti-seizure medication, it is important to be monitoring the drug levels, as this medication has a narrow threshold (10-20 mcg/dL).
What is phenytoin (Dilantin)?
This emergency surgical procedure involves removing a portion of the skull to relieve intracranial pressure caused by severe head trauma
What is a craniotomy?
In ALS, this system remains unaffected, allowing patients to retain cognitive function even as motor function deteriorates
What is the central nervous system (or cognitive system)?
What is 2-3 days?
An increase HR, HTN, a decrease/absence in the cough/swallow reflex are indications of which acute condition?
What is Myasthenic Crisis?